This 18.6 mile mountain bike route is a good
introduction to Long Mynd, just south of
Shrewsbury. Challenging steep climbs and
fast descents, but with a flat ridge line that
allows you a rest in between. It starts in the
centre of Church Stretton conveniently next to
a Co-op and some public toilets, on a pay and
display car park that isn't expensive.
1. Leave the car park (GR454936) from the
exit by the supermarket and turn right to the
mini roundabout. Turn right then at the
crossroads continue straight on. After a little
while take the road on the left with the brown
sign pointing to Carding Mill Valley
(GR453942). Follow this road up the valley. It
eventually passes a visitors centre, through a
ford and on to a car park.
2. Don't take the little track on the left but go
through the car park and up the wide track out
of the back. After a few fords the real fun
starts when the track turns 90deg right and
introduction to Long Mynd, just south of
Shrewsbury. Challenging steep climbs and
fast descents, but with a flat ridge line that
allows you a rest in between. It starts in the
centre of Church Stretton conveniently next to
a Co-op and some public toilets, on a pay and
display car park that isn't expensive.
1. Leave the car park (GR454936) from the
exit by the supermarket and turn right to the
mini roundabout. Turn right then at the
crossroads continue straight on. After a little
while take the road on the left with the brown
sign pointing to Carding Mill Valley
(GR453942). Follow this road up the valley. It
eventually passes a visitors centre, through a
ford and on to a car park.
2. Don't take the little track on the left but go
through the car park and up the wide track out
of the back. After a few fords the real fun
starts when the track turns 90deg right and
loose rocks but near the top it becomes a bit steeper with some water bars to
negotiate. The trail eventually levels out and leads to a junction (GR427958).
3. Turn left and follow the wide gravel track down a gentle slope to a junction
with a track on the right, just before the gravel track turns off to the left. Go
through the low wooden posts to take the track on the right along the ridge line.
Follow this track straight on across two roads to stay on the ridge all the way to
the trig point at the summit of Pole Bank (GR414940).
negotiate. The trail eventually levels out and leads to a junction (GR427958).
3. Turn left and follow the wide gravel track down a gentle slope to a junction
with a track on the right, just before the gravel track turns off to the left. Go
through the low wooden posts to take the track on the right along the ridge line.
Follow this track straight on across two roads to stay on the ridge all the way to
the trig point at the summit of Pole Bank (GR414940).
other end. Go right on the lane and descend a short way to the stand of trees on the
right, in the dip. Directly after the trees turn right into the car park (GR413937). Cut
diagonally left across the car park and follow the double track out the other side. This
track soon points down hill for a fast, loose and rocky descent. The track goes through a
number of bends before bearing gently left for a fast finish down to the gate at the bottom
(GR403931).
5. After the gate and turn left onto the lane. Go straight on at the next junction, with a
lane on the right. A short distance later, just before the farm, turn left through the gate to
follow the marked BW (GR403928). The next section can be a push if wet, but is only for
30m to the next gate after which it gets rideable, although not easy. After a few gates the
track breaks out of the trees, climbing to the left, getting steeper as it goes. At the point
where lungs have been known explode and legs fall off the track splits into two, just after
right, in the dip. Directly after the trees turn right into the car park (GR413937). Cut
diagonally left across the car park and follow the double track out the other side. This
track soon points down hill for a fast, loose and rocky descent. The track goes through a
number of bends before bearing gently left for a fast finish down to the gate at the bottom
(GR403931).
5. After the gate and turn left onto the lane. Go straight on at the next junction, with a
lane on the right. A short distance later, just before the farm, turn left through the gate to
follow the marked BW (GR403928). The next section can be a push if wet, but is only for
30m to the next gate after which it gets rideable, although not easy. After a few gates the
track breaks out of the trees, climbing to the left, getting steeper as it goes. At the point
where lungs have been known explode and legs fall off the track splits into two, just after
entrance to the forest (GR413894). A low gear is required as this firetrack climbs all the
way to the top of the hill again, although it is the easiest climb of the route. Stay on the
main track, following it through a series of bends. A long right hand bend leads to a flatter
section and then long left hand bend. Keep left and go past two fire tracks on the right
then a grassy track on the right. The track then climbs along the line of trees on the right
to a crossroad junction at the top (GR406903).
8. Turn right at the crossroad and ride slightly down hill to a gate on the left. Go through
this gate and follow the grassy track in the direction of the glider club. There are some
helpful BW markers set into the grass. Near the road, on the left, there is a junction in the
track marked with three blue arrows on a white circular plate set into the ground.
