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We are taking a week's holiday in the UK in September. We often go to Scotland or Wales and we go to the Lakes a lot so I wanted somewhere new to us to visit.
We will want to do 'outdoorsy' stuff - running (offroad), cycling for me (gravel and/or road), maybe paddleboarding and kayaking. We'll be taking the dogs with us too, so plenty of walking. We like hills.
Interesting places to see and pubs with decent grub would be good.
Would Shropshire fit the bill? Advice and opinions please.
Ta muchly.
Would Shropshire fit the bill?
In short, yep. I have a mate who retired there who likes to do all the things you like to do, and he's always doing them, the jammy get.
Things I've gleaned from him:
- Alderford Lake (and various canals) for paddle-based activities.
- Royal Hill for great pub grub and rive views https://royalhill.co.uk/
- More quiet roady lanes than you can shake a stick at
We've done a couple of weeks down that way over the years
lots of nice walking and biking round the long mynd. Much wenlock is quite pretty, and there's lots of historical stuff around ironbridge. Shrewsbury is lovely - we did a nice day out on a canoe down the river with Hire A Canoe
https://hireacanoe.com/
We've had a few weekends in Shropshire over recent years.
We tend to be a bit more castles and old towns than running and cycling, but these are the places that we have visited:
Shrewsbury
Ironbridge
Ludlow
Black Country Museum (like Beamish with different accents)
RAF Museum Cosford
National Trust / English Heritage
- Stokesay Castle
- Attingham Park
- Wroxeter Roman City
- Kinver Edge rock houses
- Wightwick Manor
- Boscobel House
All worth a look if that sort of thing floats your boat. Beautiful part of the world.
FWIW, were >this< close to moving there
Great stuff. Cheers m'dears. All looking positive so far.
Very under rated Shropshire. Llangollen canal is very scenic. Great cycling round there and the Long Mynd. Ludlow town and castle are worth a visit
Not been in a long time but growing up, my parents had a caravan on a little site at Wentnor which sits between the Long Mynd and the Stiperstones. Shropshire is like the Peaks without the crowds is how I remember it. Beautiful countryside!
Shropshire is an odd distance for us. Not far enough away for a week's holiday but just a bit too far for a day out. Hadn't considered going there until a few years ago and now we are there for a long weekend every year, global events permitting.
I moved from Yorkshire to Shropshire (near Oswestry) about 5 yrs ago.
Shropshire is a stunning county, very rural and one of the lowest populations in the country. It has the Berwyn Mountains in the west, large areas of extensive plain to the north west, the Long Mynd, and the south of the county is rolling hills.
You would probably need a car to explore and make the most of it as the 'attractions' are quite spread out. From Oswestry to various places - Ludlow 1hr, Alderford 1hr, Telford 45mins, Bala 45-1hr, Llangollen 30mins.
running (offroad) - Not great - most of the county is farm land with very little access. Exceptions Long Mynd / Stiperstones, Berwyn Mountains. There are other areas of forestry too.
cycling for me (gravel and/or road) - as above most areas are farmland so not much gravel. However the road riding is exceptional, in fact I would say the best secret in the country with miles of small lanes either on the flat or hills. I go out for 3-4hrs and will not pass a car, some of the country lanes are practically gravel. in fact some sections around our way are genuine gravel roads. Mountain Biking is less good IMO. great for DH/Enduro but not for XC / Trail apart from Long Mynd
paddleboarding and kayaking - Not limited, but not as extensive as you would think. You can hire SUP & kayaks on some parts of the canal network, Alderford as described above (but thats a long way from anything else), the River 7 near Montford Bridge, there is also a place near Wrexham where you can take your own. lake Bala is really the meca though, or the National White Water centre is not too far from Bala. Lake Vyrnwy also does stuff.
be careful using OS Maps. Some areas are so quiet that the paths / BW's no longer exist... or a farmer has decide to block them. Even established footpaths (Offas Dyke) can get over grown as they see such little use.
A picture I took on one of my local road rides with the Berwyn Mountains in the background. Weirdly though most of what you see in the picture there are no legal rights of way.
