Welshampton Walks – Walk 2 (Green)

Walk directions

1. Step 1

   Cross A495 road at The Sun Inn car park to footpath which runs along left side of hairdressers, Williams of Welshampton. Cross two stiles to reach Lyneal lane. Turn left along lane and then right through swing gate where the next footpath crosses the lane.

   Keeping hedge on left walk along edge of field and through metal swing gate. Follow directional arrows to small metal gate on right. From here, keeping lone oak tree to right, cross field to next swing gate. Turn slightly to the right, keep left of tree, cross field and go through large opening in hedge to next field. (Occasionally this opening is gated depending on the farmer's land usage).

   Walk diagonally left towards another large oak tree at the top of the hill and keep to the right of this tree.

   From this point the next swing gate is seen in the hedge. Walk through next field keeping to the left side of the hedge. This hedge line is very sparse in places but continue following it and pass through a large gap at the end of the field where there is a directional post.

2. Step 2

   Take a straight line in the next field, walking down the slope to a swing gate. Cross this field, (it can be boggy) towards a gate by the road. Turning left along lane, carry on straight ahead at cross roads until reaching a canal bridge.

3. Step 3

   From this bridge Colemere Country Park comes into view.

   Should you wish to extend the walk, just over 1 mile/1.6km, from this point, continue around the Mere and rejoin towpath at bridge 54.

   Do not cross the bridge but take the footpath on right up slope through the trees. Turn left following grassy track around field. In the winter geese feed here on the maize stubble. From this path Newton Mere comes into view ahead right. There is no access to this water which is used by a fishing club.

   Turn left along lane, passing houses on left, until reaching A495 main road. Take care crossing road and turn left along rough grass verge for nearly half a mile until reaching a post and stile. Keeping a large group of trees to the left walk diagonally left up slope and then downwards to a marker post in front of a large oak tree, (middle tree). Keep fence posts to right and on reaching stile, cross over and walk to main road.

4. Step 4

   There are a number of routes to the canal for the return walk: The quickest route to the canal via a footpath is to turn right along main road and, directly after passing St Michaels Church/Poor Clare's Convent sited across the road on the left, cross road and take the signed footpath to the canal.

5. Step 5

   Turn left along towpath and soon walk through tunnel (torch is handy here!)

   The tunnel is 80 metres/87 yards long and there is a handrail for the full extent.

   Leaving the canal at Bridge 51 pass under the bridge, left up steps and turn right along Lyneal lane returning to village by retracing your steps via the second footpath on the right, or if there is time, walk along lane to view St Michael and All Angels Church.

   Carefully cross A495 turning right to start of walk.