Whitchurch Walkers Route 10: Farms & Halls

Walk directions

1. Start

   Start at the Civic Centre. For this walk you follow the same route as Walk 2 – the Stockton Walk – as far as the canal at Danson’s Bridge.

2. Step 2

   Here, instead of joining the towpath, walk across the fields ahead going diagonally to your right. On the far side of the large second field cross a track and then go over a stile.

3. Step 3

   Turn left and follow the hedge on the other side. This bridleway formed part of the original line of the recently altered Shropshire Way. Go down a slope and cross the bridge over Red Brook. The path takes you through the yard at Hadley Farm.

   Walk down the drive towards the A525 and about half way along take the small gate on the right hand side which leads you round Hadley Pool. Cross the A525 with care going diagonally to your left to join the track opposite.

   Go along the track taking the right hand fork towards Blackoe Cottages. After the cottages, cross the canal via a modern metal bridge. Cross the next field diagonally to your right towards the far top right hand corner. Follow the hedge line, cross a stile and go round the end of a narrow bit of woodland and then back again on the other side.

4. Step 4

   From the far side of the next field you descend into a cutting that was once part of the Cambrian Railway. Take the path on the other side towards a lane. Turn left and in about 150 metres turn right at the junction 5 followed by left at the next.

5. Step 5

   After about 800 metres this lane joins another at Alkington Hall. Turn right at the junction and almost immediately go left to join the restricted byway running between The Beeches farmhouse and farmyard. After a short length of green lane, turn right and follow the hedge round the field. In the next field you need to go slightly to your right towards a hedge line halfway across.

6. Step 6

   Follow the hedge line on your right. About halfway along, you cross to the other side of the hedge line and go slightly diagonally right. This takes you through the front garden of Dearnford Cottage and through a gate on to the road. Cross the road and walk to the right of Dearnford Hall through some parkland.

7. Step 7

   Continue towards a hedge some 500 metres from the road and follow the left-hand side of it. Cross the railway line and go up the lane through the farm, across the dual carriageway and up the track opposite through the antiques centre.

8. Step 8

   At the end of the green lane cross the stile on the right and walk diagonally to the left aiming for the corner of the hedge opposite. Cross the stile on the right hand side and then three more before you emerge on to Brown Moss. Take the path almost opposite and head towards the centre of the Moss. You should emerge from the trees into a more open grassy area. From here you follow the Shropshire Way (Route 22) back into the centre of Whitchurch.