Schwalbe Road Sportive Series - Marshbrook

The Marshbrook round of the SCHWALBE Road Sportive heads north from Marshbrook through Little Stretton and into Church Stretton, the ride starts with the notorious Burway Climb. The Burway climbs up the side of Cardingmill Valley precariously perched on a wall of the valley with a precipitous drop to the right. It rises at 20% for 2 miles gaining nearly 300m in height and leaving you high on the top of the Long Mynd. The decent swoops down the west side of the Mynd and heads north on undulating minor roads, and takes in some lanes to navigate the Eastridge Wood which is northern tip of the MTB Marathon. From Minsterley the route winds up the Hope Valley easily gaining height before arriving at the massive table top that is Corndon Hill. Across the border the route passes to the north and west side of Corndon and descends into the small town of Churchstoke.

The short route now drops south and picks up the Montgomery Road to Bishops Castle. The route then meanders its way back to the southern tip of the Long Mynd through rolling country side with one last climb before descending to the finish.

From Church Stoke the long course heads north to Montgomery with its Norman stone Castle perched on a crag of the hill looming above the town. The road winds around the hill and down towards the River Severn and the Montgomeryshire Canal at Abermule.

Heading south the road follows a stream and climbs in the shade up to Glanmule and onto the foot of the Kerry Hill. The road up is a classic winding 3mile climb and crosses the ancient Kerry Ridgway at it's peak before descending through Anchor and down a fast and winding 8mile blast to Clun. Heading south from Clun the Knighton road throws in 2 hills in quick succession before dropping steeply to the River Teme valley. A minor lane is taken before the town of Knighton and follows the northern side of the river up to Bucknell. The route then uses quiet minor roads to head north through the picturesque undulating Clun Forest which includes open pastures and moorland.

Through the village of Edgton the route then returns to the southern tip of the Long Mynd with one final climb before the finish in Marshbrook.

For more details on the Marshbrook round please go to our events page: http://www.roadsportives.co.uk/marshbrook.php