I’d arranged to meet up with my mate Paul, for a ride and woke to another beautiful sunny morning, but frosty and cold, so plenty of layers needed to start.
Headed up to Paul’s house and he said he fancied a ride In Nesscliffe direction, but wanted to see a pub he’d been recommended, at Pentre, called the Royal Hill. It’s closed, of course, but having been there before, myself and enjoyed it immensely, was happy to take him that way and show him where it is, for us to call there in the summer, fingers crossed.
We left Shrewsbury via Bicton and Montford Bridge, quiet on what can be a busy road, which was nice and then joined more quiet lanes to Shrawardine, plus what must be the best surfaced road in Shropshire, a tiny lane that runs alongside Nesscliffe MOD training camp. Better than any main roads and must have been paid for by the locals?!
From there we turned to Pentre and arrived at the Royal Hill, where Paul fell in love with the pub and its setting, next to the River Severn. On a nice sunny day, it can’t be beaten, needs to be a bit warmer to sit outside there though!
View to the Breiddens from the pub.
If we’d tried to cycle down there, a couple of weeks ago, we’d have been in a deep flood and there was plenty of evidence of where the river had been, with debris strewn across hedgerows, verges and roads, including the lane to Edgerley, which I’d intended to take us down, but was properly closed and still flooded!
We instead took the lane that cuts off Melverley village, which also had road closed/flood signs, but no cones and so we risked it. Covered in sand and stones but a couple of cyclists coming the other way confirmed it was ok, but we needed to watch out for where the road had given way and they weren’t wrong, half the road had disappeared!
We arrived at Crosslanes and took the road up to Argoed, where Paul was amazed by the World War 2 ammunition bunkers, top secret until the 1950’s when they were decommissioned. The road from Kinnerley to Dovaston and across the old and new A5’s were busier and then we followed lanes to Hopton, to find the one we were intending to take closed for roadworks. So, in Hopton village we paused to look at the map and decided to climb up the side of the Cliffe, which is a steep pull. I arrived at the top, but Paul had disappeared, so I paused in the car park for walkers, and he eventually appeared, walking his bike up the hill!
To be fair, he’d not done this sort of distance for a few years and so was doing very well, but the descent down to Little Ness and Adcote, was most welcome. I must admit that I’ve not done 2 consecutive days of longer rides, since last summer and could feel my legs were tiring now as well. I did pause at Forton, to finally shed a layer, as it had warmed up a little bit.
The climb back up towards Bicton, was hard going, into the gentle easterly breeze, before we turned along Calcot Lane and through Gains Park, where Paul headed up to his allotment, as his wife was spending the morning up there.
I went through Mytton Oak new estate and along Mousecroft Lane, through Meole Village, where just as I was about to turn towards the roundabout, saw a cyclist coming out from Upper Road.......thinking to myself I am sure that’s
@Rickshaw Phil but he was just too far away to be certain, or catch up. A text, after arriving home confirms it was!
The sort of perfect fabulous bike ride that makes you realise why cycling is so great. Good company, beautiful sunshine, traffic all well behaved without exception and lovely scenery. Loads of cyclists out, the most I’ve seen since last summer.
33.74 miles
