4th November 2021 : Brewood (Brisk)

Four of us were out on a quick 50 miler on Tuesday courtesy of Ivan, and dropped into the "Imagination Lane" cafe for a hot food and coffee. We’ve all been passed this many times on the long drag up Wettenhall Road from Nantwich to Wettenhall not knowing that this cafe existed (well I didn’t) and there is a bike shop! It is hiding in a small industrial estate well before the Venetian Marina Cafe.  Well worth a visit.

Whilst there, I mentioned that the Thursday ride was at Ness, and we all agreed that, given the prospect of a full day of sunshine, we should go somewhere else. I offered to find somewhere for the Brisk riders. So this is how Ivan, John W and myself found ourselves setting off from Market Drayton swimming baths car park bound for Brewood. Those who couldn’t come today missed a truly memorable ride - one worth re-riding at some future time.

Out around the golf club and up Salisbury hill, we run due south down very quiet and dry lanes in the sunshine to Child’s Ercall curving towards the edge of Newport. We ride passed the impressive Harper Adams University buildings. Their website states "it is the leading specialist university tackling the future development of our planet's food production, processing, animal science.”     Well, we definitely need more of this!

Onwards we climb the hill into delightful Lilleshall where John takes the monument’s photo. Full details here! 

Lilleshall Monument

East and south routing find us going through Sheriffhales, over Watling Street and into Shifnal after 21 miles. Time for a coffee and a short rest. The next section uses NCR81 and takes us around the edge of RAF Cosford airdrome where there is the RAF Museum.  We meander through attractive Albrighton and, at Codsall, head north through the curiously named Coven village and now uphill into Brewood at 38 miles ridden.

I had found a few shops or cafes for an alfresco lunch venue but Ivan though pointed out the Oakley Arms which is a Brunnings & Price pub;- I couldn't eat a meal there and then ride a further 26 miles back to Market Drayton! So the Village Bakery was selected and, although Ivan didn’t like the look of his hot panini, John and I were happy with our chosen fare (and it was ridiculously inexpensive)

Heading north now and back over Watling Street (aka A5), we have long, long lanes to ride to Church Eaton and on to Adbaston. Some of these we have ridden before when on our Special Ride to Wheaton Aston back in April 2019. After Cheswardine, it's a short main road ride back to the car park arriving around 1500 with 64 miles ridden.

We all felt thoroughly mentally refreshed by being out in the splendid countryside going through new areas in the November sunshine. My solar array at home produced an impressive 10 kWh of free electricity (about half the summer maximum level). So thanks to Ivan for chauffeuring us to Market Drayton and for John and Ivan for acting as windbreaks on the route back.

See route map and/or gpx file download

CA

Photo JW