9. Follow the arrow pointing left, to the road (GR403907). Cross the road and take the
gravel track leading off to the right, signed as the ‘Starboard Path’, that goes around the
back of the glider club. The gravel gives way to grass as the track descends through
way to the top of the hill again, although it is the easiest climb of the route. Stay on the
main track, following it through a series of bends. A long right hand bend leads to a flatter
section and then long left hand bend. Keep left and go past two fire tracks on the right
then a grassy track on the right. The track then climbs along the line of trees on the right
to a crossroad junction at the top (GR406903).
8. Turn right at the crossroad and ride slightly down hill to a gate on the left. Go through
this gate and follow the grassy track in the direction of the glider club. There are some
helpful BW markers set into the grass. Near the road, on the left, there is a junction in the
track marked with three blue arrows on a white circular plate set into the ground.
9. Follow the arrow pointing left, to the road (GR403907). Cross the road and take the
gravel track leading off to the right, signed as the ‘Starboard Path’, that goes around the
back of the glider club. The gravel gives way to grass as the track descends through
10. Turn left over the cattle grid to the road junction then turn right to follow the
lane uphill. Keep to this road and after about 1 mile, at the bottom of the second
descent, go past the previously visited car park by the stand of trees, on the left.
Climb to the junction with the next trail on the left. Turn left and follow this
previously ridden trail back to the trig point at the summit of Pole Bank
(GR414940). After taking in the view it is time for the final descent back to the cars,
the long way though.
11. Continue straight on from the summit and descend the gravel trail, watching out
for walkers, as there can be quite a few on this section. At the bottom of the
descent go straight across the junction and keep some momentum to help up the
next short incline. Go straight on at the next junction, with the road, and keep
following the track to the next junction. Go through the low posts and turn left to
continue along the ridge to the junction at the top of Carding Mill valley
(GR427958). Take the second track from the left to bear slightly right, going past
lane uphill. Keep to this road and after about 1 mile, at the bottom of the second
descent, go past the previously visited car park by the stand of trees, on the left.
Climb to the junction with the next trail on the left. Turn left and follow this
previously ridden trail back to the trig point at the summit of Pole Bank
(GR414940). After taking in the view it is time for the final descent back to the cars,
the long way though.
11. Continue straight on from the summit and descend the gravel trail, watching out
for walkers, as there can be quite a few on this section. At the bottom of the
descent go straight across the junction and keep some momentum to help up the
next short incline. Go straight on at the next junction, with the road, and keep
following the track to the next junction. Go through the low posts and turn left to
continue along the ridge to the junction at the top of Carding Mill valley
(GR427958). Take the second track from the left to bear slightly right, going past
the trail. After a while a tricky rock section jumps out and gets the adrenalin
flowing as too much speed can be taken into it. After the rocks follow the track
over a small rise then drop down a short descent to a junction in the bottom of
the dip, before the house on the left.
13. Turn right to cross the short, slightly boggy section to the cut in the side of
the valley. Near the end of the flat area take the track that drops into the cutting
on the left. The track keeps to the right of the cutting and drops down a nice
rock section before coming out to a plateau. At the end of this flat section,
where the trail splits, turn right for a sweet bit of singletrack that clings to the
side of the hill and twists its way to the valley floor.
flowing as too much speed can be taken into it. After the rocks follow the track
over a small rise then drop down a short descent to a junction in the bottom of
the dip, before the house on the left.
13. Turn right to cross the short, slightly boggy section to the cut in the side of
the valley. Near the end of the flat area take the track that drops into the cutting
on the left. The track keeps to the right of the cutting and drops down a nice
rock section before coming out to a plateau. At the end of this flat section,
where the trail splits, turn right for a sweet bit of singletrack that clings to the
side of the hill and twists its way to the valley floor.
All of this route can be plotted on OS Landranger 137 although there will be
some anomalies. From the start of the climb at Priors Holt, through the forest,
the OS map and the streetmap links give a good enough idea of where to go
without getting lost but some of the forest tracks seem to have changed slightly.
The permissive path around the back of the gliding club is not on the map but it
is on the ground. It may also be noted that the final descent uses a footpath and
another unmarked track. I have included these in my route because they are
shown as concessional tracks on the trail guide available from the Tourist
Information Centre.
After getting changed, when food is needed, head into town to try one of the
many cafes. There's plenty of cake and coffee on offer to replace all that spent
energy.
some anomalies. From the start of the climb at Priors Holt, through the forest,
the OS map and the streetmap links give a good enough idea of where to go
without getting lost but some of the forest tracks seem to have changed slightly.
