WENLOCK EDGE

MUCH WENLOCK, SHROPSHIRE

There are a handful of ways to climb the ridge up into Much Wenlock. The main road – the A458 – is a great climb, but it’s a bit busy, so I recommend this back route. Leaving the A458 at Harley you drop into the valley and find the climb’s base at the ford. But this is no ordinary ford: it’s a monster, so resist the temptation to ride through it and take the footpath instead. From here the road rises, snaking gently into Homer. There’s a substantial dip through the village and then the climb starts to show its true character. First up, there’s a harsh left-hand bend and then the road sweeps round another tough right-hand corner. As soon as you exit, you head left into the last of this series of challenging twists and turns. Ignore the ‘slow’ signs painted on the road and push on to the brow ahead, which lies just short of the junction with the A4169.