We're very much debating moving there to Hopton area... you can get a decent bit of course for your money and would give the lad some epic MTB areas to play in.
We’re very much debating moving there to Hopton area…
Hopton as in Nesscliffe ? We looked at houses there, and now not too far away. We love living here. Houses are cheaper, but then wages are lower too.
Very few downsides for us to the area, other than our son plays football to a high standard and we spend most of our life heading towards the big cities !
Shropshire is like the Peaks without the crowds is how I remember it
Correct we were amazed when we first moved down here, and still are to this day. We can go out on a bank holiday and do a beautiful walk and not see a single person
You're missing a trick by excluding mtb from your list of activities OP. Shropshire is brilliant for mountain biking. I moved here 8 years ago, I'm retired and I haven't stopped pinching myself at my good fortune yet. I'm typing this from a cafe stop having gone for a morning cross border motorbike raid into mid Wales. This afternoon if the rain holds off, I'm going to drag my pedal bike to Hopton or Bringewood. Rinse and repeat tomorrow probably 😀
Hopton as in Nesscliffe ?
Hopton as in Hopton Castle area, Bucknell etc, somewhere quiet and villagey.
Wages don't play a facotr as we'd be staying in current jobs.
I grew up in Shrewsbury so I'm biased, but I think South west Shropshire is one of the best kept UK secrets. Really quiet, so beautiful. I'd recommend the longmynd, the stiperstones, stop in at the Bridges pub, nip to Montgomery and Bishops Castle (possibly catch some live music and food at the latter), wander to the stone circle at Mitchell's Fold, visit Ludlow and get some posh food.
Lots of great MTB trails at Eastridge forest when I was there, but I might be out of date on that!
A good base to visit mid Wales too.
stop in at the Bridges pub
Thanks, that’s just brought back some great memories of my childhood.
I live about an hour away, so regularly down there with the dog.
Just did the Shropshire Six - a walk starting at Corndon and taking in Stiperstones, Long Mynd, Caer Caradoc, Brown Clee and Titterstone Clee.
A beautiful part of the world
I live on the Worcestershire/Shropshire border.
For quaint old towns with museums, castles and antique shops, Ludlow is excellent. Bridgnorth is good.
For industrial history; Severn Valley Railway and Ironbridge Gorge Museums. Both world class at what they do.
I see a lot of kayakers and paddle boarders paddling past me on the River Severn. You can even hire a boat one way and get a steam train back upstream from Bewdley to Bridgnorth.
Mountain biking. I agree, a lot of bridleways are overgrown through remoteness and lack of use. Clee Hill is mostly rideable with spectacular views.
Clee Hill is popular for walking as well, although 'popular' by Shropshire standards means once you're away from the carparks, you could spend all day Sunday up there and meet 10 people.
Road cycling; easy to get from A to B or make up a loop on lanes through sparsely populated areas.
@rjmccann01 - we'll rent a cottage but thanks.
@blokeuptheroad - I'll be taking just a gravel bike or just a road bike, tbh.
As usual some great advice from everyone. Very much appreciated.
Plenty of gravel to be going at in Shropshire if you know where to look. Highly recommend starting in Craven Arms and following Wenlock Edge and on to Shrewsbury. About 65km and a huge percentage off road. GPX on request 😜
Kerry Ridgeway is also absolutely stunning. Feels very remote and scenery is lush. Have a route planned from Newtown and back to Shrewsbury, yet to tick it off though.
Cross Cartel from Ludlow worth looking at for routes also.
Feel free to DM me and I'll let you in on some Salopian treats.
I live in Shrewsbury and I am very outdoorsy, Shropshire has plenty to keep you occupied for a week including the Long Mynd, Stiperstones, Eastridge Woods, Clee Hill and Ludlow.
About an hour away are Pistyll Rhaeadr and The Berwyns etc. Also the Wyre Forest (my previous back yard) is worth going to for some great mountain biking.
Ride Asterton Bank, and thank me later.
Stopped in Church Stretton for a week and didn't scratch the surface of things to do. Will return at some point.
Lots of lovely countryside and fab cider from local corner-stores
Long mynd around church Stretton.
