Shropshire by Paul Cumella
Saturdays ride 10th June
Every one * apart from Steve ( travelling on Saturday) arrived on Friday with varying degrees of success with their car/van journeys . (The M6 was jam packed.) Friday evening we all went to the local pub in Dorrington for an evening meal which turned out trumps.
So Saturday was a leg loosener type of ride. The weather was grey and cloudy. The intention was to visit Attingham hall (a National Trust property) for 11's and move on to Shawbury garden centre for lunch. Crossing the A49 in Dorrington is a bit of a challenge at the best of times with the heavy traffic. Then through Great Ryton to Condover with the obstinate traffic light (went through on red). Through gentle countryside to Atcham where we walked across the River Severn on the old stone bridge alongside the new concrete road bridge. The entrance to Attingham Hall was via a long winding drive through a deer park to the visitors entrance. As there were fourteen of us bike parking was limited so some had first class shelter under cover in the disabled vehicle garage.
The house is a Georgian mansion and has a stables and quadrangle reminiscent of Castle Howard. So the cafe and seating area occupies most of one side along with an exhibition of its history and a second hand bookshop. It was an interesting place requiring a longer visit.
After coffee we headed north through the park and on to the main road (part of Sustrans route 45) passing through Berwick Grove, Upton Magna, Bing's Heath to Shawbury, a village that straddles the A53 heading north west from Shrewsbury to Market Drayton. Our lunch stop was the Garden Centre just outside the village (used by Shrewsbury CTC group) at Edgebolton. However we soon found out that they could not cope with all fourteen. So after some negotiation it was decided that five of us would use the little blue shed cafe (already busy) and the rest would go to the pub in the village. This worked out well (the pub food was good) and we met up after lunch. The girls getting the chance to wander around the garden centre.
Our route back was along quiet narrow country roads across flat countryside through Muckleton, High Ercall (a short trip on the B5062) through Roddington Heath, Withington and back on the '45'
to Upton Magna. Here we stopped at the pub which was serving teas and ice creams from the post office and store in the car park. By this time the sun had been out for a while.
Later as we crossed the river Severn there was a Wedding Reception in the grounds of the hotel below the old bridge. Lots of families milling around on the riverside. Taking a slightly different route back on the opposite side of the valley we passed through the village of Berrington on our way to Condover and Dorrington. The route was approximately 39miles.
*Sue, John, Dave, Bob, Ivan, Janet, Anita, Sue, Paul, Maggie, Stewart, John R and Roy
Sunday's ride 11th June
A sunny start to the ride with westerly head winds as we turned left out of the lane to Netley Hall. Here Sue and Paul took a breather at the pub (closed ) while the rest of the group * carried on to Wrentnall and Pontesbury. Here there was an opportunity to head south on the sustrans route 44 to Habberley and then back north to Minsterley climbing Callow hill and descending past the quarry to Minsterley. Sue and Paul rejoined the group and had the dubious honour of informing them that the only pub open did not do food of any kind at lunch time. Fortunately just along the road at Pontesbury was a very welcome hostelry. It managed to accommodate all fourteen of us comfortably without any fuss. Post lunch we started out in some light drizzle which fortunately didn't come to anything. So the sun returned and we made our way along some less challenging minor country roads through Plealy, Longden, Exford Green, Stapleton, under the A49 to Ryton, Dorrington and Netley Hall approximately 23.5miles for Sue and Paul
* yesterdays group plus Steve
Monday's ride 12th June
