Whitchurch Cycle Rides Route 1: To Whixall & Wem (22.5 mile)

Ride directions

1. Step 1

   Leave Whitchurch along Alkington Road and turn first right at
   Alkington Court (unsigned)

2. Step 2

   At the next T-junction turn left, signposted to Whixall

3. Step 3

   Turn right at the crossroads signposted to Wem

4. Step 4

   To go into Whixall Moss, turn first right after the school, go over the
   lift bridge and Whixall Moss car park is on the left

5. Step 5

   Leave Whixall Moss along the same road and
   turn right to rejoin the main road again. Follow
   the road towards Dobson’s Bridge and past
   Whixall Marina on your left. Go over the canal
   and take the second left into Ossage Lane,
   signposted Cycle Route 445

6. Step 6

   Turn right at the next crossroads opposite the
   sign for Cycle Route 445

7. Step 7

   Continue along this road to a T-junction. Turn
   left and continue to another T-junction

8. Step 8

   At Lowe, turn right (signposted to Wem) and
   follow the road up a steep hill and back down
   towards Wem

9. Step 9

   At theT-junction turn left, signposted Wem Industrial
   Estate

10. Step 10

    Cycle into the town centre and turn left opposite
    The White Lion Public House, signposted to Wem
    Business Park.

11. Step 11

    Leave Wem along New Street; go past the national
    speed limit signs and turn first left, then turn right at/towards
    Ryebank

12. Step 12

    Take the fourth left, unmarked and continue
    along this road towards Waterloo until you reach a
    T-junction

13. Step 13

    At the T-junction turn right, signposted Abbey Green.
    Continue along this road until you reach another
    T-junction

14. Step 14

    & Turn left, signposted Bostock Hall. Turn first right. At
    the next T-junction turn left and continue to another
    T-junction. Turn right, signposted Whitchurch and
    Wem and then right at the Whixall Social Centre,
    signposted Stanley Green

15. Step 15

     In Stanley Green go straight on at the mini roundabout
    and turn left at the T-junction. Follow this road until you
    reach a T-junction in Hollinwood.

16. Step 16

    To continue on the route turn right at the T-junction,
    signposted to Whitchurch. Continue into Tilstock

17. Step 17

    At the T-junction, turn left, signposted Whitchurch
    and turn first left into Hollins Lane, signposted to
    Alkington

18. Step 18

    Wrenbury and Marbury
    13½ miles in total (22 km in total)
    This easy cycling route heads out of Whitchurch into Cheshire
    and takes in the pretty villages of Wrenbury and Marbury,
    where welcoming hostelries can be found. The wharf at
    Wrenbury Mill is sure to be of particular interest to canal lovers.
    Route 1: To Whixall and Wem
    22½ miles in total or 9 miles or 15½ miles with short
    cuts (36 km in total or 15 km or 25 km with short cuts)
    This route has 2 options to short cut. It is easy cycling, mainly
    on the flat. The route navigates through a maze of quiet
    country lanes taking in the unusual and magnificent North
    Shropshire mosses.
    About the cycle routes
    Cycling is one of the best ways to soak up the unspoilt
    landscapes and experience the unique features of the
    environment and villages of North Shropshire. It is ideal
    cycling terrain; quiet lanes and country roads, easy
    gradients and yet amazing views. These cycle routes have
    been chosen to suit a range of interests and abilities, the
    shortest route being 9 miles and the longest 27 miles.
    Cycled over a day, with a picnic lunch or a stop at a local
    pub, this really is a great way to explore the area.
    Where to start
    All the cycle routes start from Whitchurch. Safe long stay
    parking can be found in the town centre as
    shown on the map (right).
    Whixall Moss ∏
    An important feature of the Meres and Mosses
    Natural Area is the presence of a large range of
    different wetland habitats; you will find wildfowl,
    waders and dragonflies abound. The Natural Area is
    peppered with small peat and open water wetlands
    that are of international conservation importance.
    The central area became a National Nature Reserve
    in 1990 and Natural England are now restoring the
    Mosses. For more information or to book your place
    on a guided walk of the Mosses visit:
    www.naturalengland.org.uk
    Whixall Marina P
    The first mile of the former Prees Branch Canal was
    dredged and a Marina built in the 1970s. The lower
    stretch to Waterloo Bridge was retained as a Nature
    Reserve. Prees Branch has many of the values of a
    long pond- good dragonflies, moorhens and swans.
    5 Leave Whixall Moss along the same road and
    turn right to rejoin the main road again. Follow
    the road towards Dobson’s Bridge and past
    Whixall Marina on your left. Go over the canal
    and take the second left into Ossage Lane,
    signposted Cycle Route 445
    6 Turn right at the next crossroads opposite the
    sign for Cycle Route 445
    Short Cut
    6 To short cut avoiding Wem, turn left at the
    crossroads. At the next T-junction follow the
    route from instruction &
    7 Continue along this road to a T-junction. Turn
    left and continue to another T-junction
    8 At Lowe, turn right (signposted to Wem) and
    follow the road up a steep hill and back down
    towards Wem
    Wem Ü≠ P • Sx?
    Wem originated as a Saxon settlement but also
    has evidence of settlers dating back to the Iron
    Age. During the War of the Roses, it was “torn to
    the ground” by the Earl of Salisbury and rebuilt
    in 1500 only to see further destruction in 1677
    after a 14-year-old girl, Jane Churn, dropped a
    candle and started a huge fire that destroyed
    most of the wooden buildings in the town.
    More recently, in 1887, a local called Henry
    Eckford FRHS became the first to cross breed
    the modern Sweet Pea flower. His contribution
    to horticulture is still celebrated every year in
    Wem with the annual Sweet Pea Show. For more
    information about what you can find in Wem
    nowadays visit www.wem.gov.uk
    9 At theT-junction turn left, signposted Wem Industrial
    Estate
    ! Cycle into the town centre and turn left opposite
    The White Lion Public House, signposted to Wem
    Business Park.
    # Leave Wem along New Street; go past the national
    speed limit signs and turn first left, then bear right at
    Ryebank
    $ Take the fourth left, unmarked and continue
    along this road towards Waterloo until you reach a
    T-junction
    % At the T-junction turn right, signposted Abbey Green.
    Continue along this road until you reach another
    T-junction
    & Turn left, signposted Bostock Hall. Turn first right. At
    the next T-junction turn left and continue to another
    T-junction. Turn right, signposted Whitchurch and
    Wem and then first left at the Whixall Social Centre,
    signposted Stanley Green
    ( In Stanley Green go straight on at the mini roundabout
    and turn left at the T-junction. Follow this road until you
    reach a T-junction in Hollinwood.
    ) For the Waggoners Pub turn left, signposted Platt
    Lane. It is at the next crossroads about ½ mile away.
    To continue on the route turn right at the T-junction,
    signposted to Whitchurch. Continue into Tilstock
    At the T-junction, turn left, signposted Whitchurch
    and turn first left into Hollins Lane, signposted to
    Alkington, following NCR 455.