Betton

Distance: Four-and-a-half miles.
Terrain: Easy walking on lanes and field paths.

1. Start at the small lay-by on the lane from the A53 to Betton, just north of Tunstall Hall. Walk up the lane towards Betton for a few yards to a footpath sign on the right, enter the field and head left-left past a telegraph pole to a stile in the far boundary.

2. Cross over, go down the bank and around the pool to reach a footbridge. Then cross over and turn left to follow a narrow path through the trees which eventually joins a track at a gate.

3. Continue along this to the next gate and follow a farm track past a small wood to a gate by a farmyard. Turn left down the track, cross the river again and walk uphill to a stile on the left.

4. Then cross over into a large field and walk between the second and third telegraph poles to a stile, cross over and continue ahead to another stile which leads into a third field.

5. Follow the left-hand boundary to the lane, turn left into Betton village and take the first right down Moss Lane, passing an old tin church on the left.

6. At the end of the lane cross three stiles in quick succession, bear half-left as indicated in the next field, cross the old railway line and continue ahead past a pond on the left, over a stile and through a gate and out on to the lane.

7. Continue to the next junction, turn right and walk to the canal bridge. Pass over this, turn right down to the towpath and turn right again to follow the canal under the A53 and past the marina in Market Drayton.

8. Leave the towpath at the next bridge, turn left past Betton Mill and continue ahead at the road junction down the lane. This is a cul-de-sac, but at the end walk out to the A53, cross it very carefully and continue up the lane ahead and back to the start.

* Shropshire and Mid Wales are perfect for getting out and enjoying a countryside walk, but over time there may be changes to access on some routes. If you follow one of our walks and find a problem, please let us know so that we can amend the details online. Simply e-mail us at internet@shropshirestar.co.uk with the details.