THE MARCHER CASTLES WAY : https://ridewithgps.com/trips/279062334
A 290km/180-mile off-road adventure filled with stunning beauty and rich history of the English-Welsh border
At the beginning of May 2025 it was time to head out on Cycling UK’s Brand New Bikepacking route the Marcher Castles Way. The route was announced in the Autumn of 2024 and it was much anticipation I finally got to ride the entire route over the early May bank holiday. Joined by a couple of friends, Brandon and Adi; our challenge was to complete the Marcher Castles Way of 3 days of the long bank holiday weekend.
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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.
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– Cycling gear –
Coros Dura Bike Computer
Tailfin Top Bag
Tailfin Aeropack + Carbon Rack
RedShift Quick Release Aero Bars
Redshift Suspension seat post and Stem
Charge Spoon (saddle)
– Bivvy / Camping gear –
Naturehike Mongar 2 Person Tent – https://amzn.to/3ColHBZ
Hunka XL Bivvy Bag – https://alpkit.com/products/hunka-xl?variant=41470529667177
UL80 Trekology Sleeping Pad – https://amzn.to/3ZGQLtT
Traveller 50 Lightweight Sleeping Bag – https://www.mountainwarehouse.com/traveller-50-lightweight-summer-sleeping-bag-p13098.aspx/yellow/
Sea to Summit Reactor Plus Compact Themolite Mummy Liner – https://amzn.to/3SUMUDk
Down Cargo Pants – https://amzn.to/4ibpRBr
Down Boots – https://amzn.to/41c7zd1
– Video / Audio gear –
DJI Action 4 – https://amzn.to/3QpekT7
HoverAir X1 – Self Flying Drone – https://uk.thehover.com/
Camera Windshield Housing : https://amzn.to/2KBy6vb
// Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/8627950
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morning world indeed [Music] so good morning people did you sleep well oh like a baby like a baby not bad at all woke up a few times but generally really well yeah oh sorry if I push just we’re all having breakfast now we got pot noodles we got pores times two noodles brew what more could you want nice warm bed taxi over remember kids leave no trace camp tent footprints in the woods so it looks like me and Brandon are waiting patiently now and there’s still all this to go in blime me it was well organized though doesn’t it yeah i’m trying to trying not to forget anything but uh yeah just got to get it all put away now well come on boarding on the way day two of the March Castle’s way hills arrived already non-stop so we finally left at half 7 so about an hour extra on yesterday’s ride 112 done all good so far in that I’m learning that when you see a bin stop straight away cuz you don’t know when you’re going to see the next one so we’re going to find out surely what we could have worn in terms of sleeping places we kind of marked somewhere on the map uh that would be ideal just village on Yaton [Music] [Music] [Applause] fair views to go today still i don’t know why I show you that flipped over the screen but we’ve done over 2,000 m there’s over 3,000 more to go over today and tomorrow it’s been quite chunky but really enjoyable we’re back off road again got Brandon in front lady somewhere behind easy to do with one hand so uh going to put you away just going through the final woods before the main road this is what we could have won and I tell you what I don’t see anything coming up anytime soon we chose wisely [Laughter] sorry young fella you can’t come this way you have to go pristine take the other path say again can’t go this way you have to go back Pine and take the other path oh I might let you through [Music] then so we’re going been going about an hour now this is really eventful that gate that the trail after that gate just turned to overgrowth we was just chopping our way through yeah so eventually at some point we’ll go through pristine and then another five miles after that 10k or whatever it might be this mountain all seems very far away at the moment [Music] over the glamour it’s what we do it for isn’t it this is the lifestyle five star yes the life of the vagrant daniel’s in the morning what time it’s 20 26 minutes past 9 in the morning not that they’ve got a problem and we’re because we’re such healthy fit people yeah we can we can drink eat anything we uh need to want to we’ll have bacon did you have bacon buty or did you No of course you didn’t yeah yeah I had a bacon buty bacon buty and Jack Daniels how could What a better start to the day where’s next on the uh tour um I must be entering Wales soon is this Wales is this sort of No it looks like it’s like spelled like Wales country oh are we yeah ah right so it’s the river is it ah right oh thank you very much it’s more than just a spelling be very much like that then when when they did the border they didn’t have a ruler did they [Music] [Music] [Music] heat