Offa's dyke around Kington (not Knighton!), great countryside. Just realised Kington is Herefordshire but it's also south of Manchester, also sells apples and they also talk funny
Talking funny on Kington: The Radio 4 thread. They once did two dramas set in Kington, and they talked really funny. Not one local accent in either of them.
Being a "funny speaker" from South of Manchester was great fun when teaching in Scotland - nobody could work out where I was from.
Plenty of gravelly goodness around the edge of Shropshire - Ludlow, Wyre, Knighton north or south of the border. On the Radnorshire side of the Teme is Beacon Hill, a Long Mynd lookalike well worth a tyre track.
We’re staying just north of Ludlow (Stanton Lacy) week after next. I’ve been in two minds whether to take a gravel bike or mtb. I’ll only be doing 60-90 minute rides in the morning before everyone gets up so thought the gravel bike would probably suit me most.
Is Clee Hill ok for a gravel bike?
We’re staying just north of Ludlow (Stanton Lacy) week after next. I’ve been in two minds whether to take a gravel bike or mtb. I’ll only be doing 60-90 minute rides in the morning before everyone gets up so thought the gravel bike would probably suit me most.
Is Clee Hill ok for a gravel bike?
I live within walking distance of Stanton Lacy village hall, which is actually not in Stanton Lacy (it's in Haytons Bent). Within your time limit, there isn't much mtbing from the door. The nearest worthwhile would be Mortimer Forest or Bringewood south of Ludlow which is a bit of a trek from Stanton Lacy. Doable in your window, but you'd be turning back as soon as you got there without time to ride any of the trails. Most of the bridleways are very overgrown at the minute. There are two Clee Hills - Brown Clee (the nearest) and Titterstone Clee ( the one everyone thinks of as 'Clee Hill'). Titterstone Clee is easily doable on a gravel bike, or a road bike come to that. Brown Clee would be MTB territory from the direction you'd be going, especially near the top.
@tenfoot I can loan you some local maps and cycling & walking guidebooks whilst you're here if it's of any use?
I love Shropshire, especially round Bishop's Castle. If you had to show quintessential English countryside to someone this would be a good starter.
Off road running I like to head south of Bishop's Castle up to Blakeridge Wood and back again.
Mortimer Forrest is also good, when walking around it noticed quite a few tyre treads so must be some riding.
If you're looking for camping accommodation I can highly recommend Fox Holes campsite.
Mortimer Forrest is also good, when walking around it noticed quite a few tyre treads so must be some riding.
Absolutely loads. Mostly winch and plummet, there must be twenty or more decent trails with new ones appearing all the time. Just across the road is Bringewood which has one official DH run, used for racing and uplift days and loads of unofficial stuff.
I love Shropshire, especially round Bishop’s Castle.
If you like a good pint, Bishop's Castle is a must.
If you're in Ludlow, the church the (St Leonard's?) has the most amazing carved misericords. The Tudor architecture is pretty knockout too. Long Mynd is great.
It's a little known internet fact that freeriding wasn't born in Canada, but in Haughmond Hill Quarry in 1988.
If you’re in Ludlow, the church the (St Leonard’s?)
St Laurence's 👍 I had to Google misericord. Every day is a school day!
I grew up in the forest - Mortimer Forest is a FC administrative name for Bringewood. It did not exist prior to the late 1960s. Grinds my gears something rotten. Imagine getting away with renaming FoD!
The forest is on a kink of a long limestone ridge. While famed for the downhill off Wheeler's Vallets the dip slope has lots of fun descents at a more accessible layer, especially in Haye Park on the High Vinnalls dip.
Unfortunately there are no recent orienteering maps which are often a good give away but if you go up to the island of farmland in the forest around Haye Park House, you will find the tyre tracks in the spruce and larch woods.
https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5231303
There is some great gravel riding at Brown Clee and on the limestone ridge at Wenlock Edge.
(Originally Mortimer was the FC name for all the holdings in north Herefordshire and SW Shropshire, including Hopton, Blakeridge Wood etc - somehow it hung on on the medieval hunting forest of Bringewood Chase by Ludlow.)
