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Ignore everyone on this post. It’s a dump, move along, nothing to see there
🤥
Surely I can't be the only one thinking " slow criminals".
Thank you @blokeuptheroad. That’s a very generous offer. I don’t think I’ll have too much time to myself anyway, so won’t take your offer up, but thanks again. And thank you for the advice re: the local trails.
Hey no worries 👍 Enjoy your trip.
Ignore everyone on this post. It’s a dump, move along, nothing to see there
Despite what I said above I would agree with this.
Northumberland used to be a dump of a place 20/30 yrs ago and now unfortunately it’s rammed with tourist 😂
Without wishing to hijack the thread, I’d welcome campsite recommendations in the area.
I’ll be in a van rather than camping and prefer somewhere close to rides/walks, clean, friendly, allows fire pits and relatively cheap.
See also Ludlow.
@rockbus the Small Batch campsite near Little Stretton recommended earlier in the thread is very good. Pretty sure they allow vans. It's in a stunning spot just below the Long Mynd, so loads of great walking and cycling, road and off road. Great pubs nearby too.
No fires allowed at Smallbatch. For that you want Brow Farm Campsite near the Bridges
Update:
Booked a cottage in Clun, slap bang in the middle of Shropshire Hills. Roll on September!
Good choice of location. Some sweet riding that way.
Clun is a lovely little town with some great pubs and cafes. No good for your visit, but they have a green man fair there over the May bank holiday which is really good. I help my wife man a stall there. Bishops Castle just up the road is worth a visit too, especially the 3 tuns brewery and tap house. Have a great trip.
Cheers all. I am REALLY looking forward to it!
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Been having a great week. Got up Titterstone Clee on Sunday and have done a few local road rides. A nice loop from Sutton Hill down to Hayton’s Bent, down the very steep hill (with bend at the bottom I didn’t make it round first time - wet road), onto Bouldon, and then back through Clee St Margaret. Fantastic scenery and hardly any cars about at all, even at 9 am.</p>
Lots of nice family stuff to do, too, including a walk up the Wrekin, and a trip to Hay On Wye to look at books, amongst other things
Love it here. Don’t want to go back to overcrowded Kent.
Love it here. Don’t want to go back to overcrowded Kent.
Got a house and some land for sale just outside Ludlow.
Did you get a microwave buzz off Clee Hill? Used to go up there a lot, but it was uncomfortable hanging around the trig.
You'll have ridden right past my gaff (Haytons Bent). Although we've not been around much this week as I've been helping my wife man her stall at various country shows and market stalls. Welland steam fair last weekend, 2 days at Ludlow market this week, Burwarton show today, a day off tomorrow then Tenbury show on Saturday!
Love a ride up Titterstone Clee. Though coming down on an MTB, I prefer Brown Clee. There's a brilliant fast swoopy run down from Abdon burf on the summit towards Cockshutford and Clee liberty common.
We were staying up at Sutton Hill Farm. Big family holiday, and it looks like we will be coming back next year.
Drove up to Shrewsbury yesterday, and looked longingly at the Long Mynd as we went past, so will be bringing my MTB next time.
The ride off Titterstone Clee was interesting on a gravel bike. I went down the steep northern slope, in the direction of Brown Clee. Had to push a couple of times, when I would have ridden on the MTB.
Beautiful part of the country and I’m looking forward to coming back, as i/we only scratched the surface of riding possibilities and things to do with my family. Very envious of anyone who lives around there.
Did you get a microwave buzz off Clee Hill? Used to go up there a lot, but it was uncomfortable hanging around the trig.
Not that I noticed. Couldn’t hang around too long, anyway, as it was very windy.
towards Cockshutford and Clee liberty common.
I rode up to Cockshutford to check out one of the bridleways that runs across Clee Liberty Common. Lots of “no vehicles” signs, one of which mentions “no bikes”. Presume they are referring to motorbikes and not push bikes (?)
We are away in the van and have just woken up to a beautiful day above Ludlow. The castle is down below us and Clee Hill beyond it, stunning.
Shame we lost a day to a knackered starter motor, we were supposed to have two nights here. Nevermind, we'll be back 😎
We were staying up at Sutton Hill Farm.
You were less than a mile from me
I rode up to Cockshutford to check out one of the bridleways that runs across Clee Liberty Common. Lots of “no vehicles” signs, one of which mentions “no bikes”. Presume they are referring to motorbikes and not push bikes (?)
