Ellesmere Extravaganza - Shropshire Walking

4 Turn left into the Nature Reserve. Follow the stoned path for short
distance then turn right up the earthen path through trees. Leave the
reserve closing the wooden gate behind you.
5 Turn left along the quiet lane to a kissing gate on the right with a
signpost directing you to the visitor centre.
6 Go through the gate and head towards the picnic tables.
Some geologists think the Mere has a clay bottom that keeps the water in. If
you punched a hole in it, all the water could drain away.
7
At the furthest picnic table drop down to the tarmac path, leading
you to a kissing gate. Cross the road to the visitor centre using the
crossing.
Discover
Shropshire
Ellesmere
Extravaganza
Kangaroo Facts
☞ The Mere is the largest lake in the area and is very deep.
Hidden cameras, disguised as herons, are used in the
visitor centre to catch fishermen trying to hook the plug
and let the water out.
☞ Each summer athletes try to swim, cycle and run across the Mere in the
Ellesmere Triathlon. Most
give up after the swim ‘cos
cycling across it is daft.
☞ Kangaroos are excellent
swimmers but prefer
skateboarding to
cycling. As a result
they are banned
from doing the
triathlon.
Writing by NoNonsense@bikeboy.madasafish.co.uk
Cartoons by Scribbles www.scribbles-cartoons.co.uk
Designed by MA Creative www.macreative.co.uk
WHAT SORT OF
WALK IS IT
Type of ground – Flattish to
start then gets hilly but not
silly. Can be muddy in places
How long – Less than 2 miles/
3.6 km. Allow 1½ hours
How easy – Easy peasy, but
more tricky in high heels or
flippers
Suitable for pushchairs –
Unfortunately not
A gentle circular walk to the
canal and back to the Mere. Not
for the easily tongue-tangled.
Do you know what keeps all the
water in the Mere

Finding the start
Start at the Mere Visitor Centre,
Ellesmere. There is ample pay
and display parking nearby.
Ellesmere is thought to have been
named by the Saxons who called
it ‘Aelsmere’ or ‘great lake.’
Imaginative lot the Saxons.
Start 1 With the Mere
on your left, walk back along the road passing the Moors
car park. Cross the grass at the far end of the car park
B5068
where you will see a finger post that directs you to canal
ELSON
towpath. Cross over the road, taking care as this road is
busy.
S C OTLAN D
GRANGE ROAD
R OAD
The Moors is all that’s left of a big bog that had been here since the end of the last
Ice Age. Two hundred years ago the canal builders cut through and drained it. They
dumped the soil in the Mere to make Eleanor’s Island.
2
Follow the path
to the Shropshire
Union Canal and
turn right along the
tow path.
This bit of the Shropshire
Union Canal is called the
Llangollen Branch. It links to
the Montgomery Canal and
runs into Wales. It takes
years of practice to say
Llangollen. The double L sounds like ‘chl.’ Try saying it without drowning in dribble
(chlan-gochlen).
3
Leave the canal and turn right along the path signposted ‘Visitor
Centre, Car Parks, The Mere.’ Follow the path over the boardwalk.
H
I
STREET
G H S T R E E T
DIKSMUIDE DRIVE
A528
A495
C R O S S
S T R E E T
TALBOT S T R E E T
ST J O H N ’ S H I LL
BIRCH
Canal Wharf
Dismantled Railway
Playground
R O A D
PINFOLD LANE
SWAN HILL
Church
I L L
H
CHU R C H
S ANDY LANE
Marina
Cremorne
Gardens
CHURCH STR EET
Motte &
Bailey
Castle
Field
Shropshire Wildlife Trust
Nature Reserve
SHROPSHIRE UNIO N C A N A L
Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. Shropshire County Council 100019801. 2008
Towpath
The Mere
Mere Visitor Centre
START
The Boat House
Picnic
A495
Mereside Farm
The Crimps
Toilets
Boat House
Moors Car Park
To explore more of Shropshire’s landscape and to find out more about its people, nature and history go to www.discovershropshire.org.uk