Whitchurch Walkers Route 6: Brown Moss, Bombers, Butterflies & Big Butties

Walk directions

1. Start

   This walk starts at Brown Moss. You could also start from Prees Heath. From the main car park turn right on to the road and go on to the fingerpost by the bungalow called The Boathouse – Go through the wood (there are several paths so keep to the waymarked one) to a galvanised gate and then on through two fields to a lane, where you turn right. Take care as visibility for cars is poor, and look out for the next path on the left – it is hidden in the hedge on a bank.

2. Step 2

   Now cross two horse paddocks to a  wooden wicket gate immediately before a stile, which brings you to the village of Ash Magna, just opposite the White Lion.

3. Step 3

   Turn right along the road – there is a pavement at first. At the village of Ash Parva, cross the road to a metal wicket gate, and follow the permissive path, which takes you off the road and then re-join the road by a junction. Cross over towards a large half-timbered house and keep to the right hand side of the Ightfield Road, taking care as it can be quite busy.

4. Step 4

   About 250 yards on, turn right along a restricted byway (or green lane). There is a hedge each side and you may have to negotiate an electric fence. The byway leads to a large open area of mainly arable fields. The path is very good along wide grass headlands and tracks – follow the way-markers NOT the Ordnance Survey Map. At a pool, bear right at the wooden fingerpost along a track until you reach a cross roads of tracks. Continue straight on – it might be a little muddy here. The track leads to a ‘gated’ electric fence with green way-markers going left and right – ignore these, and go ahead by using the spring-loaded handle in the fence (please replace the hook in the wire loop).

5. Step 5

   About 90 metres on, there is a small hollow – there should be a way-mark post here; turn right to a stile about 180 metres away. Cross two fields (which may be cropped) and pass by two pools behind some farm buildings, to join the farm track. (If there is any problem with this path it is possible, although not a Right of Way, to go through the farm yard, and close any gates as you go.)

6. Step 6

   The farm track goes through a wooded area to the main road – the busy A41.

7. Step 7

   Within this wood there was once a wartime air force base; remnants of Nissen huts can still be seen in places. Taking care, cross the A41 and go down Heathwood Rd, which goes through the village of Higher Heath. After 270 metres, turn right along Twemlows Avenue.

8. Step 8

   After 135 metres turn left at a sign for High Corner.

9. Step 9

   And then right through a metal kissing gate. This path leads on to Prees Heath.

10. Step 10

    Turn right at a large black kissing gate on to the heath. At an information board on a concrete plinth, bear left following the Shropshire Way way-markers. 

11. Step 11

    You will emerge on to the A49 road which you need to cross – take care, though traffic visibility is good. Once across, turn right and go past the filling station, cafés,  and lorry park, to the Raven pub.

12. Step 12

    Take care crossing the busy dual carriageway. At the corner of a junction with a minor road is a wooden fingerpost.

13. Step 13

    Follow the footpath to the next lane where you turn left, leading back towards the dual carriage way.

14. Step 14

    At this junction cross a stile on your right and go across two fields of pasture and then arable fields to Holly Cottage by Brown Moss.

15. Step 15

    Turn right along a track, and then on to a lane, where a left turn will bring you back to the start – along the way you will glimpse the Moss through the trees.