This mountain bike route of 24.5mile is not as difficult as it’s distance suggests. It has on very hard climb, that being
the first one out of Carding Mill Valley, but this leads onto a ride of long but steady climbs and three 2mile descents
with nothing too technical, just fun and fast. 9miles of the ride is spent on quite and pleasant country lanes that make
the ride seem shorter.
the first one out of Carding Mill Valley, but this leads onto a ride of long but steady climbs and three 2mile descents
with nothing too technical, just fun and fast. 9miles of the ride is spent on quite and pleasant country lanes that make
the ride seem shorter.
1. The ride starts off in the center of Church Stretton, conveniently next to a
Co-op and some public toilets, at a pay and display car park which isn't
expensive (GR454936). Once ready to start turn right out of the exit by the
supermarket and then right again at the mini roundabout. At the crossroads
continue straight on. After a little while take the road on the left with the
brown sign to pointing to Cardingmill Valley (GR453942). Follow this road up
the valley which eventually passes a visitors centre, through a ford and on to
a car park.
2. Don't take the little track over the stream on the left but go through the
car park and up the wide track at its rear. After a few fords the real fun starts
Co-op and some public toilets, at a pay and display car park which isn't
expensive (GR454936). Once ready to start turn right out of the exit by the
supermarket and then right again at the mini roundabout. At the crossroads
continue straight on. After a little while take the road on the left with the
brown sign to pointing to Cardingmill Valley (GR453942). Follow this road up
the valley which eventually passes a visitors centre, through a ford and on to
a car park.
2. Don't take the little track over the stream on the left but go through the
car park and up the wide track at its rear. After a few fords the real fun starts
then take the right through the wooden posts and across the dip in the trail.
It is then simply a case of following this track to the next junction and turning
right onto the tarmac (GR420953). Almost immediately, take the doubletrack
off to the left to start a descent of over 1.5miles, only broken by a small climb
in the middle. The descent goes through one gate just after the climb and
continues down on the double track to the farm and Coates at the bottom
(GR393954).
4. Once through the gate follow the tarmac round to the right then straight
It is then simply a case of following this track to the next junction and turning
right onto the tarmac (GR420953). Almost immediately, take the doubletrack
off to the left to start a descent of over 1.5miles, only broken by a small climb
in the middle. The descent goes through one gate just after the climb and
continues down on the double track to the farm and Coates at the bottom
(GR393954).
4. Once through the gate follow the tarmac round to the right then straight
on at the fork in the lane and descend to the Horseshoe Inn at Bridges. Atthe
junction by the pub turn left, then a short distance later at the next junction
and turn left again and go over the bridge Just over the bridge turn right and
start climbing on the next lane. This becomes quite steep after a bit and
comes to a junction, take the lane ahead that climbs away slightly to the left.
The incline soon becomes more manageable with only a few more short
sharp bits over the next couple of miles to the next junction and the top
(GR369976).
5. With the car park on the right, turn left and follow the road, as it descends
round to the right, to the next junction. Go straight on and descend to a left
junction by the pub turn left, then a short distance later at the next junction
and turn left again and go over the bridge Just over the bridge turn right and
start climbing on the next lane. This becomes quite steep after a bit and
comes to a junction, take the lane ahead that climbs away slightly to the left.
The incline soon becomes more manageable with only a few more short
sharp bits over the next couple of miles to the next junction and the top
(GR369976).
5. With the car park on the right, turn left and follow the road, as it descends
round to the right, to the next junction. Go straight on and descend to a left
hand hairpin then, taking care, follow the rough track straight ahead. After
some wooden buildings on the right go straight on at the junction, not
left,then up a short climb to a crossroad in the trail (GR354989).
6. At the crossroad turn right and climb the track to the next junction then
take a quick left/right and continue climbing to the crossroad at a gate.
Through the gate climb straight ahead, taking in the views to the left and the
Devil's Chair on the right. At the junction in the tracks on the top of the hill
(GR371996) take the left along the rocky technical trail along the ridge, going
straight on at the next junction and onto a fast hardpack descent for about
2/3mile.
7. Where the trail flattens out a bit and turns right take the muddy double
track off to the left down to two gates, one after the other, leading into a field
(GR376009). Follow the ruts through the field to a gate in the trees on the
opposite side. After the gate continue following the ruts through the next
field. Once the track improves and the fences close in on either side turn left
at the junction with the gate straight ahead and descend down the rocky
double track. On getting to the tarmac go straight ahead to the gate at the
bottom of a short climb (GR380021).
