Tandem Club Easter Rally 2006 based at Coalport YHA, Shropshire.
 Saturday Ride
Landranger maps: 127 & 138
Distance: Long 44.2 miles Ht. ascended: 1374m
Short 33.8 miles Ht. ascended: 993m
Reproduced by kind permission of Robert and Pauline Moore, the Rally Organisers
This ride takes you out towards Much Wenlock for a hobbits second breakfast, or a wander around the spectacular ruins of Wenlock Priory - these are the remains of a 12th century church that belonged to the earlier founded Cluniac monastery.
The long ride departs here to head on to the high ground above Wenlock Edge or, for those brave enough, to tackle the bridle path along the edge itself.
The Wenlock Edge bridle path is not too bad in dryer conditions, especially for those with MTB type tandems, although not to be recommended for those with trailers because of the low bars at the beginning where bikes have to be lifted over. We rode the path in November with a novice on solo MTB and managed, if slowly, with Robert and James generally not having any problem even with Emily in baby seat. If the weather is particularly wet it is probably best avoided as this will add too much to the difficulty of the ride. If the weather is particularly fine, watch out for walkers.
The long route continues through the villages of Hughley, Church Preen and Broom coming out onto Yell Bank with some very ‘worthwhile the climb’ views down the valleys to both sides. You will then drop down to Church Stretton. This historic market, and former spa, town has many cafes and pubs for a lunch break after which you can enjoy a long steady climb back up the B road.
The shorter ride drops down from Much Wenlock to the village of Harley and follows the valley bottom to Hughley, before climbing gradually across to Longville in the Vale, which has a pub for a possible lunch stop situated on the B road almost at the junction. The short ride rejoins the long ride here.
The routes soon leave the B road to use the quieter lanes again, passing through the villages of Easthope, Brockton (PH- The Feathers, although a bit pricey and nouveau cuisine, highly recommended by us – quite busy but should have tables at Saturday lunchtime) and on to Weston where the B4368 brings you to Morville and another PH.
After turning left you then cut across some quite narrow lanes passing the hamlets of Smithies and Willey before heading back down through the town of Broseley to the hostel.
The longer ride offers some really great views, but is the somewhat more strenuous. The shorter route cuts out some of the bigger hills towards Church Stretton and uses mostly the smaller lanes whereby the longer route uses the B4371 for quite some distance (chance to make up time).
On both routes there are ways to cut the ride short if necessary.
There are options to combine the rides such as following long ride to pt19 and then cutting across to Cardington, which has a country pub, and then to pt 25, Longville in the Dale. This will include Yell bank.
You could follow the long route to pt 26 and then continue on the B road back through Much Wenlock.
Short Ride
|
Pt.
|
Dist.
|
Cum Dist
|
Route
Description
|
Map ref:
|
|
1
|
0.00
|
0.00
|
TL out of
the Hostel
|
SJ696 024
|
|
2
|
0.36
|
0.36
|
At TJ go SO following the
river towards Ironbridge.
|
SJ692 028
|
|
3/4
|
0.80
|
1.16
|
TL sp Brosley across new suspension bridge onto B4373 follow the road to the
R sp Brosley at hairpin bend continue SO sp Benthill Good views
of the ironbridge, the road then makes a sharp left hand bend and
continues to climb steeply.
|
SJ680 032
|
|
5
|
1.34
|
2.50
|
At TJ
TR sp Much Wenlock into Benthall
Lane on B4375
|
SJ669 021
|
|
6
|
2.30
|
4.80
|
The road now becomes B4376 continue to Much Wenlock
Look
out for the painted Cow.
|
SO646 997
|
|
7
|
1.44
|
6.24
|
TL keeping to B4376 into
St Marys La. Tea stops here if you
continue straight on into town .Also Much Wenlock Priory
|
SO624 998
|
|
8
|
0.18
|
6.42
|
TR sp Shrewsbury
onto A458 follow the road around
to left
|
SO662 992
|
|
9
|
0.12
|
6.54
|
At Xrds with B4378 and A4169 SO
|
SO621 998
|
|
10
|
0.26
|
6.80
|
At RH bend continue on the A458 Long route leaves here First
climb and then drop down steep
hill care!