Kington is another good call, lovely area. CLose to Hay on Wye for culture and so on, plenty of countryside and lovely lanes
@fashadh I did not know that! You probably won't approve of the name, but hopefully you'll like their aims - there is a friends of Mortimer forest group. They do a lot of guided walks and talks and try to educate people about the history and ecology of the forest. I went to the opening meeting in St Laurence's where Jonathan Porritt gave a talk. I did go on a guided deer walk with them during the fallow rut, where the FC ranger had a whinge about mountain bikers using the forest. I felt the need to defend us so we had an 'interesting' exchange!
Just planning a road cycling trip with mates staying in Ludlow. Might manage a gravel day but if anyone can recommend approx 60 to 70 mile loops from there that would be great. Local lanes ideal.
Thanks Blokeuptheroad - I have been moaned at a few times when visiting the area, but not yet on the bike. Antifun are everywhere. Night riding winds them up apparently. One forest manager managed to get orienteering banned for nearly 20 years - that was in the original "Mortimer Forest" ie everywhere for miles around. Was a pig being a keen orienteer in a forested area where there were never any events.
When I first started using the forest I was instructed in the ways of stealth as it was a bit gomlish. You never saw anyone in there mind. I spent most weekends in there having a close relative in a now demolished cottage at Woodcroft. High Vinnalls is still my most ascended hill, seen many trees come and go up there.
If anyone is bored today, we'll be at Blazing Bikes for a bit in the afternoon, just looking... honest 🙂
Ioneonic - Did this route, which is nearish Ludlow. The road from Craven Arms to Bishop's castle is definetly not country lanes, but other than that I remember it being pretty quiet.
https://www.strava.com/activities/2593377250
It looks like I decided to live at the wrong end of the county for mtb 🙁
This is a view from the top of the Berwyn's, one of my fav off road runs from the past. You never used to see a soul up there and you can take in Pistyll Rhaeadr as part of the loop.
Oh and if you like your wine - head to Tanners in Shrewsbury. They are pretty good at sourcing good stuff
Shropshire is epic, we feel very lucky to live here and can’t imagine wanting to live anywhere else, just a lovely place. We’re in the slightly more populated North in a village near Nesscliffe, lots of great biking and running close by. We do lots of family exploring over the summer on our bikes and we keep finding new stuff every year, there are lots of “hidden” villages nestled in the Shropshire hills, just lovely. 🙂
And Shrewsbury is a really nice town to potter, enjoy the history and get a nice coffee!
Night riding winds them up apparently
It was night riding specifically he objected to. I'm not much of a night rider and a very mediocre mountain biker. The first time I did any night riding (aged 54 at the time) was in Hopton on a Pearce cycles shop ride. They took us down one of the black DH runs. My first night ride, with a cheapo Halfords light on a trail that would have tested me in the daylight! I survived, just!
To be fair, the Forestry people in Mortimer are mostly quite tolerant of mountain biking. None of the established unofficial trails seem to get closed unless they are harvesting or people build ridiculous features. It helps that most of the trails aren't obvious unless you actively go looking for them and don't get very heavy traffic. I took me ages to find and link them together when I moved here, I'm sure there are loads I haven't found yet. I have generally found the mix of people that use the forest to be quite tolerant of each other. Walkers, horse riders, runners and cyclists etc. I've never had any kind of altercation and usually get (and always give) a cheery 'good morning', 'afternoon' or whatever.
@weeksy, I would have loved to come and say hello, but have made plans for today. Keep a tight grip on your wallet!
@FunkyDunc although we go to Hopton, Bucknell etc a fair bit, we do love the local trails, lots of fun to be had and although we are enduro focused, still plenty for family MTB rides too 🙂 the biggest problem is how overgrown stuff has got this year.
Ignore everyone on this post. It’s a dump, move along, nothing to see there
🤥
Surely I can't be the only one thinking " slow criminals".
Thank you @blokeuptheroad. That’s a very generous offer. I don’t think I’ll have too much time to myself anyway, so won’t take your offer up, but thanks again. And thank you for the advice re: the local trails.
Hey no worries 👍 Enjoy your trip.
