Join the bridleway by the signal box. After 100yds (91m)turn right through a gate (blocked stile hidden in the hedge nearby) into a field. Follow the righthand edge to a stile. Cross to the other side of the hedge, but continue in the same direction. Keep straight on across four more fields to the B5476.

Walk along the road opposite (signed ‘Whixall’) and keep straight on at two junctions. Take care here. Turn right by Whixall Social Centre, then left on to a driveway before Church Farm.

At Farthing Cottage, turn right. Cross a field, passing a pond, then continue across the next field. Go slightly left across a third field to a pair of stiles and a footbridge. Don’t cross these, but go through a gate, left, opening into a large field. Turn left, keeping about 100yds (91m) from its left-hand edge. On reaching a row of three large oaks, go diagonally right to a gate and then cross another field to a lane

Turn right, then left at a junction and straight on at the next. Join the first path on the right after Whixall Primary School. Cross four fields to the Llangollen Canal and cross Roundthorn Bridge, then turn right to an information board telling you about the NNR. Take a leaflet from the box – it acts as a permit to enter the reserve. In 100yds (91m) turn left, following the orange-coded Mosses Trail.

At Point 8 on the trail, turn left to meet the canal at Morris’ Bridge. Turn right on the towpath to a canal junction, then cross Bridge 46 (Roving Bridge) to join the Prees Branch. The towpath changes sides at Bridge 3 (Dobson’s Bridge). Beyond Whixall Marina the canal is disused and has become a Shropshire Wildlife Trust nature reserve.

Pass some houses and meet a lane. Turn left, then immediately right, signposted ‘Edstaston’. Keep straight on past a turning on the left, but turn left when you come to a T-junction and follow the lane into Edstaston.

Just before the church go through a gate on the left; a second gate and then a stile lead into a field. Go diagonally across this to the B5476. Turn left, then cross to a lane on the right. Follow it past Edstaston Hall and turn right at a T-junction. Turn left on a bridleway (sign decaying). In 274yds (300m) bear right to a gate and continue to the railway. Follow it north, bearing slightly left to join a clear track which leads back to Prees Station.