Much of this walk follows stretches of the well-marked Offa’s Dyke Path and Shropshire Way. The former includes arguably the Path’s finest section over Llanfair Hill, and the latter offers a super route around the Shropshire Hills AONB or an excellent set of day walks.
Before setting off, it’s worth having a look round the castle ruins, which can be accessed by a footbridge over the river from the car park near the old bridge or from the town centre to the north of the river.
[1] If you’ve walked down Newport Street from the Memorial Hall car park (SO302811) you’ll find a sign for the Shropshire Way on the other side of the main road. Head down the signed track and soon turn right over a stile (just before the castle) at a Shropshire Way waymark. The route, which heads north-west from the town, takes you along field paths to the north of the river. Cross a lane and continue in the same direction, now climbing steadily up onto the ridge called the Cefns, from where there are fine views in all directions. Descend to Three Gates, where you turn left along a lane, soon leaving it on the right to continue on the Shropshire Way. Once over the next hill you meet a track and a signposted junction with the Offa’s Dyke Path (ODP) near a road.
[2] Follow the ODP south, signed for Newcastle-on-Clun. There’s quite a steep descent from Graig Hill (where you’ll see a sign marking the halfway point of the ODP, 88½ miles from both Prestatyn and Chepstow) back down to the Clun Valley. There’s a signpost and water tap just before you meet the lane near Newcastle (on the north side of the river). Cross the lane and continue down to and across the river and thence to the B4368. Turn briefly left, then right and follow the track which heads uphill, reaching another lane at Springhill Farm.
[3] For a shorter walk, you could turn left here and follow the quiet lane for 5.5km/3½ miles back to Clun. The latter half of this road is part of the Jack Mytton Way, Shropshire’s long distance bridleway with its horse and horseshoe logo.
Otherwise continue on the ODP heading south, initially along a lane then forking off left, as signed, on a track which parallels the Dyke along the western side of Llanfair Hill.
This is one of the best and most impressive stretches of Offa’s Dyke, and also its highest point. The views are splendid.
Cross a lane (at Garbett Hall), and continue to the next.
[4] Leaving the ODP, turn left along the lane and keep right at a fork, then right at the next T-junction. Take the next footpath on the left and follow this to the A488. Cross it and continue to a lane. Go right, then left along another footpath that takes you to another road, where you turn left to head back into Clun.