Ignore everyone on this post. It’s a dump, move along, nothing to see there
Despite what I said above I would agree with this.
Northumberland used to be a dump of a place 20/30 yrs ago and now unfortunately it’s rammed with tourist 😂
Without wishing to hijack the thread, I’d welcome campsite recommendations in the area.
I’ll be in a van rather than camping and prefer somewhere close to rides/walks, clean, friendly, allows fire pits and relatively cheap.
See also Ludlow.
@rockbus the Small Batch campsite near Little Stretton recommended earlier in the thread is very good. Pretty sure they allow vans. It's in a stunning spot just below the Long Mynd, so loads of great walking and cycling, road and off road. Great pubs nearby too.
No fires allowed at Smallbatch. For that you want Brow Farm Campsite near the Bridges
Update:
Booked a cottage in Clun, slap bang in the middle of Shropshire Hills. Roll on September!
Good choice of location. Some sweet riding that way.
Clun is a lovely little town with some great pubs and cafes. No good for your visit, but they have a green man fair there over the May bank holiday which is really good. I help my wife man a stall there. Bishops Castle just up the road is worth a visit too, especially the 3 tuns brewery and tap house. Have a great trip.
Cheers all. I am REALLY looking forward to it!
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Been having a great week. Got up Titterstone Clee on Sunday and have done a few local road rides. A nice loop from Sutton Hill down to Hayton’s Bent, down the very steep hill (with bend at the bottom I didn’t make it round first time - wet road), onto Bouldon, and then back through Clee St Margaret. Fantastic scenery and hardly any cars about at all, even at 9 am.</p>
Lots of nice family stuff to do, too, including a walk up the Wrekin, and a trip to Hay On Wye to look at books, amongst other things
Love it here. Don’t want to go back to overcrowded Kent.
Love it here. Don’t want to go back to overcrowded Kent.
Got a house and some land for sale just outside Ludlow.
Did you get a microwave buzz off Clee Hill? Used to go up there a lot, but it was uncomfortable hanging around the trig.
You'll have ridden right past my gaff (Haytons Bent). Although we've not been around much this week as I've been helping my wife man her stall at various country shows and market stalls. Welland steam fair last weekend, 2 days at Ludlow market this week, Burwarton show today, a day off tomorrow then Tenbury show on Saturday!
Love a ride up Titterstone Clee. Though coming down on an MTB, I prefer Brown Clee. There's a brilliant fast swoopy run down from Abdon burf on the summit towards Cockshutford and Clee liberty common.
We were staying up at Sutton Hill Farm. Big family holiday, and it looks like we will be coming back next year.
Drove up to Shrewsbury yesterday, and looked longingly at the Long Mynd as we went past, so will be bringing my MTB next time.
The ride off Titterstone Clee was interesting on a gravel bike. I went down the steep northern slope, in the direction of Brown Clee. Had to push a couple of times, when I would have ridden on the MTB.
Beautiful part of the country and I’m looking forward to coming back, as i/we only scratched the surface of riding possibilities and things to do with my family. Very envious of anyone who lives around there.
Did you get a microwave buzz off Clee Hill? Used to go up there a lot, but it was uncomfortable hanging around the trig.
Not that I noticed. Couldn’t hang around too long, anyway, as it was very windy.
towards Cockshutford and Clee liberty common.
I rode up to Cockshutford to check out one of the bridleways that runs across Clee Liberty Common. Lots of “no vehicles” signs, one of which mentions “no bikes”. Presume they are referring to motorbikes and not push bikes (?)
We are away in the van and have just woken up to a beautiful day above Ludlow. The castle is down below us and Clee Hill beyond it, stunning.
Shame we lost a day to a knackered starter motor, we were supposed to have two nights here. Nevermind, we'll be back 😎
We were staying up at Sutton Hill Farm.
You were less than a mile from me
I rode up to Cockshutford to check out one of the bridleways that runs across Clee Liberty Common. Lots of “no vehicles” signs, one of which mentions “no bikes”. Presume they are referring to motorbikes and not push bikes (?)
Pretty sure they mean motorbikes, never had an issue up there.
We are away in the van and have just woken up to a beautiful day above Ludlow.