|
SO617 998
|
|
11
|
1.51
|
8.31
|
TL
sp Harley in to Harley
|
SJ599 011
|
|
12
|
0.36
|
8.67
|
Opposite the church TL sp Kenley
|
SJ595 014
|
|
13
|
0.32
|
8.99
|
TL sp Hughley long straight
road with views of Wenlock Edge
|
SJ590 014
|
|
14
|
2.84
|
11.83
|
At
TJ TL sp Hughley
|
SO560 982
|
|
15
|
0.32
|
12.15
|
TR sp Church Preen / Broome, up hill
|
SO563 979
|
|
16
|
0.58
|
12.73
|
At Xrds
TL sp Longville
|
SO555 975
|
|
17
|
2.57
|
15.30
|
At 2nd Xrds TLsp Longville
|
SO535 941
|
|
18
|
0.36
|
15.66
|
At TJ
TL onto B4371 sp Much Wenlock Rejoin the long ride and PH on R The
Longville Arms
|
SO539 937
|
|
19
|
1.95
|
17.61
|
At
Xrds TR sp Easthope if you continue
on a short way there is another turn to R and a PH ‘The Wenlock Edge’
|
SO561 955
|
|
20
|
0.37
|
17.98
|
At TJ
TR sp Brockton
|
SO566 953
|
|
21
|
1.24
|
19.22
|
In Brockton SO at Xrds sp Weston - PH
The Feathers
|
SO578 937
|
|
22
|
1.41
|
20.63
|
In Weston
TL sp Bridgnorth onto B4368
|
SO597 929
|
|
23
|
2.20
|
22.83
|
Continue on the B4368
|
SO630 939
|
|
24
|
2.54
|
25.37
|
In
Morville TR onto A458 sp
Bridgenorth PH on Left
|
SO669 941
|
|
25
|
0.20
|
25.57
|
TL into Haughton Lane
|
SO671 939
|
|
26
|
1.27
|
26.84
|
At TJ
TL
|
SO680 957
|
|
27
|
1.27
|
28.11
|
At right hand bend TL sp Willey
|
SO674 975
|
|
28
|
1.14
|
29.25
|
TR sp Brosley
|
SO674 990
|
|
29
|
0.12
|
29.37
|
TL sp Brosley
|
SO676 989
|
|
30
|
0.52
|
29.89
|
TL sp Brosley onto B4373
|
SO683 992
|
|
31
|
1.24
|
31.13
|
Continue on the B4373
|
SJ677 010
|
|
32
|
0.52
|
31.65
|
At traffic lights TR just before petrol station
|
SJ679 014
|
|
33
|
1.63
|
33.28
|
Road drops down steeply around a hairpin
bend cross narrow bridge with height restriction
|
SJ701 020
|
|
34
|
0.11
|
33.39
|
TL sp Coalport
|
SJ702 022
|
|
35
|
0.42
|
33.81
|
Finish
|
SJ696 024
|
|
Â
|
Â
|
Â
|
Â
|
Â
|
Â
Â
Â
Long Ride
|
Pt.
|
Dist.
|
Cum Dist
|
Route
Description
|
Map ref:
|
|
1
|
0.00
|
0.00
|
TL out of
the Hostel
|
SJ696 024
|
|
2
|
0.36
|
0.36
|
At TJ go SO following the
river towards Ironbridge.
|
SJ692 028
|
|
3/4
|
0.80
|
1.16
|
TL sp Brosley across new suspension bridge onto B4373 follow the road to the
R sp Brosley at hairpin bend continue SO sp Benthill Good views
of the ironbridge, the road then makes a sharp left hand bend and
continues to climb steeply.
|
SJ680 032
|
|
5
|
1.34
|
2.50
|
At TJ
TR sp Much Wenlock into Benthall
Lane on B4375
|
SJ669 021
|
|
6
|
2.30
|
4.80
|
The road now becomes B4376 continue to Much Wenlock
|
SO646 997
|
|
7
|
1.44
|
6.24
|
TL into St Marys Lane B4376
Tea stops here if you continue straight
on into town .Also Much Wenlock Priory
|
SO624 998
|
|
8
|
0.18
|
6.42
|
TR sp Shrewsbury
onto A458 follow the road around
to left
|
SO662 992
|
|
9
|
0.12
|
6.54
|
At Xrds with B4378 and A4169 SO
|
SO621 998
|
|
10
|
0.26
|
6.80
|
At right hand bend TL sp Church Stretton onto B4371
|
SO617 998
|
|
11
|
0.10
|
6.90
|
If taking the
Wenlock Edge bridle path TL here
and follow the bridle path signs over bar and up a stony track to another
gate and bar, keep following the bridle way signs the track levels out from
here and is ride-able with care through the woods the track then splits and
take the right hand fork sp bridle way downhill to another gate and bar,
continue along cart track to road go to 13
|
SO615 997
|
|
12
|
2.61
|
9.51
|
TR sp Hughley / Church Preen,
the road drops down steeply at first and then levels out dropping gently go
to 14
|
SO581 974
|
|
13
|
0.32
|
9.83
|
From Wenlock Edge TR and rejoin route alone minor road towards Hughley
|
SO576 973
|
|
14
|
1.01
|
10.84
|
Enter Hughley, Just past the campsite TL sp Church Preen / Broome up hill
|
SO563 979
|
|
15
|
0.58
|
11.42
|
At Xrds
SO sp Church Preen, past a timber framed house with an
interesting chimney.
