View site as:

Around Weston Rhyn (includes part of Llangollen Canal)

Difficulty Leisurely

Walking time 2 hours 37 minutes

Length 8.5km / 5.3mi

Route developer: Peter Carr

Route checker: Chris Jenkins

Start location Canal side car park alongside "The Poacher"
Route Summary A leisurelycircular walk around the outskirts of Weston Rhyn, taking in parts of the Llangollen Canal toepath, fields and tracks. Provides excellent views of the Chirk Aqueduct
*move mouse over graph to see points on route
Getting there

"The Poacher" is on the B5070 between Chirk and the Glenrid roundabout on the A5. The Bus service 2 Oswestry - Wrexham stops near the pub. Details Traveline Midlands. (www.travelinemidlands.co.uk). Tel 0871 200 22 33The bus is currently run by Arriva and  passes near to Gobowen Station. Stop no 6 outside Gobowen Working Mens Club in Old Whittington Road.

Description
[1] From the car park, exit onto the canal tow path and turn right (towards Chirk).
 
(A) Chirk Aqueduct, built between 1796 and 1801 by Thomas Telford and William Jessop, carrying the canal over the river Ceiriog, is 70 ft high with 10 arches. This can be viewed at canal level by continuing along the canal at Chirk Bank for a couple of minutes
 
Go along the canal until the first bridge (Chirk Bank) then leave the tow path, cross over the bridge and continue up the hill for approx. 100 metres. Go through the kissing gate on the right onto the Shropshire Way. Go along the path and through two metal gates either side of a track. Continue along the path across to the field edge then follow the fence to the railway   Taking great care, cross the railway and follow the fence on the right, go over the stile straight ahead and then after approx. 50 metres take the stile on the right into a wood. Follow the path to reach a minor road (at this point you leave the Shropshire Way). Turn left and walk up hill for approximately 400 metres to a  stile on the right (this is just before a minor road comes in from the left) 
 
 
[2] Cross the stile into paddocks then go up to a stile at 200 metres, Over  the stile and follow the fence on your right to a stile into a small coppice. Cross the stile and go through a low pedestrian tunnel to a minor road. Cross the road, go left , go over the stile on the right, then ahead for a few metres to cross another stile. Now take the path to the left up the hill to the right of an oak tree to the wood . Go through the wood passing through another low pedestrian tunnel (these tunnels used to pass beneath a driveway to a Mansion - long gone). Go straight across the field to a stile aiming slightly to the right of the two large trees in the middle of the field, not the ones on the high ground to your left, (if you look to your left you will see a stone circle; it’s not ancient but worth a look). Go over the stile on to the road.
 
Turn left and walk down towards Weston Rhyn. Approx. 300 metres after passing Quinta church, take the footpath to the right between the houses (marked with a finger post) . NOTE, this walk can be shortened by approx. 0.5 mls by continuing straight on into Weston Rhyn and crossing over into Vicarage Lane. Then continue on along the lane to pick up these instructions again at Step 4
 
[3] After a few metres go over the stile then head half right over the field aiming just to the left of the white cottage you can see ahead. At the stile, DO NOT CROSS, turn left and head initially along the edge of the field then across to the stile (head just left of a large tree in the middle of this section of field). Cross the stile into the lane and turn left. After 50 metres along the lane, take the stile on the left and go 30 metres ahead to a small gated livestock gathering area. Go right and left through the gates and the head across the field to the top right hand corner. Go over the stile onto a road and turn right. After 50 metres at the road junction go left (sign posted Middle Hengoed). Continue on the lane past Weston Hall (farm) on the right to a stile on the left marked with a finger post. Take the right hand path aiming just left of the large tree in the middle of the field. Go over the stiles and plank bridge and the follow the hedge line on your left. When the hedge swings away to the left, go a few more metres ahead to a stile. Cross the stile onto a lane.
 
[4] Turn right and head along the road to the T junction, then cross over a stile immediately opposite the junction and continue on to a railway crossing.  Take the path over the railway to a metal gate, DO NOT go through the gate, turn  right to follow the official diversion signs taking the path through a young wood between a fence on left and the railway for approx. 100 metres to a stile on the left. Go over the stile, turn right. Ignoring the gate immediately in front of you, follow  the official diversion signs to the left round the edge of the school grounds and along the edge of the stream to a stile and bridge over the stream.
(B) Moreton Hall to the south of the canal, once a fine old mansion, is now an independent girl’s school
 Continue ahead, following the stream now to the left, to exit the school grounds by a stile on to the A5 with a petrol station to the left.
 
[5] Go along the rear of the petrol station and past the rear of the café (currently empty) to cross a stile onto a golf course (the canal is alongside and to the right.). Go right round the edge of  the golf course and alongside the canal, then follow the path round to the left to a stile on the right into a small industrial area. Go over the stile and ahead to exit onto a road with a bridge on the right.  Cross over the bridge and take the canal tow path to the left and follow this path back to the car park.
POI information

The settlement of Weston Rhyn dates back to the Doomsday Book. Today, many of the Victorian buildings in the centre of Weston Rhyn date to the housing provided for the miners serving the North Shropshire coal fields. The surrounding modern estates provide homes for today's commuters. The area just to the north around the Shropshire Union Canal (Llangollen branch) provides an attractive area for walking and forms the first and last part of this walk

As you approach "The Poacher" you pass the site, on the opposite bank, of the wharves where stone and coal were brought to the canal on the Glyn Valley Tramway - The line was later diverted to a terminus adjacent to Chirk Station

Notes No details available.
Acknowledgements

This is based on a walk developed by Clive La-Garde for the Oswestry group of the Ramblers book of walks "Favourite Walks around Oswestry and the Borders" and is reproduced here (with some changes to the route) by permission from the Oswestry Group. This book is now out of print but similar walks can be found in the second book of walks published by the Oswestry Group - "More Favourite Walks around Oswestry and the Borders - ISBN 9780-9569021-0-8 available from local retail outlets

  • Llangollen Canal at the Poachers Pocket
    Llangollen Canal at the Poachers Pocket
    By - Peter Carr
  • Llangollen Canal at Chirk Bank
    Llangollen Canal at Chirk Bank
    By - Peter Carr
  • Chirk Aqueduct and railway viaduct
    Chirk Aqueduct and railway viaduct
    By - Peter Carr
  • Quinta Church
    Quinta Church
    By - Peter Carr
This route has been viewed 22 times

Reviews

Be the first person to review this route!