It is indeed a cracking morning in the shire. I'm off to help a man a stall at a vintage car fair in Much Wenlock this morning, after the drizzle yesterday, I hope it stays like this!
@rockbus we had a wander this morning through Bringewood and spotted a campsite at Monstay Farm that allows fire pits and you are surrounded by woodland.
Just enjoyed a pint and pizza at Ludlow Brewery too.
We walked round Ludlow this morning before everyone got up, what a beautiful town.
CSON's (green cafe) down by the weir is my top Ludlow recommendation.
An update:
We had week at a cottage in Clun. I was pretty impressed as soon as we got there. The cottage was ok but the village was ace. Ruins of the castle. Two decent pubs. A river c/w (updated) packhorse bridge. Folk putting their surplus home grown produce outside their houses for you to help yourself to. The people we met there were very friendly. Our neighbours invited us to a little outside soiree further enlived by watching lightening. Although rapidly abandoned when the monsoon started!
The weather was a bit iffy (as mentioned) and scuppered some of my plans but we got out to see Ludlow, Bishops Castle, Church Stretton and Montgomery. We walked up the Long Mynd and Stiperstones. Had a look at the Bury Ditches hill fort. I got a run in from Clun Castle and along the Shropshire way. I got a (brief) road ride in from Clum to Knighton and discovered an amazing quiet back road that went on for aaaages, not a soul on it.
Great views of Red Kites, ravens, kestrels and peregrines in the hills.
In summary the trip was a success. We only scratched the surface of things to do/see. Would I go again? Yes, but to a different part of Shropshire.
Great views of Red Kites, ravens, kestrels and peregrines in the hills.
In summary the trip was a success. We only scratched the surface of things to do/see. Would I go again? Yes, but to a different part of Shropshire.
I used to live in North Bradford and now just outside Oswestry. Ive been here nearly 5 years now and still find it unbelievable that when I look out my window I will see some form of bird of pray circling around just metres from my house.
If you are coming again I would certainly recommend North Shropshire/Powys. Its a slightly different feel and look to what I would call south Shropshire around Ludlow etc. Not so much mtb, but mile after mile of quiet unused roads.
We were some of the earliest MTBers in Mortimer Forest back in the early 90s along with some Pearce riders, before there were trails on the Bringewood side. There were almost no MTB-made trails then, just older paths. I went back again earlier this year and most of what we used to ride was non-existent but there was miles of new MTB stuff. I got completely lost and ended up in a part of the forest that used to be inaccessible.
when I look out my window I will see some form of bird of pray circling around just metres from my house
Do you live in a converted church?
@molgrips if you fancy a ride on Sat 30th we're playing at Hopton. He's racing on Sunday, practicing Sat, but i'll be riding Hopton with mates on the Sat.
Thanks but I'm not local to the area any more :). However I may pop up depending on situation.
Glad you had a good trip.
Had a look at the Bury Ditches hill fort.
There are some DH trails hiding in the woods there
we got out to see Ludlow, Bishops Castle, Church Stretton and Montgomery.
Did you get to see the Michaelmas fair in Bishops Castle which was on this Saturday? I was there helping Mrs Bloke with a stall selling her artwork. We hung around afterwards in the evening. Brilliant vibe on the high street, a lantern parade then traction engines parked outside all the pubs and tootling up and down. Some fuelled by cider I suspect, as well as coal!
Ignore FD in the Northern wastelands, there be dragons.....😉 get yourself back to south Shropshire!
Looks good and we saw the posters for it but no, we got turfed at 10.00am so by mid afternoon we were up in the Lakes for the remainder of the w/end.
Thanks again to everyone who passed on info and suggestions. It was much appreciated.
Do you live in a converted church?
Ha ha - I dont live in Powys (just about everyone in Powys lives in a converted Church, you can be in the most remote back water with no houses for miles, but there will be a disused / converted chapel)
We were back there a couple of weekends ago when it was crazy hot. Missed the Michaelmas fair which is a shame, was talking to Tara at the Chai Shop and she was saying it would be a big weekend.
May have to make my way down there for it next year.
View from the hot tub was ace.