8. Through the gate follow the fence on the right as it climbs away right.
Where the tarmac turns left go straight on up the double track. Not far up the
some wooden buildings on the right go straight on at the junction, not
left,then up a short climb to a crossroad in the trail (GR354989).
6. At the crossroad turn right and climb the track to the next junction then
take a quick left/right and continue climbing to the crossroad at a gate.
Through the gate climb straight ahead, taking in the views to the left and the
Devil's Chair on the right. At the junction in the tracks on the top of the hill
(GR371996) take the left along the rocky technical trail along the ridge, going
straight on at the next junction and onto a fast hardpack descent for about
2/3mile.
7. Where the trail flattens out a bit and turns right take the muddy double
track off to the left down to two gates, one after the other, leading into a field
(GR376009). Follow the ruts through the field to a gate in the trees on the
opposite side. After the gate continue following the ruts through the next
field. Once the track improves and the fences close in on either side turn left
at the junction with the gate straight ahead and descend down the rocky
double track. On getting to the tarmac go straight ahead to the gate at the
bottom of a short climb (GR380021).
8. Through the gate follow the fence on the right as it climbs away right.
Where the tarmac turns left go straight on up the double track. Not far up the
double track take the signed track through the gate on the right. Descend
left on the grass close to the fence on the right and into the trees, through
the next gate, and on to a long fast descent through the woods. Follow this
descent ahead all the way to the junction at the bottom.
9. At the junction turn left then take the track almost immediately on the right
to the two gates set at 90deg to each other (GR391023). Through the gate
on the right go through the field, over the stream, and climb up to the gate
towards the farm. In the next field turn right and ride to the gate in the trees
below the house. After the gate climb off to the left, through the trees, a short
way to the next gate. Go straight on through a number of gates past the back
left on the grass close to the fence on the right and into the trees, through
the next gate, and on to a long fast descent through the woods. Follow this
descent ahead all the way to the junction at the bottom.
9. At the junction turn left then take the track almost immediately on the right
to the two gates set at 90deg to each other (GR391023). Through the gate
on the right go through the field, over the stream, and climb up to the gate
towards the farm. In the next field turn right and ride to the gate in the trees
below the house. After the gate climb off to the left, through the trees, a short
way to the next gate. Go straight on through a number of gates past the back
of the farm and drop down to a track on the left. Turn right and continue descending to the junction with the lane
(GR398019).
10. At the junction turn left then take the next right, over the cattle grid, and climb to Huglith farm. At the farm go
through the gate on the right and climb up to the ridge of Huglith Hill. At the crest, where the track turns right up the
ridge, go straight ahead through the gate and descend through the next field to the gate at the junction with the next
track. Turn right and climb the double track then descend to the junction with the lane (GR404011).
11. Turn left onto the tarmac and climb to the next road junction with a B road and turn right. Ride past the road on
the right at the crest and descend to a short uphill and a junction with a steep lane on the left at Stitt Farms
(GR403985). Turn left and climb steeply on the tarmac, but don't worry it flattens out after a bit. About 1.5miles later
(GR398019).
10. At the junction turn left then take the next right, over the cattle grid, and climb to Huglith farm. At the farm go
through the gate on the right and climb up to the ridge of Huglith Hill. At the crest, where the track turns right up the
ridge, go straight ahead through the gate and descend through the next field to the gate at the junction with the next
track. Turn right and climb the double track then descend to the junction with the lane (GR404011).
11. Turn left onto the tarmac and climb to the next road junction with a B road and turn right. Ride past the road on
the right at the crest and descend to a short uphill and a junction with a steep lane on the left at Stitt Farms
(GR403985). Turn left and climb steeply on the tarmac, but don't worry it flattens out after a bit. About 1.5miles later
take the lane off to the right just after a tight right hand bend (GR413995).
12. Follow this fairly straight tarmac double track for about a mile to a gate at
the bottom of a dip. Through the gate climb the dirt double track to the next
gates. Go through the gate ahead/left and descend down the right hand side
of the field, with the trig point on the right in the next field. At the other side of
the field ride between the fences down to the gate at the bottom of a long
muddy double track climb. Once through the gate choose a rut and climb, 2/3
of the way up follow the track off left along the fence line and on to a couple of
12. Follow this fairly straight tarmac double track for about a mile to a gate at
the bottom of a dip. Through the gate climb the dirt double track to the next
gates. Go through the gate ahead/left and descend down the right hand side
of the field, with the trig point on the right in the next field. At the other side of
the field ride between the fences down to the gate at the bottom of a long
muddy double track climb. Once through the gate choose a rut and climb, 2/3
of the way up follow the track off left along the fence line and on to a couple of
gates. Through the gates continue along the track to a gravelled section and
a left hand bend that comes out to a road (GR436967).
