14. After the gate go through the stream and past the cottages on the left. Turn right after the ford to the next junction,
in Little Stretton. Turn left, and left again at the following crossroad junction (GR443919). Follow the main road
through the valley all the way back to Church Stretton. At the mini roundabout by the Bucks Head turn right and return
to the car park to complete the ride.
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 first climb uses a footpath and
another unmarked track, as does the final descent to Little Stretton. I have included these in my route because they
are shown as concessional tracks on the trail guide available from the Tourist Information Centre.
This route crosses and can be combined with other routes from my site :
Long Mynd Loop
Long Mynd and the Devils Chair
Long Mynd Long
More pictures and a description of the Flattyres Ride I took on this route can be found in the Gallery.
This mountain bike route of 20miles is a great
alternative to the Long Mynd Classic route. It has
some fantastic descents on it, even though it doesn’t
use Minton Batch. This is good in bad weather
because Minton Batch can be a bit boggy when it’s
wet. It is also good in the dry as it uses some of the
fastest descents these hills have to offer. The ride
starts off in the centre of Church Stretton, conveniently
next to a Co-op and some public toilets, at a pay and
display car park which isn't expensive.
1. Leave the car park (GR454936) from the exit by the
supermarket and turn right to the mini roundabout. At
the roundabout turn right then at the crossroads just
after continue straight on. Stay on the main road and
go past the lane to Carding Mill Valley on the left.
Follow the road to the next village, All Stretton. After
passing two small lanes on the right take the lane on
the left signed to the YHA, just before the main road
goes through a right then left ‘S’ bend (GR459954).
2. Stay in the bottom of the valley and follow the lane
up through the houses, ignoring any tracks off to the
side. Continue up the valley when the lane turns into a
dirt track by a car park on the left. Go past the YHA on
the right and through the ford. Follow the stream up
the valley. Eventually bear right and cross the stream
using the bridge or the ford (GR448957). Continue up
the valley and go past the thin track that climbs away
on the right then follow the track left where it gives way
to grass. Go across a small wooden bridge to a
junction where the trail starts climbing up to the head of
alternative to the Long Mynd Classic route. It has
some fantastic descents on it, even though it doesn’t
use Minton Batch. This is good in bad weather
because Minton Batch can be a bit boggy when it’s
wet. It is also good in the dry as it uses some of the
fastest descents these hills have to offer. The ride
starts off in the centre of Church Stretton, conveniently
next to a Co-op and some public toilets, at a pay and
display car park which isn't expensive.
1. Leave the car park (GR454936) from the exit by the
supermarket and turn right to the mini roundabout. At
the roundabout turn right then at the crossroads just
after continue straight on. Stay on the main road and
go past the lane to Carding Mill Valley on the left.
Follow the road to the next village, All Stretton. After
passing two small lanes on the right take the lane on
the left signed to the YHA, just before the main road
goes through a right then left ‘S’ bend (GR459954).
2. Stay in the bottom of the valley and follow the lane
up through the houses, ignoring any tracks off to the
side. Continue up the valley when the lane turns into a
dirt track by a car park on the left. Go past the YHA on
the right and through the ford. Follow the stream up
the valley. Eventually bear right and cross the stream
using the bridge or the ford (GR448957). Continue up
the valley and go past the thin track that climbs away
on the right then follow the track left where it gives way
to grass. Go across a small wooden bridge to a
junction where the trail starts climbing up to the head of
the valley (GR447961).
3. Turn hard right and climb the singletrack up the side of the valley. Keep
straight on up the climb then go through a few bends to where it flattens off
and comes to a junction at a small plateau. Turn left and go straight up the
short but steep slope. Continue straight on at the top over a slightly boggy
section of trail to a junction with a wide trail, at the other end (GR451961).
3. Turn hard right and climb the singletrack up the side of the valley. Keep
straight on up the climb then go through a few bends to where it flattens off
and comes to a junction at a small plateau. Turn left and go straight up the
short but steep slope. Continue straight on at the top over a slightly boggy
section of trail to a junction with a wide trail, at the other end (GR451961).
Turn left and climb the grassy double
track. At the junction at top of this
short climb take the right hand fork.
Go over the rocks and on to another
track. At the junction at top of this
short climb take the right hand fork.