We *headed out to Ironbridge. Our route to Atcham and the B5061 was a repeat of Saturday's ride. Sustrans route 45 uses a short section of the B5061 before heading south east initally in the valley of the River Severn. At Wroxeter we stopped to look at the remains of the Roman settlement before heading on to Little Wenlock and its attractive village. Our Sustrans route took us around the village and in a steep descent (couldn't trust the brakes and had to walk the last bit) to Coalbrookdale. Here we were alongside the river and on the road to Ironbridge. After lunch in a riverside pub we went up to the Bridge for photos. We came back alongside the river initially (The Severn way) before reaching the bridge at Buildwas. The group (minus Sue and Paul who preferred the quieter B road) crossed over the bridge on the A4169 road and headed south before returning north on a side road. (While on the A road an ambulance did an abrupt U turn so close to the group that Ivan fell off his bike and was out of action with bruised ribs for some time afterwards). Anyway all of us managed our return route on the minor country roads and arrived safely at Netley Hall. Sue and Paul's mileage approx 39 miles
*Saturdays group plus Steve
Tuesday's ride 13th June
This was a group trip into Shrewsbury with the exception of Ivan and Paul who visited the RAF museum at Cosford by car. The route headed northwest to join Sustrans route 44 which took them into the outskirts of Shrewsbury before meetingc the River Severn on the west side. There was a riverside cycle way around the town offering a scenic coffee stop before the ride continued around the inner centre of the town. Lunch was over the bridge at a lovely riverside pub. When everyone was back together (Maggie and Stewart had done their own thing on arrival in Shrewsbury) we took a quick look at some of the traditional black and white houses in the narrow lanes off the centre. (Paul and Ivan having met the group in the main Square.) So the return route retraced some of the outward ride using route 44. Bob and Dave having taken the most direct route on the main road so as to get to the pub.
Wednesday's ride 14th
Roy led us today on a ride to Craven Arms via Church Stretton on the east side of Long Mynd. Most of the group came (Ivan and Janet did their own thing. Ivan was suffering from his fall on the Monday ride.) This was a sunny day with a westerly head wind as we climbed up the north end of Long Mynd and across to the village of Picklescott. We had lovely views across the valley before dropping down to All Stretton. Here we travelled along the B5477 on the foot of Long Mynd. At All Stretton we found a hotel/pub decorated with pink flowering shrubs climbing over the porch and sat outside for coffee. There was a fascinating wooden slat church at the crossroads opposite. We set off up the hill and travelled along the hillside to Whittingslow and Wistantow arriving at the junction with the A49. A short burst down the A49 into Craven Arms and to our lunch stop. John, Sue, Bob and Dave headed for the garden of the pub. The rest of the group found a cafe in the eco-centre, community shop and gallery a little down the road. The return route took us to the east and then climbed up to the top of Wenlock edge which lies parallel to Long Mynd. The sun was out and some of us got cooked. Great views from the top before we headed back to Church Stretton in the valley below. Re-tracing our route out through All Stretton we crossed the A49 and took a level country road back as far as Longnor and the Rytons before returning to Dorrington and Netley Hall. Paul and Sue's mileage approx 40.6miles.
Thursday's ride 15th
This ride took us* to Bishop's Castle. Another sunny day with a strong westerly head wind as we climbed up the northerly end of Long Mynd to Picklescott and up the hill to Thresholds and then down the valley to Bridges. Paul and Sue turned back at Picklescott (as David Millar said there are just some days when you don't have the legs- well that was my excuse). At Bridges Roy stopped off to meet Angela a long time friend of his to do a separate ride and the rest of us travelled on to Bishops Castle. Maggie and Stewart climbed up to the top of Long Mynd and rode down to meet the group in Bishop's Castle. Bob and Dave went to the pub and the rest of the group found a cafe. The return route was a repeat of the route out but there was the compensation of seeing the views from the top from a different direction. Paul and Sue returned to Netley hall after a coffee break at Picklescott and then took a trip over to Atcham before meeting up with the group on their return. Mileage 25.6miles
Being the last night we all spent a very enjoyable evening at the Horseshoes Pub in Dorrington.
Special thanks again to John M for organising the holiday and for his patience in setting up routes on the lap top. Also thanks to all those who led rides and contributed routes.
*Sue, John, Dave, Bob, Anita, Sue, Paul, Maggie, Stewart, John R and Roy
lick here to edit.