|
SO555 975
|
|
16
|
1.09
|
12.51
|
In Church
Preen TL sp Broome. Into a
narrow muddy lane On a clear day there
are clear views across to the Long Mynd along here
|
SO541 980
|
|
17
|
1.39
|
13.90
|
TR sp Chatwall and then TL
up hill
|
SO521 980
|
|
18
|
0.63
|
14.53
|
Continue straight on past Chatwall Hall
ignoring turns to L & R climb onto Yell bank, more good views from both sides of the road
|
SO513 974
|
|
19
|
1.30
|
15.83
|
At
Xrds TR sp Church Stretton /Leebotwood – steep down hill, care blind
bend.
|
SO497 962
|
|
20
|
0.84
|
16.67
|
At bottom of hill on a sharp RH bend TL sp Botvyle and unsuitable for
heavy vehicles
|
SO485 965
|
|
21
|
1.21
|
17.88
|
Care! TL onto A49 and then immediately
R into narrow lane marked as unsuitable for heavy vehicles.
|
SO470 960
|
|
22
|
0.41
|
18.29
|
TL onto B5477 and
continue through All Stretton
|
SO463 961
|
|
23
|
1.67
|
19.96
|
In Church
Stretton TL sp Police Station
and pass railway sta.
|
SO453 937
|
|
24
|
0.26
|
20.22
|
SO at traffic lights into Sandford
Avenue B4371
and start to climb steadily
|
SO457 936
|
|
25
|
5.81
|
26.03
|
Continue on B4371 throÂ’ Hope Bowdler
and Wall under Haywood to Longwood in the Dale Short
route rejoins here
|
SO539 937
|
|
26
|
1.95
|
27.98
|
At
Xrds TR sp Easthope if you continue
on a short way there is another turn to R and a PH ‘The Wenlock Edge’
|
SO561 955
|
|
27
|
0.37
|
28.35
|
At TJ
TR sp Brockton
|
SO566 953
|
|
28
|
1.24
|
29.59
|
In Brockton SO at Xrds sp Weston PH The Feathers
|
SO578 937
|
|
29
|
1.41
|
31.00
|
In Weston
TL sp Bridgnorth onto B4368
|
SO597 929
|
|
30
|
2.20
|
33.20
|
Continue on the B4368
|
SO630 939
|
|
31
|
2.54
|
35.74
|
In
Morville TR onto A458 sp
Bridgenorth PH on Left
|
SO669 941
|
|
32
|
0.20
|
35.94
|
TL into Haughton Lane
|
SO671 939
|
|
33
|
1.27
|
37.21
|
At TJ
TL
|
SO680 957
|
|
34
|
1.27
|
38.48
|
At right hand bend TL sp Willey
|
SO674 975
|
|
35
|
1.14
|
39.62
|
TR sp Brosley
|
SO674 990
|
|
36
|
0.12
|
39.74
|
TL sp Brosley
|
SO676 989
|
|
37
|
0.52
|
40.26
|
TL sp Brosley onto B4373
|
SO683 992
|
|
38/39
|
1.24
|
41.50
|
Continue on the B4373
|
SJ677 010
|
|
40
|
0.52
|
42.02
|
At traffic lights TR just before petrol station
|
SJ679 014
|
|
41
|
1.63
|
43.65
|
Road drops down steeply around a hairpin
bend cross narrow bridge with height restriction
|
SJ701 020
|
|
42
|
0.11
|
43.76
|
TL sp Coalport
|
SJ702 022
|
|
43
|
0.42
|
44.18
|
Finish
|
SJ696 024
|
|
