Magnificent marches
Jonathan Manning works up a sweat on a hilly ride which delivers sublime views
This spectacular Shropshire route doesn’t hesitate to reveal its star attraction, a spectacular view over 13th-century Ludlow Castle and the town’s rooftops. The panorama appears barely a mile from the Club site, and it’s definitely worth pausing to admire the outlook… and catch your breath, because this ride starts with a 5km climb, and adds more tough ascents for good measure.
Edward IV made Ludlow capital of the Welsh Marches, a region of hills, valleys and forests that straddled present-day England and Wales.
Five centuries later it remains a beautiful area, dotted with attractive villages and towns, although Ludlow itself is now better known as a premier league foodie destination, with excellent food festivals, cafés and restaurants.
The history of the area is evident in its architecture, with ancient churches and Tudor-beamed cottages. The tiny Norman church of St Giles in Pipe Aston has a fascinating carved tympanum (semi-circle) arch over its door, while the hamlet takes its name from the clay pipes for smoking, made here in the 17th and 18th centuries.
The route passes more places with great names, such as Leinthall Starkes and The Goggin, before reaching Richards Castle, where there is another outstanding church, perched high above the village. On clear days there are breathtaking views from the porch to the Black Mountains and Malvern Hills.
Throughout most of this ride the roads are narrow and quiet, but not all junctions have signposts, so downloading the GPX route from Strava would definitely help navigation.
You can download this route from our dedicated Strava page here.
Directions
1. From the end of the driveway to Ludlow Touring Park AS, turn right along the B4361 towards Ludlow. Continue for 2.1km to a turn on the left, just before the bridge over the River Teme (if you reach the river you’ve gone too far).
2. 2.1km – Turn left up Whitcliffe Road (passing Whitcliffe Cottages on the right), and start a long climb. There’s soon a spectacular view over Ludlow to the right. Keep going for 10.5km, passing through Pipe Aston, Aston, Elton and Leinthall Starkes. After passing through Leinthall Starkes, look out for a turn on the left.
3. 12.6km – Turn left along Novel Lane and continue to a triangle T-junction. Turn left at the junction and continue to reach a quarry on the left, then look out for a left turn.
4. 15.6km – After the quarry turn left to Richards Castle and Orleton, opposite a defibrillator in a red phone box. Continue along this hilly road for 5km to reach a T-junction.
5. 19.5km – Turn right at the T-junction and continue to a crossroads with a black and white house on the right. Go straight over the crossroads and continue to a T-junction with the B4361, with All Saints Church on the right.
6. 23.4km – Turn left at the junction along the B4361, and continue for almost 4km to a T-junction.
7. 27.2km – Turn right at the junction, signposted towards Leominster and Shrewsbury, and in 500m the site will be on the left.
About the route
- Start/finish: Ludlow Touring Park, Overton Road, Ludlow SY8 4AD.
- Distance: 17.5 miles/27.8km.
- Time: 2 hours.
- Level: Suitable for fitter riders due to hills.
- Terrain: Asphalt all the way, uneven in places.
- Landscape: Farmland, forest and hills.
- Refreshments: n/a