Colemere & Ellesmere, Shropshire | 8.7 Mile Walk / Running Route

Today we are close to the Welsh border in Shropshire beyond Whitchurch between Wrexham and Oswestry at Colemere Country Park for a run around Colemere and down to Ellesmere Lake. These are among the largest meres in England formed by glacial melt water. I’ve joined them up using the Llangollen canal and the path over the fields to Welshampton to form an 8.7 mile circular route but you could just do one mere or the other if you want a shorter walk / run.

The Route

Starting  from the car park at Colemere, take the path anticlockwise around the mere. At the far side where the path around the mere turns left go straight on to come out at a lane opposite a beautiful thatched house. Turn right and at the bridge join the Llangollen canal turning right under the bridge. Follow the path to Ellesmere Tunnel and go through then take the second path on your right and follow it to Sandy Lane. Cross over, the Castlefields Car Park is ahead of you bear left over the hill and down to Mereside at Ellesmere Lake. Cross the road and turn left and follow the path clockwise around the mere. At the far side you meet a branch in the path where the path around the mere continues straight on, instead we turn left up the side of a field. We follow this path to a farm where it turns right and then at a bend in the farm track we take the path straight on across the fields, we follow this until we come out at Welshampton. At Stocks lane go straight on and then take the path on the right which comes out on the A495. Turn left and then take the path right just before the Sun Inn. At Lyneal lane turn left and follow it back to the Llangollen canal. Join the canal turning right under the bridge and follow it to bridge 54 where we exit. The path takes us back to the path we started on. Turn right and follow it and at the far side this time turn left and follow it back to the starting point.