heat [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Laughter] [Music] [Music] heat heat [Music] [Music] oh heat heat heat heat [Music] so how long you been cycling for ad uh I’ve cycled all my life really since early teens yeah then I sort of started on the road then mountain bikes came along so I did a lot of mountain bike racing and then few years off with kids and then back to it road riding or daxing no no like um so for me I gave up like I became an adult got me first car and then um scored it years later you know that big gap yeah big big gap i had a bit of a gap cuz um I ended up with a a job that went two Sundays out of three so uh it meant that I got less fit and all me mates got more fit so I sort of did give it up a bit then and then met the misses and the kids as kids and then uh got back to it probably 10 years but always sort of been a cyclist always lived quite a long way away from school so had to go on me bike so actually when I decided do it as a sport I was reasonably okay at it you know yeah have you always cycled no i used cycled maybe to about age of 18 right uh somebody got me into it early on college years and just mountain bikes everywhere oh yeah probably went about 50 mi at one point which seemed like that’s an achievement a mountain bike yeah yeah before Straa yeah numbers I think and We stopped about 19 20 or something right and then didn’t we start till I was 37 38 oh right so yeah bit of a gap there big big gap yeah and it was driven by the partner saying “Oh you could do with you know looking after yourself a bit more.” Yeah cheers yeah yeah uh push me give up smoking smoked for about 16 years right how you gave that up as well is a really strong rider but uh just reached a 27% there off road it’s like right get up on push lots of tricky surfaces i really need to get my gearing sorted on this bike and maybe I’ll save it for another video but I do have some plans to upgrade this bike in the next week or two at the moment I got a 42 uh 40 chain ring and a 42 cassette uh nowhere near big enough like is always the case on camera it’s hard to appreciate uh steepness but we’ve just been going along this gravel track for a little while um on the way to CL now and maybe bit to see if I get Andy’s finger out this is a track there’s a hillside there there’s a really steep track making its way up that large hillside see I said it’s hard to appreciate on camera but that’s where we’re about to go we’re doing 238 m worth of climbing that’ll be the top i suppose the good way to think about it is the tie road is the tie route is about 5,200 so this you know this is that 200 part of the 5,000 you know I guess it’s a a reasonably substantial amount of uh the ride ticked off isn’t it well how many times does 200 go into 5,200 quick maths comments down below so if there’s a lots of big climbs like this I guess you can tick them and counter down your head more so than you can small climbs and things but yeah it’s just a nice gravel track at the moment it’s probably one of the best gravel tracks we’ve been on for a while it’s not too stony nice fine yeah this is the odd Ricky and here sticking up but yes nice it’s nice nice nice what a view though quick rever because uh just got this corner to round again it looks flat but it is not do you know what Cl’s famous for clunge it’s the uh No no no no no it’s the birthplace of the one and only Doc Martin hey there yeah you not know that no yeah yeah martin Clums martin Clums heat heat [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] b and close this is the stone slabs called Caitlyn stone and commemorates the death of a peddler who died close to the Kerry Ridgeway although crudely carved his grade two listed monument at the time of the peddler’s death in about I think it was uh 1691 a disagreement occurred on who should be responsible for the burial uh the good sinners of Beta Keffin agreed to bury his remains in Beta’s church and this rough stone was carved as a monument and placed close to the place of his demise this is just off the trail what five 5 mm if that so when you say a peddler was he doing the Marcher Castle’s way yes on a gravel bike yes after you sir hell [Music] this one ridge he’s a fat is he oh thank you very much she she Yeah i wouldn’t know i’m not saying that keep the boys shoot separate won’t they they only have one or two of them they don’t have babies yeah busy uh talking about sheep here rather than the amazing views so currently on the Kerry Ridgeway heading west into what they’re into mid Wales really there is a a landmark or monument at the end of this we’re going to go see a bit of a very short out and back our next place to be stopping at will be New Town there’s Montgomery and the very last resupply we’ll be stopping at