17. Go through the gate and climb the tarmac right. Go past the track on the
left then, at the junction with the track straight on, follow the lane to the left for
a fast descent. After passing a marked footpath on the left follow the lane right
as it reaches the edge of Snailbeach and the old lead mine on the left
(GR375021). Keep to the lane and descend through a couple of bends to the
junction at the bottom. Go straight across the road to the car park and the end
of the ride.
Pictures and a description of the ride can be found in the Gallery.
This route crosses and can be combined with
Long Mynd and The Devil's Chair
This mountain bike route starts in Snailbeach,
south west of Shrewsbury. In 19.6miles the
route traverses the ridges of Stapeley Hill and
the Stiperstones and circles Corndon hill at the
halfway point. Farm land joins these sections
and, while not the most inspiring riding, is still
quite enjoyable. It's simply a pleasant XC ride
with fantastic views. It can be a bit heavy going
in the wet though, although still very rideable.
1. Start from the car park on the lane through
Snailbeach (GR373023). Leave the car park
and turn right to follow the lane through the
houses. The lane soon descends to a tight
right hand bend then climbs to a left hand bend.
Directly after the house on the outside of the
bend take the track on the right that drops
away, parallel to the road. Go straight on at the
entrance to the farm and descend a short way
to a gate on the right at the bottom (GR367014).
south west of Shrewsbury. In 19.6miles the
route traverses the ridges of Stapeley Hill and
the Stiperstones and circles Corndon hill at the
halfway point. Farm land joins these sections
and, while not the most inspiring riding, is still
quite enjoyable. It's simply a pleasant XC ride
with fantastic views. It can be a bit heavy going
in the wet though, although still very rideable.
1. Start from the car park on the lane through
Snailbeach (GR373023). Leave the car park
and turn right to follow the lane through the
houses. The lane soon descends to a tight
right hand bend then climbs to a left hand bend.
Directly after the house on the outside of the
bend take the track on the right that drops
away, parallel to the road. Go straight on at the
entrance to the farm and descend a short way
to a gate on the right at the bottom (GR367014).
2. Turn right through the gate, cross the farmyard, and go through the next gate. Follow the muddy double track along
the right hand side of the field to a gate. After the gate follow the track straight on when it becomes singletrack and
descends to a stream crossing, at the bottom of a grassy climb between two rows of trees. Climb the trail through the
trees then bear right near the top to go through a gate at the next farm (GR361014). Ride over the broken concrete
and turn left to continue climbing up another
wide grassy track. At the top go through a gate
into a field and turn immediately right to follow
the fence line on the flat. At the far corner go
through a small gate onto the grassy BW
between two fences. After a couple more gates
descend straight ahead on a concrete track.
This bears right just after a cattle grid and comes
out at the A488 on the left (GR350017).
3. Turn left and climb through a number of
wide grassy track. At the top go through a gate
into a field and turn immediately right to follow
the fence line on the flat. At the far corner go
through a small gate onto the grassy BW
between two fences. After a couple more gates
descend straight ahead on a concrete track.
This bears right just after a cattle grid and comes
out at the A488 on the left (GR350017).
3. Turn left and climb through a number of
bends to Hope. In Hope follow the main road left past a road on the right and then a
church. On the far side of the village the road turns slightly right and comes to a long
straight. At the start of the straight take the track on the right immediately after the last
house on the right, it looks like the driveway of the house (GR339009).
church. On the far side of the village the road turns slightly right and comes to a long
straight. At the start of the straight take the track on the right immediately after the last
house on the right, it looks like the driveway of the house (GR339009).
4. Follow the track right, around the back of the house and descend to a
stream. Cross the stream, it can be very muddy here, and climb the track off to
the right. The climb should be firm and quite rideable. The track bears to the
left and comes to some derelict buildings. It can be muddy here as well. Turn
left here and follow the track up through the bushes. Continue straight on as
the track flattens to climb through some fields. Go through a gate at the far
side of the fields by the farm and turn right up the gravel road (GR334006).
Go straight up to a junction with a lane at the end of the track (GR331006).
