WW1 Centenary Walks – Walk 3 – Around Treflach

Walk directions

1. Step 1

   Start at Treflach Green, which is at the junction of Gibraltar Lane with the Nantmawr to Trefonen road. Walk along this road in the direction of Trefonen for about 50 metres.

2. Step 2

   Cross the road carefully after passing over Offas Close. ‘Caythorpe’ (24 Edward Probert) is opposite, and is the site of ‘Blacksmith’s Cottage’.

3. Step 3

   Before the Bus stop, turn left up Fields Lane and continue along a track which can be muddy in places. This track runs along Offa’s Dyke for a short stretch, though it is difficult to spot.

4. Step 4

   Ignore the track on the left by a house and stables and continue straight ahead for about 50m then cross the stile leading into a field on your right.

5. Step 5

   Two footpaths cross this field, neither is obvious, but the remains of an old hedge line take the shortest route across the field. Head about 45° to the right of this line, then cross a stile by a gate and turn right onto an old lane.

6. Step 6

   Follow this lane and continue along it as it becomes tarmac. After about 300 metres, just before a new bungalow, cross a stile on your left.

7. Step 7

   Bear slightly right and uphill, passing close to the large buildings of Red House Farm.

8. Step 8

   Having crossed the next stile, turn immediately left, heading for a gate and stile in the hedge.

9. Step 9

   Cross the stile and turn left on the lane at ‘Bwlch Cottage’ (19 Humphrey Jones).

10. Step 10

    Follow this lane for about 450 metres passing Bwlch Farm, through a gate along a wooded path. Ignore a stile on the left just before emerging through a gate into a field.

11. Step 11

    Another wood is opposite, with a fence boundary. Bear slightly right to cross the field and keep the wood and fence on your left.

12. Step 12

    Enter a compound containing machinery through a small metal gate and exit the compound on the far side.

13. Step 13

    Continue on the track almost opposite for about 200 metres downhill to join Quarry Lane by the Old Engine House.

14. Step 14

    Turn left on Quarry Lane and pass ‘Lilleshall Cottages’ (old quarry workers’ cottages, 23 James Platt, 30 Aaron Scott) on your right.

15. Step 15

    200 metres after the cottages the lane joins the Nantmawr to Treflach road. Cross the road carefully and walk with caution up the right side of the road for about 150 metres where a footpath leads right, through a gate (re-fasten the gate please), below a house.

16. Step 16

    Follow this path, crossing Offa’s Dyke, past a damp spring, over a stile, then up to a stile emerging onto Blodwel Bank. Take GREAT CARE as this road can be very busy. ‘Glanaber’(10 Thomas Ellis) is opposite and slightly left. (it can be visited by walking uphill for a short way, then returning).

17. Step 17

    Turn right to walk about 40 metres downhill. It is probably best to walk on the left side of the road to a footpath crossing the ditch and stile on the left.

18. Step 18

    Follow this path uphill to a stile, cross Stoney Road and over the stile directly opposite.

19. Step 19

    Continue up the path, it is easy to miss as it bears slightly right away from the farm track, but then is waymarked obviously as it crosses stiles and twists through woods eventually emerging as a ‘T’ junction with a more major path (the ‘cat path’).

20. Step 20

    Turn left and follow this major path to Gibraltar Lane. Turn right and follow the lane as it deteriorates then recovers, eventually passing the stables and house of ‘Ty Tegwch’ .

21. Step 21

    At the T junction with the tarmac lane, turn left.

22. Step 22

    Follow the lane for about 600 metres up and down past the entrance to Treflach Farm, then up to a T junction; turn right to view the impressive ‘Treflach Hall’ (20 John Jones) and views over Shropshire.

23. Step 23

    Retrace your steps to the T junction, but continue straight on uphill for about 150 metres.

24. Step 24

    Take the footpath on the left, immediately after the bungalow. Stay close to the fence on your left and cross the stile on your left after about 80 metres.

25. Step 25

    This pleasant path takes you through woods, downhill to a gate and up again over the side of Big Bellan Covert.

26. Step 26

    At the next gate bear 45° left aiming for a stile and then to the right hand side of the fenced compound which usually contains bales and/or farm machinery.

27. Step 27

    Make your way through this small compound and turn right.

28. Step 28

    Follow Gibraltar Lane past the entrance to Moreton House (22 Peter Morris) to Treflach Green.