I see that Cycling UK have just launched another of their routes. This one straddles the English-Welsh border and has been named the Marcher Castles Way. The routes – there are now eight of them in total – appear to be aimed more at the bikepacker than the traditional cycle tourist. I wonder how feasible it is to ride them with a pannier set-up on a touring bike rather than a mountain bike and ‘packs’. Looking carefully at the videos and the photos, the surfaces seem to be OK. They remind me of cycling along the Yorkshire coast a few years back from Scarborough to Whitby. Any thoughts?
Here is the official description:
“Marcher Castles Way offers a perfect blend of challenge, reward, culture, and natural beauty; making it an exciting adventure for cyclists. While it may not feature the towering peaks of Traws Eryri or the length of the Great North Trail, this route brings its own unique tests. Starting in the historic town of Shrewsbury, you’re immediately immersed in rich history and beautiful scenery, from the Roman ruins at Wroxeter to the industrial heritage of Ironbridge. As you leave Ironbridge, the hills begin to rise, with steady climbs and rolling terrain. Each climb rewards you with breath-taking views, from the mythic Wenlock Edge to the Clee Hills, offering panoramic views across Wales and England.
The beauty of Marcher Castles Way isn’t just in its historical landmarks and scenic trails, but also in the physical challenge it presents. The constant hills and gradual climbs make it a ride that will keep you engaged from start to finish. Setting achievable daily goals will allow you to truly enjoy the journey, taking in the landscapes, ancient castles, and quiet countryside at your own pace. Embrace the challenge, and you’ll find Marcher Castles Way a truly rewarding experience.”
It sits halfway between Birmingham and the Welsh coast. Very handy for the brummies. 290 km long and requires 5,200 metres of climbing. Perhaps I should buy a mountain bike…
The full interactive route can be viewed here (complete with route profile). Below is what AI makes of the description. (Is that a push-me-pull-me bicycle??!!)
Header image credit: Cycling UK
Here’s a short film of cycling the Yorkshire coast – the Cinder Track – back in 2019 on a brand-new Wanda. Perhaps Cycling UK’s route 9 shoud include it…
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Guy Kesteven’s 3rd video of the ride is interesting. He is on a gravel bike and it gets spicy at 20 mins. He bails at 23 mins. Clearly no one at CyclingUK had ridden it before.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I96bzOGEJ_o
6,000m elevation gain over 300km is enough to dissuade me from attempting it with panniers.
Thanks. I’ll have a watch.
Just watched. In fairness, there is a caption on the screen which says that the route has changed since he made the video to take a better route. And he certainly goes at some speed!