The hill itself is 145m (476ft) high. Shelf Bank was deposited here by a melting glacier some 12,000 years ago.
The site occupies the majority of a knoll, which offers views across Oswestry town, Wales and the wider Shropshire countryside. During WWII anti aircraft guns and lookout posts were estabished on the summit. Along the southern edge of the site there can be found a section of Watt's Dyke, an earth bank structure dating back the Dark Ages.
This large hill in the centre of Oswestry donated to "the children of Oswestry" by a long-forgotten landlord and as a result of its disputed ownership has proved very difficult to redevelop, despite occupying valuable land just outside the town centre. On the North side, it is surrounded by a vast desolate area of old railway sidings of the Oswestry Branch Line (closed many years ago) and a huge Victorian engineering works, now converted into antique shops. On the rare occasions when snow falls in the town, it provides the local populace with superb sledging opportunities. With its long grass, hawthorns and oaks, it is rich in invertebrates and good for song birds too.
I would recommend parking in Queen Elizabeth Drive (N52.51.799 W003.02.670) or near to it as you can then walk up the road and through and alley way to the right onto Shelf Bank.
Thanks to Shropshire County Council for permission to place a cache here.