Walk Leader - Roger Thomson
Roger selected this walk from that described as 'AA 50 Walk of 2-10 Miles in Shropshire' which is based on a 'Doomed Railway Line'
The line that inspired most affection has long gone. This was the Bishop’s Castle line. The plan was for a link from the Shrewsbury and Hereford line to the Oswestry and Newtown (later Cambrian) line at Montgomery, with short branches to Montgomery and Bishop’s Castle. Financial problems dogged the railway company, but they kept going with an official opening in 1865, using a borrowed locomotive and coaches. Regular traffic started the next year, but only from Craven Arms to Bishop’s Castle, via a junction at Lydham Heath. The rest of the line was never finished. There was meant to be a double junction at Lydham, but they completed only part of it, and that faced in the wrong direction for trains from Craven Arms. Locomotives had to uncouple at Lydham and run around their carriages to recouple in reverse for the few miles. Not surprisingly, the railway was never profitable. It is said that it was so slow that people would get off to pick blackberries and then stroll along the line to reboard. The easternmost stretch of the line has now been turned into the Onny Trail, open for walkers under the Countryside Stewardship scheme. It makes a fine route along the banks of the River Onny. It also forms the return leg of this beautiful walk.
Distance: 6 miles (9.7 km)
Ascent/Descent: 918 ft (280 m) Level of difficulty: ★★★☆☆
Paths: Generally good, some muddy patches, steep, sometimes slippery descent from Wart Hil
Wooded hills, pastured land and river valley by River Onny
The Route
