Following the Outlaw of Shropshire on the HUMPHREY KYNASTON WAY - (hike & wild camp)

The Humphrey Kynaston Way is trail originally designed as a route for horse riders to follow in Shropshire. Therefore, the route is mainly composed of public bridal ways and minor country roads with a total length of 45.6 miles/73 kilometres.

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Humphrey Kynaston was a notorious highway man know as 'Wild' Humphrey and was born in 1468 to Lady Elizabeth Grey, second wife of Sir Roger Kynaston, Constable Keeper of Myddle Castle.

When Humphrey was 19 his father died and he became the Constable of the castle. However, Humphrey led a riotous life and fell in to debt, with the result that Myddle Castle fell into ruin.

Following a skirmish in Oswestry, Humphrey and his half brother Thomas, along with Oliver and Richard Kynaston, were accused of felony in December 1487, at this point Humphrey became an outlaw.

In December 1492 Humphrey rode to Church Stretton with Thomas and Robert Hopton. There, they killed John Hedges. Many aided and abetted the gang providing food and lodgings in the surrounding villages and also in Shrewsbury. Eventually caught, they were convicted of felony and murder in 1493 but managed to escape. His horse, reputed to have been called Beelzebub, the devil's horse, was said to have been shod backwards to confuse pursuers.

The under Sheriff having discovered Humphrey's intended route, tried to capture Humphrey by removing some of the planks from the stone pillars of Montford Bridge. However, Humphrey spurred on his horse and leaped the full span of the bridge over the River Severn.

He escaped to his hiding place in the sandstone cliffs of Nescliffe, where he lived and hid in a cave. There are 24 steps up to the cave and it is reputed that Humphrey would call his horse who would trot up the stairs to be mounted.

In his lifetime food and fodder was provided by those around him and it is said that, 'by the rich through ferasr, and the poor through gratitude'. Humphrey was later pardoned by Henry VIII, and legend has it that he died in the cave at Nescliffe.