THE BIG RIDE
sacked remains and its vast earthworks are full of inviting paths and heavy with the scent of history. Parts of the walls and the keep remain, standing proud against a thousand years of battles, pillaging and weather. The views are stunning. Clun nestles in the valley below you and Wales stretches off into the distance. I make a mental note to come back with my six-year-old — kids will love charging up and down the battlements.
The last part of the journey has some of the most enjoyable riding. The B4368 is everything a British B-road should be — lush, green and serpentine, it twists and turns joyously. Sometimes narrow and tree-lined, sometimes open and expansive, it’s rough-hewn, frost-scarred tarmac keys into your rubber, has grip and breeds confidence.
The last village before we hit the Welsh border is the tiny hamlet of Anchor with its rambling and tumbledown pub which even the locals don’t really know is open or closed. Just in front of me, Wales stretches out and for many that’s the true destination: in their minds, Shropshire is just for passing through.
But you’d be missing so much if you did that. There’s no doubt that this is one of the UK’S most-unsung biking destinations with wonderful roads, great scenery and points of interest. I’m going back next spring when there’s more sun and less rain. You should too.
‘Lush, green and serpentine, it twists and turns joyously’