[Closed] Long Mynd worth the drive

I'm interested in this too, it's been on 'the list' for years.

Is there a waymarked route?

4hrs total driving or 2 hrs total driving?

Depends how much tech you like. It's a nice place to ride but really relatively un technical. Minton batch is fun in a flowing single-track kind of way, and it was relatively quiet when we went, good views etc.

Personally, I would maybe drive 2 hours but definitely not 4

It's nice but there is better in the surrounding hills.

As above, depends what you're after. Fast grassy blasts and some nice singletrack, not really any techy riding.

I normally ride in the Peak but head to the Mynd a couple of times a year, between a 3 & 3.5hr round trip for me.

We drove from Manc just to do Minton Batch one day. We enjoyed it so much we did it another 19 times before driving home.
( didn't enjoy the last few that much (failed Everest attempt))

Lovely descent though. Very flowy and easy.

I wasn't blown away, tho cloud never lifted so no views, definitely better riding nearby

Was a decent ride (went with kimbers), but i wouldn't go if it was likely to be busy with walkers as the trails are not wide and having to stop lots would take the fun out of it

For me its 2 hours there and another Back to Saddleworth . Im happy doing a lakes day or Dales day (Settle Ingleton ) + ride in a day. Some days im happy with a XC loop with a bit of extra techy smiles, other days Wainwright sketch. I guess if the weather right it could be a fair loop.

not really any techy riding.

You need to go in the week when you can get away with riding some of the No Cycling trails.😉

We've done a couple of weekends down there, just to go and ride. I love the place. Theres some cracking riding including Minton Batch, as mentioned.

Theres a good campsite there with a good pub right next to it, so why not make a weekend of it?

Id love to make a weekend of it Binners but alas im grounded Sunday the wife has plans for painting 🙁

In that case, its still definitely worth the drive IMHO

I like it and it's just over 2 hours each way for me, if you haven't been then give it a try otherwise you'll never know

With the right weather, it’s as beautiful as England gets. With the wrong weather, the riding isn’t good enough to make up for the missing views.

I love it there… but time it right.

Thanks all, keep the A49 clear at 7am Saturday as you never know until you try 🙂

If you have not been before, then just go and find out if you like it. Some things you can only figure out yourself. I like it and I'm about 2hrs away.

There is also a trail ctr about 20mins north as well. So you could do a bit of both.

It's well worth a visit, I live about 15 mins away and it's where I've grown up riding, the views are incredible on a clear day and it holds up well when it's wet as most trails are stone.

I'd park down in Church Stretton (plenty of parking at the Co-op). Using the map linked on the National Trust for reference (Map), going down Minton Batch (7) singletrack is well worth doing, the climb from Hamperley (1) is a good way to get back up onto the top by the Gliding Club after going down Minton (and there are some tracks in the woods at that end that it's worth having a poke around for, they're all fairly obvious coming off the main fireroad).

Descent down Callow Hill (9) to Little Stretton is great, more of a steep, fast double track. Carding Mill Valley (10) is a quick but steep way (push!) to climb up onto the top from the town, but usually too busy with walkers to ride down. 11 into 12 into 14 is a fantastic descent, starts wide, fast and grassy then when you get to 14 becomes a tight, steep singletrack descent into Batch Valley.

As others have said, Eastridge and the Stiperstones are only about 20 mins away and are steeper and techier, might be good for the afternoon?

I did it as part of a week long trip (BPW, Brecon Gap, BMCC, Elan Valley, FOD).
I think I did it on day 6 and really enjoyed it, especially Minton Batch, which considering what I'd ridden previously that week means it must have been good.
I remember thinking, "this is some of the best natural singletrack i've ridden"

Ideally, i'd look to do a longer trip rather than one day but it sounds like you don't have that luxury!

Like others, I wasn't blown away by the trails. Stunning views, but you can get those and great trails over at Eastridge/Stiperstones.

Long Mynd area might be amazing on a gravel bike (or road bike) though.

I live about 90 mins away. Tend to go every year - pick a nice weekend. We did a route with some friends that had a great pub stop in the middle. Climb out was a bit grim tho 🙂

Eastridge definitely has more challenging trails. Did a route back in March. Glad it was dry 😉

On a sunny day without too much wind, the classic loop finishing on Minton Bach is a good day out. Can recommend the (quite posh) station cafe if you're starting from the bike shop. Excellent pies.

I absolutely love that area. It really is a stunning part of the country if you get the weather right. I mean, stunning...

Some of the hills and valleys around it are just incredible and have an 'abroad feel' to me.

I park in Church Stretton and climb Carding Mill Valley. The first section after crossing the stream is HARD. I don't think I've ever cleaned it on the mtb. I lost the front on the eeb last time and fell backwards into the stream to the side which was totes hilair!
Brilliant challenge.

I normally then ride over to the gliding club, down Minton Batch (remembering it's not a dh track and there are loads of hikers), then right and right and back up through the woods where there are some mint little tracks, back over the gliding club, past carding mill and down over the golf course and various other little detours, back round the hill to the national trust car park.

If you're looking for loads of 'tracks' that you repeat, it's not really the place but it's a fantastic mtb ride and on the right day, eye meltingly beautiful.

