Gnosall Walks
Shropshire Union Canal, Brookfields & Lower Reule Farms
Distance: Approximately 3 miles Duration: 1.5 – 2 hours
Start: Allotments Car Park
From the allotments car park, climb the short but steep slope up onto the track of the disused railway, and turn right to walk towards Newport. Walk along the path until you cross first a line and then a bridge over the canal. Immediately after the canal bridge take the steps on the right to descent to the towpath.
Turn right along the towpath, walking under the former railway bridge. Pass by the Navigation pub on your right, under the bridge carrying the main A518 and continue towards the Boat Inn on your left. Keep walking along the towpath, passing through the Cowley tunnel and through the steep cutting. Go under the bridge carrying the Gnosall to Goosemoor Lane (No 31) to the next bridge (No 30). Go under this bridge and exit the towpath by climbing underneath a fence and climbing up to the bridge. Go over the bridge and follow the direction of the public footpath sign across a large field to a stile. Cross the stile, passing a hidden pool to your right, and fork left in the large field towards a farm, eventually emerging onto a lane. Cross the lane and climb a further stile into the field on the other side, following the path towards the farm, eventually reaching a brook. Follow the brook for a few yards to the right and then cross it using the farm track and cross the field diagonally right towards a gateway, emerging onto a lane.
Turn right along the lane and walk towards Lower Reule Farm. After a while you will see a public footpath sign pointing left apposite a lane junction on the right. Go through the lane on the left and follow the path across a very large field towards a farm gateway. To the right of the open gateway you will see a further public footpath indicator arrow which leads you across a small field towards Springfield Farm onto Lowfield Lane. Follow Lowfield Lane to the left going over the old railway bridge, passing the school until you reach the A518. Turn left and walk downhill past Bank Top Garage, turning left at the mini roundabout until you reach the lane on the right which takes you back to the allotment car park.
Easy level walking. Some field crossings are on soft muddy ground. Some fields may have crops growing in Summer and may have to be traversed by walking along the edges.
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