Through the River Bed

3½ miles. 3 hours. Generally easy.

A circular walk to introduce you to the glacial age that originally shaped the town.

Now we will go back 14,000 years to the time when Shrewsbury was covered in melting ice. Under the ice flowed a huge river-the Severn-which gradually reduced in size to become what it is today. Around 5,500 years ago, a large loop of the river was cut off to leave the feature that we know today as the Old River Bed.

To enjoy an attractive walk around this area, start at point (1) the junction of Berwick Road and Corporation Lane. Walk up Corporation Lane. After 500m the large depression on your left (2) is a feature known as a kettle hole. There is a band of these extending across the region formed by huge blocks of ice buried under river sediment. At the fork, turn right to go past Coton Grange and through the gate into the field beyond (3). Keep next to the railway embankment, looking for rabbit and fox paths under the fence, and walk through the field and down into a dip.

You are now in the bottom of the valley formed by the river thousands of years ago (4).

Continue up through the fields next to the railway and at the top of the hill stop and look back at the impressive view over the town from the north (5).

Cross the Chester railway line, walk past the farm, and carry on down the track until you meet the Ellesmere Road (6). Cross the road with care, turn right and continue along the pavement and turn left up Hubert Way on the verge. The expanse of land that you can glimpse to your left is again the Old River Bed, this time in its full glory. The width of the wetland here represents the width of the river 10,000 years ago. The woodland on the far side is part of the former river bluff where the river took a gentle right hand bend. Follow on the verge and then a path to a recreation ground (8) and head towards a fenced play area. Behind you is a large building: the old Shropshire Maltings, the first iron-framed building in the world. At the end of the playing field you will find yourself in Falstaff St, follow this into Greenfields St which leads to Ellesmere Road. Turn left and follow this to Berwick Road and your starting point with its junction with Corporation Lane.