Pretty sure they mean motorbikes, never had an issue up there.
We are away in the van and have just woken up to a beautiful day above Ludlow.
It is indeed a cracking morning in the shire. I'm off to help a man a stall at a vintage car fair in Much Wenlock this morning, after the drizzle yesterday, I hope it stays like this!
@rockbus we had a wander this morning through Bringewood and spotted a campsite at Monstay Farm that allows fire pits and you are surrounded by woodland.
Just enjoyed a pint and pizza at Ludlow Brewery too.
We walked round Ludlow this morning before everyone got up, what a beautiful town.
CSON's (green cafe) down by the weir is my top Ludlow recommendation.
An update:
We had week at a cottage in Clun. I was pretty impressed as soon as we got there. The cottage was ok but the village was ace. Ruins of the castle. Two decent pubs. A river c/w (updated) packhorse bridge. Folk putting their surplus home grown produce outside their houses for you to help yourself to. The people we met there were very friendly. Our neighbours invited us to a little outside soiree further enlived by watching lightening. Although rapidly abandoned when the monsoon started!
The weather was a bit iffy (as mentioned) and scuppered some of my plans but we got out to see Ludlow, Bishops Castle, Church Stretton and Montgomery. We walked up the Long Mynd and Stiperstones. Had a look at the Bury Ditches hill fort. I got a run in from Clun Castle and along the Shropshire way. I got a (brief) road ride in from Clum to Knighton and discovered an amazing quiet back road that went on for aaaages, not a soul on it.
Great views of Red Kites, ravens, kestrels and peregrines in the hills.
In summary the trip was a success. We only scratched the surface of things to do/see. Would I go again? Yes, but to a different part of Shropshire.
Great views of Red Kites, ravens, kestrels and peregrines in the hills.
In summary the trip was a success. We only scratched the surface of things to do/see. Would I go again? Yes, but to a different part of Shropshire.
I used to live in North Bradford and now just outside Oswestry. Ive been here nearly 5 years now and still find it unbelievable that when I look out my window I will see some form of bird of pray circling around just metres from my house.
If you are coming again I would certainly recommend North Shropshire/Powys. Its a slightly different feel and look to what I would call south Shropshire around Ludlow etc. Not so much mtb, but mile after mile of quiet unused roads.
We were some of the earliest MTBers in Mortimer Forest back in the early 90s along with some Pearce riders, before there were trails on the Bringewood side. There were almost no MTB-made trails then, just older paths. I went back again earlier this year and most of what we used to ride was non-existent but there was miles of new MTB stuff. I got completely lost and ended up in a part of the forest that used to be inaccessible.
when I look out my window I will see some form of bird of pray circling around just metres from my house
Do you live in a converted church?
@molgrips if you fancy a ride on Sat 30th we're playing at Hopton. He's racing on Sunday, practicing Sat, but i'll be riding Hopton with mates on the Sat.
Thanks but I'm not local to the area any more :). However I may pop up depending on situation.
Glad you had a good trip.
Had a look at the Bury Ditches hill fort.
There are some DH trails hiding in the woods there
we got out to see Ludlow, Bishops Castle, Church Stretton and Montgomery.
Did you get to see the Michaelmas fair in Bishops Castle which was on this Saturday? I was there helping Mrs Bloke with a stall selling her artwork. We hung around afterwards in the evening. Brilliant vibe on the high street, a lantern parade then traction engines parked outside all the pubs and tootling up and down. Some fuelled by cider I suspect, as well as coal!
Ignore FD in the Northern wastelands, there be dragons.....😉 get yourself back to south Shropshire!
Looks good and we saw the posters for it but no, we got turfed at 10.00am so by mid afternoon we were up in the Lakes for the remainder of the w/end.
Thanks again to everyone who passed on info and suggestions. It was much appreciated.
Do you live in a converted church?
Ha ha - I dont live in Powys (just about everyone in Powys lives in a converted Church, you can be in the most remote back water with no houses for miles, but there will be a disused / converted chapel)
We were back there a couple of weekends ago when it was crazy hot. Missed the Michaelmas fair which is a shame, was talking to Tara at the Chai Shop and she was saying it would be a big weekend.
May have to make my way down there for it next year.
View from the hot tub was ace.
