Long Mynd area gravel/mixed rides?

We might have a family weekend in the area in the Autumn in one of the Stretton villages

We’ll need to escape during the day as there are only so many tea shops, NT houses and antique shops I can visit.

Anyone got any nice 2-3hr local rides they can recommend?

Thanks

Either up, across down or across up across down. You can’t get lost, but take shoes that are comfortable walking in.

And at the south end, Little Stretton, there’s a really steep road climb that has got a house evilly named Hillcrest. “Yes!” you think, until you turn a corner and realise you’re only halfway up.

There  is plenty of descending/ascending that is gravel friendly.

https://nt.global.ssl.fastly.net/binaries/content/assets/website/national/regions/shropshire-staffordshire/places/carding-mill-valley-on-the-long-mynd/pdf/mountain-bike-map-for-the-long-mynd.pdf

The climb up from Hamperley is forest fire-road, the one at the opposite (north) end is mainly on grass. Some of the others are double track with only short rocky sections (eg Carding Mill Valley). Plus you’ve got tarmac options to get back up.

Just mix and match until you’re knackered or run out of time.

thanks

The information kiosk in the Carding Mill Valley has  guide maps and information packs inc. suggested rides. You may find it on the National Trust website.

There are a few great routes.  I will PM you later today to describe my favourite.

Shite – sorry, just realised you want more gravel or mixed rides.  They would take in more (Wide) bridleway than I use.  Sorry!

You could just create your own back lane loop. Lanes in Shropshire are so quiet once you get off the main roads, and most of them are covered in gravel anyhow :-).

Assuming you’re starting in Church Stretton, head down the back roads to Hamperley, up through the woods to the gliding club, along the ridge past Robin Hoods Butts to Leebotwood across the A49 to the north end of the Lawley, back down the western foot odlf the Lawley then back roads round the east of Caer Caradoc to pick up the bridleway round Hope Bowdler and back into CS. ~40km and should give a good flavour of the local riding. If you want ted to extend it then from Robin Hoods Butt go along the Portway then round to Picklescott to pick the route up again.

Thanks, that sounds really good

We go there mountain biking a couple of times a year, and I’d say most of it is at least gravel adjacent.