In Shropshire, immediately west of the A5 trunk road, 9 miles north west of Shrewsbury. The training area is situated near the villages of Nesscliffe and Pentre from which it is clearly signed.
Site Description
Nesscliff Training Area was originally constructed during World War 2 as a Central Ammunition Depot (CAD). It continued in operation until 1959, after which it became an Army Training Area. Today it comprises of some 1717 acres of flat pastureland situated on the western end of the North Shropshire Plain. There are a large number of former ammunition storage buildings extant and the remains of two former military camps, all of which are used for training purposes. The Nesscliiff Training Camp pictured above provides accommodation for up to 530 personnel.
There is a wood in the southern part of the training area, which lies on the training area boundary with the River Severn and is known as the Burning Ground. It takes its name from the decommissioning of ammunition which took place there during the life of the CAD. Today it is fenced, signed and Out of Bounds to everyone for Health and Safety reasons.
Bordered to the south by the River Severn, the landscape of the Training Area is a classic English countryside, consisting of grazing meadows, hedgerows, ditches, ancient woodlands and a large number of grazing livestock. In the northern part of the area there are the remains of a Motte & Bailey Castle known as Belan Bank.
Access Opportunities
There is no general public right of access across the training area. However, a number of public footpaths cross the northern part of the training area. These are accessible at all times (see below). The Severn Way passes through the section of non-MOD Land that separates the two parts of Nesscliff Training Area.
The training area is primarily used for dry training (i.e. no live firing), however there are biannual exercises held which involve the firing of battle simulation charges. During such exercises access over the public footpaths is controlled.
Further Information from…
Further information on access is available from 01743 741607.
OS Map References
OS Landranger Sheet 126
(Shrewsbury & Oswestry 1:50,000
OS Explorer Sheet 240
(Oswestry, Chirk, Ellesmere & Pant) 1:25,000