Oswbas one

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Wet weather made this one a bit of a slog, but you're covering varied terrain. Lots of Wat's Dyke Path. Particularly enjoyed the approach to Grug Hill from Eardiston over common heath land which felt rugged and wild. Lovely village too.

We walked this varied and interesting route in a very wet March, encountering many soggy paths and flooded fields, but it was manageable, even for those of us without the foresight to wear wellies!
From Oswestry the route follows the Wat’s Dyke Way, this is well signposted apart from around the A483 crossing; here we mistakenly took a path under the road which led along the boundary of a sewage works and sparked a heated discussion about the state of our nation’s sewage system and an unofficial inspection of the River Perry around the overflow pipes! There were signs relating to a future re-routing of the Wat’s Dyke path which didn’t help with the confusion. A bit of careful navigating is needed here to stay on the Way - but even if, like us, you find yourself on the alternative sewage route, don’t fear - this path runs along the river, parallel to the WDW, and brings you out on the lane just before Ball to join the main route again. After crossing the road at Ball, there’s a schlep across fields to Alton and through the grounds of Aston Hall before hitting the golf course. Prepare yourself for a crossing of the A5 - never easy - so calm your nerves with a pint at The Queen’s Head on the other side. At this point my phone died, which is a shame because from here the route follows lanes to the picturesque village of Eardiston. There are some impressive old buildings here and the remains of what must have been a very grand walled garden, the route takes you past this, over a beautiful wild expanse of common land and more fields - you’re heading for the trees you can see in the distance on Grug Hill. You skirt the hill along a lane and drop down into Ruyton XI Towns before following the path across fields to the river, crossing a bridge by Mill House. A gentle walk through fields and along lanes leads you into Baschurch.

Out of Oswestry, past the cemetery, all turns and paths pretty easy to find until you cross an old railway sidings (some very old carved stone in a pile - random). Then it gets confusing (around Weston Wharf). We missed the path which runs down the A483 and crosses it, instead taking a footpath under the A483 on the east side of and along the river Morda. This runs behind Mile Oak sewage works. It was boggy and a bit grim but was insightful as you could see how easily sewage water gets into the river Morda. So much plastic rubbish in and around that river on the outskirts of Oswestry. If you can find the prescribed path, it should be prettier. We emerged from the sewage works footpath at Pentre Coed Farm on Maesbury Rd, which was scenic. We took Wat's Dyke footpath along the river to join back up with the Oswbas route just before the junction with Ball Lane, where there's an interesting derelict chapel. Go down the Maesbury road for a minute then the next stretch, before you hit Oswestry Golf Course, is very interesting. Quite wild. A couple of huge fields, some with thatching corn growing round the edges. A swampy hamlet (Aston) of a couple of houses (very wet underfoot - wellies recommended) one of which has a yard/garden which you must pass through. Then you're in the grounds of Aston Hall, some magnificent oaks and a wide expanse of unfarmed pasture. This then becomes Oswestry Golf Course. We stopped for an excellent half of real ale at The Queen's Head pub on the canal.
West Felton's a pretty village. Then, as soon as you're on Oak Farm Rd, there's a sense of going back in time. Stone walls hint at a private estate and a bygone era. Even more so on Tedsmore Rd. Old landed Shropshire. Looking south from Tedsmore Rd you see Pradoe Church which was build for the infirm who couldn't walk to Ruyton XI Towns on a Sunday. Then the highlight of the route, for me: Amongst the handsome properties at Eardiston is one whose pretty garden you go through. Then you're out onto common land - a wide picturesque land, of gorse, bracken, wild grass and oak trees which is the first proper countryside of the day. It feels free. Just fields now until a lane (Grug Hill) lined by a wood which joins up with Ruyton. We had a pint at The Talbot Inn. Recommend.
Loved the sandstone of Ruyton's buildings and walls. Nice looking church. A resident told us her garden's walls were built with stone taken from the castle. Down Mill Lane is an exquisite yellow Mill House with specimen birch trees which are worth the detour through a gate to view. Over a stile on Mill Lane and a footbridge over the River Perry. Keep parallel with the river, even though there's no public footpath sign in the lower meadow. Nice fields and a quiet lane to Baschurch. A walk of many sights and a feel for how Shropshire looked 200 years ago.

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