is Church Stoke I think it is and then shortly after that hopefully a great camp spot may not be great but we’ll cross the fingers we’ll find out later this evening where the P is a good heavy waves [Music] we’ve reached the busy spot or something for Clark two trunks point how do you pronounce that one there for Laser it means Kerry kerro uh [Music] so from up here you see we should be able to see the long men shouldn’t we no we should be able to see the long men shouldn’t we the sniper stones these got to be I think What does it say i think there is where we come up from crew green gordon Hill Stapley Hill Shrewsbury the Montgomery Castle all right okay that’s Montgomery there well Montgomery sits up on a hill doesn’t [Music] [Applause] it [Music] heat heat heat heat [Music] [Music] so I don’t know which canal this is but we’ve been traveling down it for 2 3 km now out of New Town towards Montgomery pretty early as well it’s not even uh 5:00 yet I think well it’s probably the close to 5:00 and we’re stopping at Church Stoke it’s not far away to be honest so got absolutely tons of time so out the uh second or possibly the third spot in a row this one is out outside uh well it’s in the town of Montgomery and it’s the second last place for getting snacks and things so uh just getting some water some drinks pot noodle course pot noodle of course eckles cake mhm and most importantly a bag for the rubbish rubbish that’s Yeah good idea i bought a packet of crisps and a coconut to drink which I’ve already drank um I’ve got again tonight to eat i’ve got some uh sausage sausage meat and some pasta thing so I’m going to have that but I’m not going to miss out an oven at a takeaway cuz sort of mileage we’re doing back to back i think you know you just got to keep eating eating you can never eat too much can you as long as you’re not like make yourself sick yeah you need to keep yourself well and truly loaded don’t you yeah whe that’s a a nutritious pot noodle which somehow miraculously stay there entire journey look at that hey look at that and considering the actual train we’ve had to endure today and yesterday you’re surprising uh what you’ve had on there it’s managed to make it yeah yeah new pole as well my back tire is started losing the ear again so hopefully you know that’ll fix itself so I have to wait and see probably need a new back tire don’t you think after that plug that went in there i mean the thing about tight tubacuses they’re meant to design you know meant to last a few plugs and things aren’t they they’re not meant to uh die straight away kind of just because need to plug it there are so I think it’s got two plugs on there you can you can patch them can’t you on the inside it’s not very big i don’t think the the the plugs are long there to get you home sort of thing complete the ride and then you patch it you patch it on and then that’ll you know survive a bit longer the next stop is a chickto we’re just having a a Chinese and there they are in there yeah it’s going to have a lovely Chinese is I don’t know if we eat it outdoors or indoors but it’s going to go down well that’s for sure you’ve seen it your first here folks fact so we just uh stopped for the final time to camera before we get to camp for a bit of a view and we’re hoping uh some woods a bit of further up the path i’ve got our name on it but there you go look at that cloud looks pretty uh dramatic in the picture but it’s it’s not it’s nothing so just heading up this final rocky section hopefully finding all there’s some woods coming up we’re getting there somehow hope you’ve been enjoying this bike packing adventure myself Brandon and AD if you have comment down below give the video a thumbs up give it a like the end of a long day Richard yeah day two eh about 110 just about 110k as much climbing as you fancy uh I reckon I probably what do you reckon two and a half walk two and a half two miles today perhaps we didn’t do a lot of walking did we didn’t do a lot of walking i did well yeah not as much as yesterday maybe a mile perhaps but yeah it was tough places and it’s 20 to 9 it’s 29 and yeah and good timing all as well yeah we’re here we all set up before it goes dark dark and I said I brought a treat with me so I don’t know if you uh like to indulge with me coming up next time on the Marcher Castle’s Way just heading to a place called Snail Beach there’s no beach and I’m pretty sure snails aren’t a problem these holly trees uh they reckon they’re about 400 years old which I’m assuming is very old for for holly trees this one’s called Buddy isn’t it is it yeah buddy Holly no putting fires out if there’s wildfires wildfires yeah you have a curry like before and you really really must go that’s it bury it somewhere
1 Comment
Brilliant views and video Richard.