The permissive path around the back of the gliding club is not on the map but it
is on the ground. It may also be noted that the final descent uses a footpath and
another unmarked track. I have included these in my route because they are
shown as concessional tracks on the trail guide available from the Tourist
Information Centre.
After getting changed, when food is needed, head into town to try one of the
many cafes. There's plenty of cake and coffee on offer to replace all that spent
energy.
This route crosses and can be combined with other routes from my site :
Long Mynd and the Devils Chair
Long Mynd Long
More pictures and a description of the Oneplanet Adventure Shop Ride I took on this route can be found in the Gallery.
Long Mynd and the Devils Chair
Long Mynd Long
More pictures and a description of the Oneplanet Adventure Shop Ride I took on this route can be found in the Gallery.
6. This a good place to get some food in as concentration levels need to be
high for the down hill to come. Keep the glider club on the right and go over
the road towards the valley ahead, picking up the top of the singletrack that
leads towards the lone tree at the top of the valley. Just before the tree drop
high for the down hill to come. Keep the glider club on the right and go over
the road towards the valley ahead, picking up the top of the singletrack that
leads towards the lone tree at the top of the valley. Just before the tree drop
which is a fork. Take the trail on the right, shown in the photo on the left. This track levels off
and leads to a fence. Turn left and follow the fence to the road (GR405919).
and leads to a fence. Turn left and follow the fence to the road (GR405919).
through a quick right then left before
riding through a stream and over a tricky
rock section that marks the start of the
Minton Batch descent. Once past this
the track becomes flowing, quite quick
riding through a stream and over a tricky
rock section that marks the start of the
Minton Batch descent. Once past this
the track becomes flowing, quite quick
and off camber with some roots and rocks thrown in. Follow
the trail all the way down the valley, keeping to the left hand
side of the stream all the way to the farm at the bottom. Go
straight on past the farm then cross the stream and follow
the tarmac along the right hand side of the stream to a
junction with another lane (GR424901).
7. Turn right and head to the crossroad junction in the
village of Hamperley. Turn right and head straight up the
tarmac. Go past a farm on the right to the gate at the
the trail all the way down the valley, keeping to the left hand
side of the stream all the way to the farm at the bottom. Go
straight on past the farm then cross the stream and follow
the tarmac along the right hand side of the stream to a
junction with another lane (GR424901).
7. Turn right and head to the crossroad junction in the
village of Hamperley. Turn right and head straight up the
tarmac. Go past a farm on the right to the gate at the
a dip. Climb out of the dip and bear left, to follow the line of the fence on the right, and then bear right across the lumpy
grass. Pick up the gravel track a little while later to bear right through a couple of bends to a junction with a lane
(GR405918).
grass. Pick up the gravel track a little while later to bear right through a couple of bends to a junction with a lane
(GR405918).
the right hand side of the maker post.
12. Follow the track as it bears right around the line of the hill right, then bear left over the
crest. After the crest go straight on down the rutted, grassy track to a wide junction near a fence
straight ahead (GR440967). At this point follow the wide grassy track that sweeps around to the
right away from the fence. It is then time to really put the hammer down on this undulating
grassy track, although keep an eye out for horses and walkers. Keep going straight on down
12. Follow the track as it bears right around the line of the hill right, then bear left over the
crest. After the crest go straight on down the rutted, grassy track to a wide junction near a fence
straight ahead (GR440967). At this point follow the wide grassy track that sweeps around to the
right away from the fence. It is then time to really put the hammer down on this undulating
grassy track, although keep an eye out for horses and walkers. Keep going straight on down
14. At the junction at the bottom (GR448961) turn hard left and follow the wide grassy track down the valley, along the
left hand side of the stream. The track soon bears right and becomes hardpack. Follow the track left at the ford.
Continue down the valley and cross the next ford where the track becomes a tarmac lane. This leads down through the
houses to a junction with the main road at the bottom (GR459954). Turn right and follow the main road straight on until
the mini roundabout in Church Stretton. Turn left and follow the road back to the car park and the end of the ride.
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crosses the stream for the final time. The loose rocks and the steepness make this part of the climb hard going and it
could be a push in places, although on a good day it is all rideable. The climb is mostly on hardpack with a scattering of
could be a push in places, although on a good day it is all rideable. The climb is mostly on hardpack with a scattering of
4. After the summit continue straight on down the
rocky track to the junction with the lane at the
rocky track to the junction with the lane at the