Go over the rocks and on to another
junction a short distance later. Take the left hand fork up the steeper slope for
a long, gradual, grassy climb. Follow this track up to a wide junction close to a
fence that comes in from the right (GR440967).
4. Go straight on and follow the fence on the right, on a wide grassy track, to a
junction with a lane just after the crest of the climb. Turn left and climb the lane
to a junction with a gravelled track where the lane bears right (GR432964).
a long, gradual, grassy climb. Follow this track up to a wide junction close to a
fence that comes in from the right (GR440967).
4. Go straight on and follow the fence on the right, on a wide grassy track, to a
junction with a lane just after the crest of the climb. Turn left and climb the lane
to a junction with a gravelled track where the lane bears right (GR432964).
Turn left onto the gravel double track and climb gradually to a four way junction at the top of Mott's Road (GR427958).
Continue straight on to the next a junction just before the main track turns left (GR424956) and go right through the low
wooden posts to continue following the track along the ridge line. Follow this track straight on to a junction with a lane
(GR421953).
Continue straight on to the next a junction just before the main track turns left (GR424956) and go right through the low
wooden posts to continue following the track along the ridge line. Follow this track straight on to a junction with a lane
(GR421953).
5. Turn right on the lane to a junction with a double track on the left to few
meters later. Turn left and follow the double track down through a quite a few
fast bends. Around halfway down the descent is broken by a short grassy
climb. Just after the climb continue along the double track and descend to a
gate. Go straight on through the gate and descend past the building on the
left. Continue straight on at the following muddy junction to follow the line of
the fence on the left to a gate at the far side of the field. Go straight on at the
gate and descend a wide rocky track through a few bends to a farm at the
bottom (GR393954).
6. At the junction at the farm turn left and follow the lane to a gate. Go through
meters later. Turn left and follow the double track down through a quite a few
fast bends. Around halfway down the descent is broken by a short grassy
climb. Just after the climb continue along the double track and descend to a
gate. Go straight on through the gate and descend past the building on the
left. Continue straight on at the following muddy junction to follow the line of
the fence on the left to a gate at the far side of the field. Go straight on at the
gate and descend a wide rocky track through a few bends to a farm at the
bottom (GR393954).
6. At the junction at the farm turn left and follow the lane to a gate. Go through
the gate and descend through a steep left then right hand bend to a gate in the bottom of the dip. After the gate climb
the steep lane and go through the gate at the top. After the gate follow the lane left and ride between some buildings
to a junction just after (GR401946). Turn right and continue along the lane along the bottom of Long Mynd, on the left,
the steep lane and go through the gate at the top. After the gate follow the lane left and ride between some buildings
to a junction just after (GR401946). Turn right and continue along the lane along the bottom of Long Mynd, on the left,
to a junction where the lane turns right (GR403930).
7. Continue straight on into the trees to a junction with a muddy BW on the left, a short
distance later, just before the farm (GR403928). Turn left through the gate and push up
the right hand side of the field to another gate a short distance later. After this gate the
trail becomes rideable, although not easy. Climb this grassy track across the side of the
hill then, after it leaves the cover of the trees, bear left for a steeper part of the climb to a
junction. Take the track on the left and follow the singletrack through the heather to a
junction with a lane at the top (GR407922).
8. Go straight across the road and pick up the vague singletrack directly ahead that
winds gently down through the heather to a junction with a grassy track (GR409921).
Bear left and follow the trail as it climbs over the flank of the hillside. After the crest
continue straight on along this trail to a junction with a vague trail on the left. Continue
straight on to where the trail traverses a long right bend through a steep bowl in the
7. Continue straight on into the trees to a junction with a muddy BW on the left, a short
distance later, just before the farm (GR403928). Turn left through the gate and push up
the right hand side of the field to another gate a short distance later. After this gate the
trail becomes rideable, although not easy. Climb this grassy track across the side of the
hill then, after it leaves the cover of the trees, bear left for a steeper part of the climb to a
junction. Take the track on the left and follow the singletrack through the heather to a
junction with a lane at the top (GR407922).
8. Go straight across the road and pick up the vague singletrack directly ahead that
winds gently down through the heather to a junction with a grassy track (GR409921).