5. Turn left and ride a short way to the next junction. At this three way junction
turn right up a short steep climb to a crossroad at the top (GR329007). Turn left and
descend to the next crossroad. Go straight across and descend to a junction. Continue
straight ahead and on to a dirt track for a climb through the woods. At the junction in the
woods take the muddy double track ahead and right, signed as a BW. At the top of the
woods follow the trail to the left to a gate (GR315996).
descend to the next crossroad. Go straight across and descend to a junction. Continue
straight ahead and on to a dirt track for a climb through the woods. At the junction in the
woods take the muddy double track ahead and right, signed as a BW. At the top of the
woods follow the trail to the left to a gate (GR315996).
6. Once through the gate follow the grassy trail
straight ahead along the ridge and taken in the
wonderful views across into Powys on the right.
At the marked split in the trail jink to the left and
pick up the next sign a short distance later to
continue straight ahead along the ridge. Follow
the BW signs in the direction of the saddle
between the next set of hills in front. After the stone circle descend straight on through
the car park to a road (GR3302977).
the car park to a road (GR3302977).
7. Go straight on at the road then, after a short distance where the road turns
left, climb straight on up a broken trail. At the junction at the top of the trail
(GR300968) go straight on over the crest and descend to a gate (GR296962).
Directly after the gate turn left, following a vague grassy double track off the
main track, into the top left hand corner of a field and descend across the field
towards the gap in the trees at its bottom right hand corner. In the next field
continue straight on and descend across the grass to the stream hidden in the
trees at the bottom (GR299961).
8. Go through the gate, also hidden by the trees, and cross the stream before
pushing up the short, steep and muddy bank. Where the push flattens to be
rideable again follow a thin ribbon of trail off to the right through a field. This
heads towards the fence line on the right and soon joins a well-defined track
just above a farm. Descend to the farm then go through a gate and turn left to
the small gate just above the farm buildings (GR301959). Go through the gate
and descend straight on along the track by the fence line on the right. This
ends with a boggy but rideable section that comes to a wide and muddy farm
track (GR304956). Turn left and ride a short way to the farm. At the farm go
through the gate leading into the yard then continue straight on along the
tarmac track leading to a junction with a lane at the other end (GR308953).
pushing up the short, steep and muddy bank. Where the push flattens to be
rideable again follow a thin ribbon of trail off to the right through a field. This
heads towards the fence line on the right and soon joins a well-defined track
just above a farm. Descend to the farm then go through a gate and turn left to
the small gate just above the farm buildings (GR301959). Go through the gate
and descend straight on along the track by the fence line on the right. This
ends with a boggy but rideable section that comes to a wide and muddy farm
track (GR304956). Turn left and ride a short way to the farm. At the farm go
through the gate leading into the yard then continue straight on along the
tarmac track leading to a junction with a lane at the other end (GR308953).
9. Turn left and follow the lane. At the junction at the end turn left and climb. Over the
crest descend through a right then left hand bend before it kicks up to the right and
climbs to a junction (GR319961). Take the lane on the right and descend towards the
trees. In the trees follow the lane sharply left then right for a short, sharp climb to a
junction with the A488 (GR324961).
10. Turn right and descend the main road to a junction with the next road on the left, just
before it crosses a stream. Follow the lane till it comes to a junction at the crest of a
short climb (GR333960). Turn left and climb the lane past a farm then up the double
track on the left, where the lane bears off to the right (GR332963). Climb through a gate
and on to a junction just after. Turn right and climb a
steep and rocky track. As the obvious trail bears right
continue directly ahead and follow the thin track to climb
up the grass to a gate. Through the gate continue
steep and rocky track. As the obvious trail bears right
continue directly ahead and follow the thin track to climb
up the grass to a gate. Through the gate continue
straight on across the grass, the trail here is very vague but there are couple of marker
posts. Ride just to the left of the summit and then pick up a double track that descends
to a junction (GR334975).
posts. Ride just to the left of the summit and then pick up a double track that descends
to a junction (GR334975).
11. At the junction bear left through the gate
ahead and ride along the double track keeping
the trees on the right. The trail soon becomes
vague but keep to the ridge, don’t drop off to the
right. At the end of the hill negotiate the steep
loose section that skirts the right hand side of a
bomb hole and into the bushes. After squeezing
through the bushes continue descending
ahead and ride along the double track keeping
the trees on the right. The trail soon becomes
vague but keep to the ridge, don’t drop off to the
right. At the end of the hill negotiate the steep
loose section that skirts the right hand side of a
bomb hole and into the bushes. After squeezing
through the bushes continue descending
straight ahead to the small, gated bridge that crosses a stream (GR337979).
