This route involves two uphill climbs and one downhill climb. It also involves walking on a narrow road with no footpath for a short distance. There are some (avoidable) grassy areas that may be slippery when wet.
(A) Look up at St David's Church where this route starts and you will see a large lantern-shaped tower, which serves both as lighting for the church and as a local landmark. The church's claim to fame comes from the fact that the local scout group brought the consecration stone and dedication stones from St David's Cathedral (in a handcart!).
[1] With your back to the church, turn left, walking along the pavement until you come to a pedestrian crossing. Use this to cross over Shenley Lane and then take a right-hand turn.
[2] Just before you reach the junction of Shenley Lane and Shenley Hill, turn left onto an area of grass - if conditions are not too wet. There are some excellent views from this grassy area.
Alternative wet-weather route: If the grass is wet, follow Shenley Hill as far as Merritt's Hil
(B) Look to your right and you will see a 'trig point' in the hedge. Otherwise known as 'triangulation pillars', these instruments were used by the Ordnance Survey to measure horizontal and vertical angles when producing its maps. These are no longer in use today, because the Ordnance Survey uses aerial surveying combined with satellite imaging.
[3] From the area of grass, follow the path towards your left-hand side until you reach Merritt's Hill road. Follow Merritt's Hill steeply downhill, passing Long Mynd Road on your left. Continue down this path, via the raised pavement before you. Walk over a grassy area, and take a footpath towards your left that leads out onto Clun Road.
Beware of traffic here, because the road is narrow and without a footpath. Cars can sometimes travel fast down this road.
It is possible to avoid the narrow part of road by turning into Ley Park (almost directly opposite where you come out in Merritts Hill), turning left and walking down parallel with the hedge, and squeezing out through a gap in the hedge. However, I think it’s probably wiser to take the narrow road.
[4] Turn left into Clun Road.
To shorten the route back, follow it Clun Road until you come to Spiceland Road. Turn left into Spiceland Road, and then almost immediately, turn right into Paxford Way. Follow Paxford Way until you reach Shenley Lane. Cross Shenley Lane at the traffic lights and make your way back to St David’s Church
For the standard route, after about 100 yards, make a right-hand turn (crossing Clun Road) onto a paved footpath on the right. Continue walking down this footpath, taking a right-hand turn when the path forks. Follow the path until it leads into Bramble Close. Here, turn left and walk down the road until you reach a junction which crosses Verbena Road. Take a left turn into Verbena Road and walk down until you reach Spiceland Road. Cross over the road and walk towards your left. After a short while, you will come across a path on your right-hand side.
[5] This path will take you onto a service road. Follow this road as it curves round and comes out in Shenley Lane. Cross Shenley Lane via the pedestrian lights and then make your way back to St David's church straight ahead of you.