Friday (18th): My second enforced day off work so another ride beckoned. I thought that something different would be good and I haven't been up to The Stiperstones in ages so that was the plan.
I headed over a very wet Lyth Hill to start then through Exford's Green, Plealey, Pontesbury and on to Minsterley. The day wasn't too cold but the wind was relatively strong which made it feel cooler and also slowed progress a bit. Traffic was okay until getting to Pontesbury where it was slow through town and held me up a little. I took to the cycle path on the way to Minsterley (much nicer not being hassled by traffic on this bit). I had to rejoin the road and although the road to Plox Green wasn't busy the drivers could have been more polite. The one that annoyed me was a bus driver who left it late to pull out, skimming close past my shoulder, then pulled in at a stop 100 yards or so further on.
I was glad to turn off towards Snailbeach and, after a snack stop, started on the proper climbing of the day. Reaching the village I took a sightseeing detour up to the lead mine before carrying on up the valley. It was a little bit busier than I'm used to on this road but seemed to ease off when I got to Stiperstones village. The steepest climb on this part of the ride comes immediately after the village and I could feel the lack of recent riding in the legs but plodded up fairly well anyhow through Tankerville. There were some darker clouds away to the south and west but I wasn't too bothered by those at the moment.
The visitor centre at The Bog didn't look as though it was open, so I carried on climbing on the wet roads to the top where I paused at the car park for the Stiperstones to have my lunch with a view. From here the clouds looked rather more threatening.
The descent to The Bridges was as fun as ever. I only encountered a couple of cars on the way down and the driver of the one readily took to the grass when he saw me - obviously wanted a bit of off roading fun.
From The Bridges I headed to Ratlinghope and, although the legs were feeling quite tired, decided to take a right and climb up onto the Long Mynd, aiming for the summit. The first bit of the climb is the steepest here and I needed my lowest gear and a couple of stops, but once past the cattle grid it became a case of gently winding my way to the top. Not many people up here this time so I had Pole Bank to myself.
Looking to the south and the west I could tell that it was raining and coming my way so I didn't linger. I wasn't sure which way would be best to get back. High Park would probably be shorter but I thought that going down the Burway might be on faster roads so went for that. Not many people on the descent and almost all of those were walkers.
In Church Stretton I picked up a decent tailwind which made for an enjoyable run through All Stretton then, after crossing the A49, along the old Roman road through Hollyhurst to Longnor. Spots of rain started to fall on this stretch but it wasn't enough to make me want my waterproofs.
It had been clear to see that the road had been flooded in numerous places and the same applied to Ryton and Condover where there had obviously been quite a deep flood and a section of wall by the road had been knocked over by it. The rain had stayed fairly light for me and it seemed sensible to make the most of the tailwind by taking the flatter and faster way back to finish off with. The downside of doing this was getting stuck in a queue of traffic trying to join the A49.
35.9 miles at 10.5 mph average. Strava shows 2991 feet of climbing. Great to get out on a favourite route. Doing a search it looks like it's very nearly 2 years since I last rode this one.
At the old lead mine in Snailbeach and on the old trackbed of the Sailbeach & District Light Railway.
Further up the valley after the village of Stiperstones and looking back down to where I've come from.
At the top of this climb the landscape feels a bit more rugged. This stretch of road vaguely reminds me of visits to Scotland.
Lunch stop with The Stiperstones as the backdrop.
On my way down to The Bridges.
Bridges YHA.
On my way up the Long Mynd. One of those rare occasions where it looks as steep in the photo as it does in real life.
At the toposcope on Pole Bank. Looks like it's raining to the west.
On the descent of The Burway, looking down into Carding Mill Valley.
Post box topper seen at the foot of the hill.