12. On the other side of the bridge follow a vague trail right then left through
12. On the other side of the bridge follow a vague trail right then left through
the field to reach a good track at the BW marker post ahead. Turn right and follow the double track a very short way to
the top of descent that ends at a gate. Don’t descend to the gate, turn left and follow another vague trail. This runs
along the bottom of the ridge line on the left, through the lumpy field, to a gate. After the gate follow the fence line on
the right to a small, gated bridge in the far right hand corner of the field (GR343984).
13. Go across the small wooden bridge then turn left and follow the fence line through the next field. At the end of the
field go through a gate on the right to cross a farm track, keeping to the right of the gate across the track. On the
opposite side of the track go through a small gate to enter another field. Turn left in this field and follow the fence line
on the left to the next gate. Go through the gate into another field and bear slightly right for a short climb, still following
the fence on the left. Go through another gate at the top of the climb then, at the end of the trees on the left, turn left
through a gate and follow the fence line on the left to a junction at a road (GR349988).
14. Go straight across the road and follow the gravel track as it bears slightly right and finishes at another lane
(GR354993). Turn left on the road then immediately right for a gentle climb up a wide dirt track. Stay on the main trail
and go straight on past the two wide tracks climbing off to the left. Continue straight on past a track that comes in from
the right just before riding past a stand of trees on the right (GR356986). At the following junction, with a gated track
that climbs steeply off to the left take double track ahead. Stay on this double track for a gentle climb all the way to the
end, at a junction with a hairpin in a lane (GR359981). Turn left and climb up the tarmac to the next junction. Turn left
and follow the sign for the car park. Take the next left in to the car park (GR369976).
the top of descent that ends at a gate. Don’t descend to the gate, turn left and follow another vague trail. This runs
along the bottom of the ridge line on the left, through the lumpy field, to a gate. After the gate follow the fence line on
the right to a small, gated bridge in the far right hand corner of the field (GR343984).
13. Go across the small wooden bridge then turn left and follow the fence line through the next field. At the end of the
field go through a gate on the right to cross a farm track, keeping to the right of the gate across the track. On the
opposite side of the track go through a small gate to enter another field. Turn left in this field and follow the fence line
on the left to the next gate. Go through the gate into another field and bear slightly right for a short climb, still following
the fence on the left. Go through another gate at the top of the climb then, at the end of the trees on the left, turn left
through a gate and follow the fence line on the left to a junction at a road (GR349988).
14. Go straight across the road and follow the gravel track as it bears slightly right and finishes at another lane
(GR354993). Turn left on the road then immediately right for a gentle climb up a wide dirt track. Stay on the main trail
and go straight on past the two wide tracks climbing off to the left. Continue straight on past a track that comes in from
the right just before riding past a stand of trees on the right (GR356986). At the following junction, with a gated track
that climbs steeply off to the left take double track ahead. Stay on this double track for a gentle climb all the way to the
end, at a junction with a hairpin in a lane (GR359981). Turn left and climb up the tarmac to the next junction. Turn left
and follow the sign for the car park. Take the next left in to the car park (GR369976).
15. At the start of the car park go through the gate on the
left by the info board. Climb the wide grassy, rutted track
towards Cranberry Rock on the ridgeline. Bear right to a
junction just by Cranberry Rock and turn right
(GR367982). Follow this trail on the flat along the line of
the hill. It bears left to follow a fence on the right then
drops slightly down hill for a really nice section of rocky
trail. Continue straight along this track until it ends at a
junction with a number of tracks, the two most obvious of
which are on the left (GR374996). Of these two take the
track ahead and left and climb to the ridge. At the top turn
right and follow the track to climb gently along the ridge.
The trail soon starts to descend for a fast hardpack
descent of about 2/3mile.
16. Go past the junction with a trail on the left where the trail flattens out a bit. Continue ahead through a right hand
bend then, just before a gate, turn left down a muddy double track 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. The track improves where the fences close in on either side and goes through
a couple of bends. Turn left at the junction with the gate straight ahead and descend down the rocky double track. At
the tarmac go straight ahead to the gate at the bottom (GR380021).
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