SHROPSHIRE CASTLES CYCLING TOUR

This cycle holiday will take you to the county of Shropshire. This area of Shropshire offers some of the best cycling in Europe. River valleys, cutting through spectacular hills, dominated by ruined castles. This is really unspoilt countryside; cars take second place to tractors, sheep and cyclists. The theme for this cycle tour is Castles and there are lots of them. But it is just an excuse to spend a few days exploring a wonderful area and staying in some special places. There are big castles at Clun, Montgomery and Ludlow and fortifications everywhere. Don't miss the spectacular Caer Caradoc Iron Age hill fort at Church Stretton. Local legend says that this was the site of the last stand of Caractacus against the Roman legions during the Roman conquest of Britain, and that after the battle he hid in the cave near its summit. This tour isn't only suitable both for families with children and for people, who are not experienced cyclists, because of the short distances and rest day's, but also for more experienced cyclists, who can cycle the longer route options.

 

Programme
Day 1	Arrive at Elton (20 or 30 miles) Arrival at P. farm around 11.00-12.00 am. You are welcomed by our local agent and fitted out with your bike & equipment. You cycle form Elton to Clun, a wonderful cycle route along the idyllic Teme valley. You pass the village of Wigmore, Brampton Bryan and Hopton Castles and a 'roman' village and plenty of Norman churches. Plenty of Inns & Teashops on your route. Your overnight stay is in Clun Clun:Clun is a small, quiet village with an old bridge (1450). Just outside town is Clun Castle, a ruined castle, which is owned by the Duke of Norfolk.  Sir Walter Scott is believed to have stayed in The Buffalo Inn while writing The Betrothed and The Talisman, published jointly as Tales of The Crusaders in 1825. Clun castle is supposed to have inspired Scott's Garde Doleureuse in that work.
Day 2	Clun & the Clun Valley Clun is a charming border village, with a castle, two teashops and two pubs that provide excellent food. You could spend the day relaxing by the river or scaling the castle, but also make a ride up river to the tiny hamlet of Newcastle...or visit the Iron Age fort of Bury Ditches, home of one of the best-preserved hill forts in the country, dating from about 500BC. The spectacular views from the top make the steep climb worthwhile. Overnight stay in Clun
Day 3	From Clun to little Stretton (26 / 34 / 44 miles) Today's route takes you to the border market town of Bishops Castle then over the long Mynd hills (the easy way) you cycle to the spa town of Church Stretton. If you want to make this day more of a challenge you can also visit the Georgian town of Montgomery with its spectacular castle or explore the Stiperstones, a very distinctive hill.  It is a quartzite ridge formed some 480 Million years ago. Overnight stay in Church 'Little' Stretton Church Stretton: Church Stretton is a friendly market town, the only market town in this area of outstanding natural beauty, renowned worldwide for its geology, with some of the oldest rock formations in existence.  The area has been settled since the Iron Age, during which a hill fort was constructed on Caer Caradoc Hill. The town was nicknamed 'Little Switzerland' during the Victorian  period, due to its hilly terrain. The local geology is complex and incorporates some of the oldest rocks in England.
Day 4	Rest day in Little Stretton or a round trip in the surroundings (6 / 38 miles) Explore the Long Mynd hills & Caer Caradoc Iron Age hillfort by foot. Or cycle to Acton Burnell Castle or the roman town of Wroxeter and the Grand National Trust house Attingham Park. Overnight stay in Church Stretton
Day 5	From Little Stretton to Ludlow (21/30 miles) Today you cycle to Ludlow via Wenlock Edge and Acton Scott Historic Working Farm.  Overnight stay at Ludlow Ludlow: the medieval town of Ludlow, breathing history at every turn, and its castle are perched on a cliff above the Teme. The impressive ruins of the castle occupy the oldest part of Ludlow. Building of the castle started around 1085, but it features examples of architecture from the Norman, Medieval and Tudor periods. Ludlow has acquired a reputation for being the centre for some of the best food and drink in Britain, not only because of the unspoilt countryside containing an amazing number of small independent food and drink producers whose commitment to producing 'real' food of the highest quality with the minimum of unnatural interference, but also because of the good restaurants and the yearly held Food Festival.  Returning to Petchfield on your last day via Richards Castle -the first Norman castle ever built in England (even built before the Norman invasion of 1066).
Day 6	From Ludlow to Elton and departure (5/10 miles) Your last cycling day. The route is either 5 miles through Mortimer Forest or 10 miles vai Richards Castle.. One of the first four Norman castles built in England, even before the norman invasion of 1066 km)

The package includes:

• 5 overnight stays B&B (possibility for an upgrading to Hotel and Inn )

• Quality bikes and equipment (hybrid or MTB)

• luggage transportation

• special route guides and maps

• comprehensive holiday information 

• full emergency back up service 

• save parking at P.farm

• medical and luggage insurance