The second Special Ride of the year features a sidle around the Shropshire countryside with more than dozen Easy Riders riding to Market Drayton from Whitchurch either via a moderate 42 miler or a 52 brisk miler. We met up in Costa’s cafe as Sainsbury’s had shut the cafe we usually used. The weather was slightly chilly and improved a little during the day but the wind increased and the temperature dropped in the late afternoon BUT no rain!
The Brisk group consisted of Ivan, Nick, Shane, and Toby all of whom had ridden from home to Whitchurch! Kevin, Steve H and I had driven to Whitchurch. So the Magnificent Seven saddled up.
As per usual “ herding cats” syndrome was evident on the off but the brisk group shot up Alkington Road to distance ourselves from the melee. On the run to Tilstock, Steve H was stung by a wasp but a Piriton was quickly washed down to help dampen the sting effect. The road from Tilstock south via Hollinwood and Quina Brook was new to most of us and lightly trafficked.We hit the A49 at Prees Heath to cross it again a few miles south. Once again with light traffic and a good surface (for a welcome change).
The first bit of real climbing finds us in Weston-under-Redcastle with the aptly named Elysian Hill. The road bisects the 440 acres of the Hawkstone Estate with its big hotel and golf course etc. This is a beautiful area new to most of us I would suspect. The ridge runs along to Marchamley Hill which all have “endured” many times in the past.
At this point the Brisk and Mod routings have been identical, but now the Mod ride continues along the hillside into Hodnet and beyond, as the Brisk ride turns south towards Stanton upon Hine Heath. Not every rider agreed with the right turn that I had now dived down. We have been down this road many many times in the past but perhaps it was only Nick who could recall it. Eventually, I was able to persuade the group sans one, that as I had curated the ride, I might actually be correct in the direction we were now taking! So as Ivan had ridden ahead towards Hodnet, he missed the correct routing down the hillside passing the West Midlands Shooting ground and the famous Hawkstone Motocross circuit.
Hawkstone Park Motocross circuit has an illustrious history since starting up in1938. Famously, Roy Orbison was allowed to ride a lap on a motorcycle around it back in 1965 at the 500cc British Grand Prix meet. Unfortunately he crashed and broke his ankle. So he appeared on stage at the Palladium later that week with his ankle in plaster and a crutch - what a trooper!
The route turns eastwards then north east through Ellerdine Heath (where we have twice had special Ride lunch venue at the Oakgate garden centre cafe in 2021 and 2013). There now is long list of hamlets to ride through culminating in crossing the A41 at Hinstock after 31 miles for a stop at the village store for drinks. The lane out was cut deep into the sandstone as we head for Cheswardine where Steve takes the photo. It’s an interesting ride now down the 3 mile long “Elephant Grass” valley. The grass was 6 ft high despite the lack of rain.
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| Cheswardine Church |
We get to The Hippodrome after 39 miles and a short detour around the town. I’ve been here before a few times and like the speedy service and the range of decent beers at “affordable” prices. It’s a Wetherspoons' establishment but hey its two thirds full and good value at this re-purposed cinema. Ivan messaged me to say that he’s been and gone on his way back to Chester via Nantwich - so a 105 miler for him!
We move off promptly for the 13 miles back to base. It’s a 5 mile slight uphill slog to the Olde Jack pub in Calverhall where we overhaul the Mods who had been at the Red Lion pub in MD for lunch but had ridden a 10 miles shorter route than us. The route is amended on the fly at Ash Magna as Dave H warned me at coffee that the planned drop off at Ash Parva is largely gravel. So we wander through Brown Moss with a sadly depleted lake to enter Whitchurch and back to our cars or for some riders to ride further on and back to their homes.
I drive out to Grindley Brook and manage to get into the always very busy petrol station there with petrol at £1.45 a litre (20p cheaper than most) so I fill the car to the brim. I then get a shout from a certain Steve H who has had the same idea!
So a satisfying excursion around rural Shropshire on a ride around new and familiar with riders old and new. Thanks to my group who did a sterling job of keeping the pace up at 15mph average (as I was on my e-bike!).
See route map and/or gpx file download
CA
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