Saturdays ride 10th June
Every one * apart from Steve ( travelling on Saturday) arrived on Friday with varying degrees of success with their car/van journeys . (The M6 was jam packed.) Friday evening we all went to the local pub in Dorrington for an evening meal which turned out trumps.
So Saturday was a leg loosener type of ride. The weather was grey and cloudy. The intention was to visit Attingham hall (a National Trust property) for 11's and move on to Shawbury garden centre for lunch. Crossing the A49 in Dorrington is a bit of a challenge at the best of times with the heavy traffic. Then through Great Ryton to Condover with the obstinate traffic light (went through on red). Through gentle countryside to Atcham where we walked across the River Severn on the old stone bridge alongside the new concrete road bridge. The entrance to Attingham Hall was via a long winding drive through a deer park to the visitors entrance. As there were fourteen of us bike parking was limited so some had first class shelter under cover in the disabled vehicle garage.
The house is a Georgian mansion and has a stables and quadrangle reminiscent of Castle Howard. So the cafe and seating area occupies most of one side along with an exhibition of its history and a second hand bookshop. It was an interesting place requiring a longer visit.
After coffee we headed north through the park and on to the main road (part of Sustrans route 45) passing through Berwick Grove, Upton Magna, Bing's Heath to Shawbury, a village that straddles the A53 heading north west from Shrewsbury to Market Drayton. Our lunch stop was the Garden Centre just outside the village (used by Shrewsbury CTC group) at Edgebolton. However we soon found out that they could not cope with all fourteen. So after some negotiation it was decided that five of us would use the little blue shed cafe (already busy) and the rest would go to the pub in the village. This worked out well (the pub food was good) and we met up after lunch. The girls getting the chance to wander around the garden centre.
Our route back was along quiet narrow country roads across flat countryside through Muckleton, High Ercall (a short trip on the B5062) through Roddington Heath, Withington and back on the '45'
to Upton Magna. Here we stopped at the pub which was serving teas and ice creams from the post office and store in the car park. By this time the sun had been out for a while.
Later as we crossed the river Severn there was a Wedding Reception in the grounds of the hotel below the old bridge. Lots of families milling around on the riverside. Taking a slightly different route back on the opposite side of the valley we passed through the village of Berrington on our way to Condover and Dorrington. The route was approximately 39miles.
*Sue, John, Dave, Bob, Ivan, Janet, Anita, Sue, Paul, Maggie, Stewart, John R and Roy
Sunday's ride 11th June
A sunny start to the ride with westerly head winds as we turned left out of the lane to Netley Hall. Here Sue and Paul took a breather at the pub (closed ) while the rest of the group * carried on to Wrentnall and Pontesbury. Here there was an opportunity to head south on the sustrans route 44 to Habberley and then back north to Minsterley climbing Callow hill and descending past the quarry to Minsterley. Sue and Paul rejoined the group and had the dubious honour of informing them that the only pub open did not do food of any kind at lunch time. Fortunately just along the road at Pontesbury was a very welcome hostelry. It managed to accommodate all fourteen of us comfortably without any fuss. Post lunch we started out in some light drizzle which fortunately didn't come to anything. So the sun returned and we made our way along some less challenging minor country roads through Plealy, Longden, Exford Green, Stapleton, under the A49 to Ryton, Dorrington and Netley Hall approximately 23.5miles for Sue and Paul
* yesterdays group plus Steve
Monday's ride 12th June
