Shropshire Cycleway: West Offa (Bucknell to Melverley)

Ride directions

1. Step 1

   From Bucknell railway station turn right on the main street (B4367) and cross the River Redlake. Turn left into Dog Kennel Lane and then bear left to stay on Dog Kennel Lane. At the next T-junction with a grass triangle, turn right onto Chapel Lawn Road. Cross the bridge and bear right. Follow the road for two miles . 

    

2. Step 2

   Bear left to New Invention. At New Invention turn right signed to Clun infront of a chapel on the A488.  Turn immediately left (unsigned). Continue until sharp left bend before a cottage and a follow the gravel road past the sign 'Unsuitable for HGVs'. Gravel road goes uphill and at the T-junction turn right.  

3. Step 3

   Turn left at the crossroads signed to Newcastle. Stunning views to Corndon and other hills South Shropshire hills from the top. At the next cross roads go straight on to Stoneypand and Bettwys Y Crwyn. At Stoneypand cross roads turn right and follow a long hill (rutted at the start) down into deciduous woodland. Bear left at the bottom and and at the T- junction turn left to Newcastle. 

    

    

4. Step 4

   In Newcastle turn right signed Community Centre. At the T- junction turn right into Church Road and follow this for two miles into Whitcott Keyset. Then turn left to Mardu and Cefn Einion.

5. Step 5

   At Mardu turn right to Three Gates and Cefn Einion. At the first T- junction bear right. At the next junction turn left and immediately right at the staggered cross roads. 

6. Step 6

   At the next crossroads turn left to Mainstone and Newhouse. Follow road around and down towards the river Unk! Turn left at the next T junction (unsigned). Follow the valley bottom, road winding right and left and follow signs to Bishops Castle. Turn left onto NCR route 44 and turn left again signed to Pantglas and Hopton. 

7. Step 7

   Follow the road along and turn right at the T-junction signed NCR 44. Then turn left onto the minor road, unsigned. In Churchstoke turn right onto A489 signed to Bishops Castle, also following the NCR route 44 signs.  As you turn left to Old Churchstoke there is a lovely old black and white house on the right. 

8. Step 8

   Bear left and left again by the old red telephone box and follow road round to Priest Weston. At Priest Weston turn left at the T-junction to Marton and Chirbury.  Go straight on at junction signed Marton and Shrewsbury and follow the road along with Mitchell's Fold Stone Circle to the right. Turn left at the T-junction to Wotherton and Marton. (the NCR route 44 goes right at this point, but our route turns left) 

9. Step 9

   Turn right to Marton (and Rorrington Hall) onto the B4386. At Marton turn right again to follow the road through Marton and then turn left up an unsigned road. Bear left up a long hill and follow the road along for three miles. Then turn right at a crossroads signed to Westbury. 

10. Step 10

    Follow along Long Mountain - great views to right hand side! Head down a very long hill with more great views! Turn left signed to Winnington and the NCR route 81. Then turn right to Wollaston following the NCR Route 81. 

     

11. Step 11

    Bear left and then straight across following NCR route 81 to Wollaston and Builthy. Follow the road for two miles, down a steep hill into Crewe Green. At Crewe Green turn right onto B4393 and NCR 81. Then turn left to Melverley itself onto the National Cycle Route 8. Cross over the River Severn and take the next left to St Peter's Church which is a beautiful black and white church to finish the route. 

12. Step 12

    This is the end of the Shropshire Cycleway Route West: OFFA (Bucknell to Melverley). The next route starts from Melverley going to Telford town centre.