13. Go straight across the road follow the grassy track with the fence on the
left. Where the moorland opens out and the fence turns off to the left
continue directly ahead and pick up a wide track, coming in from the right,
and continue straight on. It is then time to really put the hammer down on this
undulating track, I've had some good speeds down here, although keep an
eye out for horses and walkers. After a while the track drops into a tricky rock
section and gets the adrenalin flowing as too much speed is usually taken into
it.
14. The track then climbs a short way to a house on the left (GR451962), but
before that climb turn right off the trail over a boggy section towards the cut,
on the left, dropping into the valley. Take the singletrack on the left. This
tight trail bears right over a nice bit of rock and comes out into a little flat
section before the final drop into the valley. At the end of this flat section the
trail splits, turn right for a sweet bit of singletrack which clings to the side of
the hill and twists its way to the valley floor. At the bottom (GR448961) turn
hard left and follow the stream down the valley. As the trail descends the
valley it widens changing from grass to gravel then finally tarmac crossing the
stream a couple of times as it does.
a left hand bend that comes out to a road (GR436967).
13. Go straight across the road follow the grassy track with the fence on the
left. Where the moorland opens out and the fence turns off to the left
continue directly ahead and pick up a wide track, coming in from the right,
and continue straight on. It is then time to really put the hammer down on this
undulating track, I've had some good speeds down here, although keep an
eye out for horses and walkers. After a while the track drops into a tricky rock
section and gets the adrenalin flowing as too much speed is usually taken into
it.
14. The track then climbs a short way to a house on the left (GR451962), but
before that climb turn right off the trail over a boggy section towards the cut,
on the left, dropping into the valley. Take the singletrack on the left. This
tight trail bears right over a nice bit of rock and comes out into a little flat
section before the final drop into the valley. At the end of this flat section the
trail splits, turn right for a sweet bit of singletrack which clings to the side of
the hill and twists its way to the valley floor. At the bottom (GR448961) turn
hard left and follow the stream down the valley. As the trail descends the
valley it widens changing from grass to gravel then finally tarmac crossing the
stream a couple of times as it does.
15. At the main road (GR459954) turn right back into Church Stretton and
back to the car. After getting changed, when food is needed, head back into
town to try one of the many cafes. There's plenty of cake and coffee on offer
to replace all that spent energy.
Unfortunately because of not wanting to leave my bike unattended on a rack
the cafe was given a miss. This was offset though by going to the Co-op and
getting some cold beers and stuff for a BBQ. After just over 4hrs in the saddle
I thought I deserved the reward.
To plot this map you will unfortunately need two OS Landrangers, numbers
137 and 126. I haven't got an explorer of this area so I don't know if one of
back to the car. After getting changed, when food is needed, head back into
town to try one of the many cafes. There's plenty of cake and coffee on offer
to replace all that spent energy.
Unfortunately because of not wanting to leave my bike unattended on a rack
the cafe was given a miss. This was offset though by going to the Co-op and
getting some cold beers and stuff for a BBQ. After just over 4hrs in the saddle
I thought I deserved the reward.
To plot this map you will unfortunately need two OS Landrangers, numbers
137 and 126. I haven't got an explorer of this area so I don't know if one of
when the track turns 90deg right through the stream for the final time. The loose rocks and
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 ridable. The climb is mostly on hardpack with a scattering of loose
rocks but near the top it becomes a bit steeper with some water bars to negotiate. Thankfully
the trail soon levels out and leads to a junction (GR427958).
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 ridable. The climb is mostly on hardpack with a scattering of loose
rocks but near the top it becomes a bit steeper with some water bars to negotiate. Thankfully
the trail soon levels out and leads to a junction (GR427958).
those covers the whole route, sorry. There are some permissive tracks used on this route that are described at the
bottom of the Long Mynd Loop.
This route crosses and can be combined with other routes from my site :
Long Mynd Loop
Long Mynd Long
Stiperstones & Corndon Hill
Return to 'The Edge Shop Rides 2005'
bottom of the Long Mynd Loop.
This route crosses and can be combined with other routes from my site :
Long Mynd Loop
Long Mynd Long
Stiperstones & Corndon Hill
Return to 'The Edge Shop Rides 2005'
| www.flattyresmtbroutes.com |
3. Turn left and follow this track for a short while