There are a few routes out there that also go over the valley and take in Stiperstones. Again, fantastic up there. Don't do it on a rigid bike though... 😳😂

There's some wicked descents off Stiperstones if you search and you can loop back up and head back over to the Long Mynd depending on how far you want to ride.

Definitely worth it, unless uber-tech gnar is your thing (although I'm sure there are some 'unofficial' trails out there).

Rather than trying to come up with a single, coherent loop, I just use this:

Best descents IMO are 7 (Minton Batch), 2, 9 and 14. I generally start from Church Stretton up Carding Mill Valley. The Hamperley fire road climb (1) is the easiest way to get back on top, although Asterton Bank is fun in a hideous 'top 100 climbs' way.

After a few Youtube vids there seems to be a few ridge line descents on the loop as these in the Flattyres GPXs does anyone know ?

No, if you are talking about "Finding the Long Mynd's craziest etc" vid then the first two ridges they ride down are definitely very cheeky. Ride them at night and without posting a ****ing video, ****s.

I live in Squamish BC which is 'the outdoor capital of the Megaverse' or whatever, but the Long Mynd is one of my 'OG" riding spots going back to 1989. I still like the area even if it isn't Rad Dood material.
We used to ride out from Shrewsbury, up and over The Lawley and Caradoc in the morning, lunch in Church Stretton then up the Burway, TB Hollow or CM Valley and over the Stiperstones to Eastridge in the afternoon. A quick bit of proto-freeriding at the long gone Snailbeach slagheaps and then the slog back to Shrewsbury, usually in a strong headwind and dead legs.... Jumpers for goal posts etc....

all local areas to be when i was younger - love shropshire. If you want to do the wider caradoc mynd, stiperstones, eastridge area then there are some new camping pods available at habberley.

recently visited and good place to stay:
https://www.pitchup.com/campsites/England/Central/Shropshire/pontesbury/eastridge-glamping/

I've done it a few times and agree the riding is great, although the climb up is tough.
Seems to be rewarding in ways that mtb riding of old used to be. Nice views and just a good feel to the whole ride. Nothing feels forced or condensed to give maximum thrills per mile like a trail centre is.

Whether this is a good thing or not depends on what turns you in riding wise but, for me it is a great ride.

From Saddleworth, I'd suggest 60 miles the other way and a nice Nidderdale (Ramsgill) loop around near Pateley Bridge if you like natural riding. This used to be my regular ride when I lived in Leeds and it doesn't seem to have changed too much.

Id love to make a weekend of it Binners but alas im grounded Sunday the wife has plans for painting 🙁

You know, if your tyres went flat, and needed fixing, and you'd not made it back to the car before halfords closed you might have to stay the night anyway, then they don't open until 10 but probably couldn't fit you in until early afternoon so you may as well go for a ride anyway...

singlespeedstu
You need to go in the week when you can get away with riding some of the No Cycling trails

I aware that these exist but haven't ridden them as never get over on a week day, which is a shame.

If I could piggy back on this a bit..
I'm up that way in a few weeks. We were thinking of Eastridge or Hopton, but the FC are saying Eastridge is shut - that actually true or just their website bein out of date?
After a bit of a warm up ride before Stuniog the next day.

@Twonks

I went to Nidderdale a few times last year and round Malham and Settle for a few big day smiles, great place when there isnt a force 10 howling over the dales, I just fancy something a little differnet

If I could piggy back on this a bit..
I’m up that way in a few weeks. We were thinking of Eastridge or Hopton, but the FC are saying Eastridge is shut – that actually true or just their website bein out of date?

Hmm not sure. I went 10th July and most of the trails were running.
I think a lot may have been ripped up by forestry but there's quite a lot worth doing there still, especially if you do a ride over Stiperstones too.

We rode up there today as it is near where my parents live and had heard good things. Was nice enough but was very busy with walkers/holidaymakers. Also quite overgrown with bracken on minton batch.

Maybe we are spoiled living where we do in Scotland but I wouldn't drive 2h to ride there unless I had local knowledge to find the good cheeky stuff and it was a dry spring day before the braken emerges. Probably best enjoyed on a hardtail or short travel FS, certainly don't need a big bike with sticky tyres. On<span style="font-size: 0.8rem;"> the upside, the chips from the pub next to blazing bikes were some of the best that I've ever had. </span></span>

Cracking riding imo. You can combine Minton Batch etc with the trail centre as mentioned above, best of both worlds. A group of us stayed at the yha to make a weekend of it.

I’m local and like the Long Mynd a lot, very pleasant and chilled riding. It would be rude not to visit Eastridge as you pass though, there are some amazing trails there and they are running brilliantly at the moment. I spent several hours there today, the main waymarked route is a bit overgrown in places but lots of the other trails are completely clear. If you follow the marked trail, once you’ve got to the very top, there is one descent then a fire road with the trail signed left, turn right instead and take the first left trail, there are several awesome routes that way… loads more too if you check out Strava. I had as much fun at Eastridge today as I normally have at bike parks, which is saying something 🙂

I aware that these exist but haven’t ridden them as never get over on a week day, which is a shame.

It is a shame as there's some great stuff but just not worth the grief you'll get on a weekend when all the moaners are about.

It's a bit **** I thought. If you can get to the Peak District in the same time frame you're better off going there.

Love the riding there and there is plenty of steep and rocky riding - if you know where to find it.