20/04/2012 - Permalink

First phase of Shropshire Way North project now complete

Related topics: Leisure, culture and heritage

The first section of the Shropshire Way in the north of the county has just been completed. 

The Oswestry Loop is the first section to be completed, and will take walkers from Llanymynech to Chirk Bank, onto Ellesmere and back to Llanymynech, and features both hilly and level terrain. 

An exhibition about the Shropshire Way North project will be in Oswestry Library from Monday 23 April 2012, and a launch to celebrate the first completed section is being organised for the weekend of 12 May and 13 May 2012. 

The Shropshire Way North project, supported by Shropshire Council, is developing new extensions to the Shropshire Way long distance footpath which is well established in the south of the county.  The routes will link the 38-mile Oswestry Loop to Whitchurch, and both towns will be linked to Shrewsbury.

The project will also create:

  • A  20-mile promoted route link from the Oswestry ‘Loop’ to Whichurch and Grindley Brook, via Ellesmere and Whixall Moss
  • Promoted routes that connect Shrewsbury to the Oswestry Loop (26 miles) and to Whitchurch (28 miles)
  • Four Shropshire Way ‘circular walks’  of around 6 miles each from Oswestry Racecourse, St Martins, Ellesmere and Northwood. 

The project has been funded by the European LEADER scheme and Shropshire Council, with contributions from Pughs the undertakers and Oswestry Ramblers who, with Shropshre MIND, have also given a significant amount of volunteer time. 

Steve Charmley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member with responsibility for active and healthy lifestyles, said:

“The new upgrades will build on the already successful project undertaken in the south, and increase walking opportunities and tourism in the north of the county and its market towns.  This can only be good for local businesses, the economy and residents.” 

The Shropshire Way North project is due to be completed by the end of this year.  Guidebooks of the completed routes will be available in print and to download from the website. 

For more information about the Shropshire Way North project contact Peter Dunhill, Shropshire Way project officer on 01743 255068 or email  peter.dunhill@shropshire.gov.uk.  You can also visit the website at www.shropshirewalking.co.uk from Wednesday 25 April 2012.

Further information

The project is delivering new opportunities for people to get active through walking and to understand and appreciate the local landscape, its heritage, its places and people. 

The project will achieve its aims by:

  • Upgrading the existing rights of way
  • Developing opportunities for healthy living, tourism, and lifelong learning through the active involvement of volunteers
  • Initiating a geocaching project with five primary schools in the Oswestry area to encourage participation in this physically active treasure-hunting exercise
  • Continuing the promotion of the Shropshire Way brand
  • Providing opportunities for tourism providers and B&Bs to market their offer
  • Designing a walks guide along with a map based website downloadable information including podcasts.