We *headed out to Ironbridge. Our route to Atcham and the B5061 was a repeat of Saturday's ride. Sustrans route 45 uses a short section of the B5061 before heading south east initally in the valley of the River Severn. At Wroxeter we stopped to look at the remains of the Roman settlement before heading on to Little Wenlock and its attractive village. Our Sustrans route took us around the village and in a steep descent (couldn't trust the brakes and had to walk the last bit) to Coalbrookdale. Here we were alongside the river and on the road to Ironbridge. After lunch in a riverside pub we went up to the Bridge for photos. We came back alongside the river initially (The Severn way) before reaching the bridge at Buildwas. The group (minus Sue and Paul who preferred the quieter B road) crossed over the bridge on the A4169 road and headed south before returning north on a side road. (While on the A road an ambulance did an abrupt U turn so close to the group that Ivan fell off his bike and was out of action with bruised ribs for some time afterwards). Anyway all of us managed our return route on the minor country roads and arrived safely at Netley Hall. Sue and Paul's mileage approx 39 miles
*Saturdays group plus Steve
Tuesday's ride 13th June
This was a group trip into Shrewsbury with the exception of Ivan and Paul who visited the RAF museum at Cosford by car. The route headed northwest to join Sustrans route 44 which took them into the outskirts of Shrewsbury before meetingc the River Severn on the west side. There was a riverside cycle way around the town offering a scenic coffee stop before the ride continued around the inner centre of the town. Lunch was over the bridge at a lovely riverside pub. When everyone was back together (Maggie and Stewart had done their own thing on arrival in Shrewsbury) we took a quick look at some of the traditional black and white houses in the narrow lanes off the centre. (Paul and Ivan having met the group in the main Square.) So the return route retraced some of the outward ride using route 44. Bob and Dave having taken the most direct route on the main road so as to get to the pub.
Wednesday's ride 14th
Roy led us today on a ride to Craven Arms via Church Stretton on the east side of Long Mynd. Most of the group came (Ivan and Janet did their own thing. Ivan was suffering from his fall on the Monday ride.) This was a sunny day with a westerly head wind as we climbed up the north end of Long Mynd and across to the village of Picklescott. We had lovely views across the valley before dropping down to All Stretton. Here we travelled along the B5477 on the foot of Long Mynd. At All Stretton we found a hotel/pub decorated with pink flowering shrubs climbing over the porch and sat outside for coffee. There was a fascinating wooden slat church at the crossroads opposite. We set off up the hill and travelled along the hillside to Whittingslow and Wistantow arriving at the junction with the A49. A short burst down the A49 into Craven Arms and to our lunch stop. John, Sue, Bob and Dave headed for the garden of the pub. The rest of the group found a cafe in the eco-centre, community shop and gallery a little down the road. The return route took us to the east and then climbed up to the top of Wenlock edge which lies parallel to Long Mynd. The sun was out and some of us got cooked. Great views from the top before we headed back to Church Stretton in the valley below. Re-tracing our route out through All Stretton we crossed the A49 and took a level country road back as far as Longnor and the Rytons before returning to Dorrington and Netley Hall. Paul and Sue's mileage approx 40.6miles.
Thursday's ride 15th
This ride took us* to Bishop's Castle. Another sunny day with a strong westerly head wind as we climbed up the northerly end of Long Mynd to Picklescott and up the hill to Thresholds and then down the valley to Bridges. Paul and Sue turned back at Picklescott (as David Millar said there are just some days when you don't have the legs- well that was my excuse). At Bridges Roy stopped off to meet Angela a long time friend of his to do a separate ride and the rest of us travelled on to Bishops Castle. Maggie and Stewart climbed up to the top of Long Mynd and rode down to meet the group in Bishop's Castle. Bob and Dave went to the pub and the rest of the group found a cafe. The return route was a repeat of the route out but there was the compensation of seeing the views from the top from a different direction. Paul and Sue returned to Netley hall after a coffee break at Picklescott and then took a trip over to Atcham before meeting up with the group on their return. Mileage 25.6miles
Being the last night we all spent a very enjoyable evening at the Horseshoes Pub in Dorrington.
Special thanks again to John M for organising the holiday and for his patience in setting up routes on the lap top. Also thanks to all those who led rides and contributed routes.
*Sue, John, Dave, Bob, Anita, Sue, Paul, Maggie, Stewart, John R and Roy
lick here to edit.