Bear left and follow the trail as it climbs over the flank of the hillside. After the crest
continue straight on along this trail to a junction with a vague trail on the left. Continue
straight on to where the trail traverses a long right bend through a steep bowl in the
hillside, with lots of exposure on the right. After the bowl join the track that
comes in from the left. Continue straight on for a very fast grassy descent. Go
over a little crest and bear slightly left, for the fastest part of the trail, to a
vague open junction. Keep bearing left down the wide grassy trail and follow it
straight down to the bottom. At this point BE CAREFUL! The grassy track gets
steeper but comes to some rocky holes where it can be very hard to scrub off
speed. After the holes the descent finishes at a gate (GR430908).
comes in from the left. Continue straight on for a very fast grassy descent. Go
over a little crest and bear slightly left, for the fastest part of the trail, to a
vague open junction. Keep bearing left down the wide grassy trail and follow it
straight down to the bottom. At this point BE CAREFUL! The grassy track gets
steeper but comes to some rocky holes where it can be very hard to scrub off
speed. After the holes the descent finishes at a gate (GR430908).
9. After the gate bear right through
the farm to a triangular junction keep
bearing right to the final junction at the
far side of Minton. Turn right and descend the lane to a junction at the bottom,
with a lane on the right directly after crossing a stream (GR424901). Continue
straight on and climb away from the stream to a crossroad junction in the
Hamperley. Turn right and head straight up the tarmac. Go past a farm on the
right to a gate at the entrance to the forest (GR413894). A low gear is required
as this firetrack climbs all the way to the top of the hill again. Stay on the main
track and follow it through a series of bends. A long right hand bend leads to a
with a lane on the right directly after crossing a stream (GR424901). Continue
straight on and climb away from the stream to a crossroad junction in the
Hamperley. Turn right and head straight up the tarmac. Go past a farm on the
right to a gate at the entrance to the forest (GR413894). A low gear is required
as this firetrack climbs all the way to the top of the hill again. Stay on the main
track and follow it through a series of bends. A long right hand bend leads to a
flatter section, then a long left hand bend. Keep left and go past two forest tracks and 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).
The track then climbs along the line of trees on the right to a crossroad junction at the top (GR406903).
10. 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. 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 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 and bear right through a couple of bends to a junction with a lane
(GR405918).
11. Turn left over the cattle grid to the road junction, then turn right to follow
the lane uphill. Climb the lane then descend past a bowl in the hillside on the
right. At the top of the next climb take the concessional BW on the right
(GR413935).
12. Follow the wide grassy track along the top of the hill to the next junction.
Bear right along the tyre ruts then bear left at the wooden post for a short
grassy climb to the top of the hill. Go straight on at the top to cross the open
grassy area of Round Hill (GR422928). On the opposite side descend the
track that bears off to the left. Try to keep your speed upon his descent to get
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. 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 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 and bear right through a couple of bends to a junction with a lane
(GR405918).
11. Turn left over the cattle grid to the road junction, then turn right to follow
the lane uphill. Climb the lane then descend past a bowl in the hillside on the
right. At the top of the next climb take the concessional BW on the right
(GR413935).
12. Follow the wide grassy track along the top of the hill to the next junction.
Bear right along the tyre ruts then bear left at the wooden post for a short
grassy climb to the top of the hill. Go straight on at the top to cross the open
grassy area of Round Hill (GR422928). On the opposite side descend the
track that bears off to the left. Try to keep your speed upon his descent to get
as far up the climb on the opposite side of the
saddle as possible before using the granny ring.
At the top the track becomes rocky and descends
across the right hand side of the hill before
bearing left through the next saddle (GR430922).
13. On the opposite side of the saddle the track
takes a sharp right hand turn over a short rocky
section before dropping down the right hand side
of a valley on a very fast, grassy singletrack. Be
careful as it is all to easy to go too fast on this bit.
About 2/3rds on the way down follow the track left.
Near the bottom take care on the water channels
before reaching a gate at the bottom
(GR440919).
saddle as possible before using the granny ring.
At the top the track becomes rocky and descends
across the right hand side of the hill before
bearing left through the next saddle (GR430922).
13. On the opposite side of the saddle the track
takes a sharp right hand turn over a short rocky
section before dropping down the right hand side
of a valley on a very fast, grassy singletrack. Be
careful as it is all to easy to go too fast on this bit.
About 2/3rds on the way down follow the track left.
Near the bottom take care on the water channels
before reaching a gate at the bottom
(GR440919).
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