Mark's big Bike Ride blog: Mitchell's Fold .....Autumn Gold

I recently discovered there is a Stone Circle in Shropshire, apparently over 2000 years old, dating back to the Bronze Age. Since myself and Mark went out to Avebury Stone Circle earlier in the year.. I've become quite fascinated by these ancient structures, and despite Shropshire being on my doorstep I had no idea this existed. It's called Mitchell's Fold, where local Folklore involve a Giant, an Over-sized Cow and a Witch.

Lindsay gave me a call on Friday suggesting a Sunday ride somewhere. We didn't fancy Hoggin' the Bridge this year, so .. with a quick Google and a download of the TomTom POI's for English Heritage I plotted a route avoiding the usual A49 to try and find Mitchell's Fold. The route would take us over Wenlock Edge, and then out towards Church Stretton taking in tiny small Shropshire villages as we wound our way around Stiperstones to the little village of White Grit at the foot of nearby Stapely Hill.

(click to enlarge images)

Shropshire Ride To Mitchell's fold and on to Clun

It was a 9 am start, on a mild Autumn morning - quite windy as the UK starts to feel the effect of Hurricane Gonzalo, we make our way through some traffic free roads. The roads through these valleys are one lane wide, covered in leaves and debris. At times it was like riding through a blizzard of leaves, the usual autumn colours of golden yellows, browns and oranges. There was a good deal of mud on the roads this time of year, recent rain and tractors in and out of fields leaving a scary brown patch as we entered and exited bends. Rear brake, and engine brake riding is the order of the day.

So, eventually we found White Grit and the rough farm-track up to Mitchell's Fold car-park. Lindsay on the Bandit cautiously attempting to follow on road only tyres. Amazing to think these stones had been carried down from the hill in the distance, and placed in a circle some 2-3000 years ago, and they remained upright in all of those years !

Back on the road we stopped at Harry Tuffins Cafe in Church Stoke, bite to eat and a cuppa tea. Then a slightly wet ride across the border into Powys through the Vale Of Kerry (Ceri - Welsh) before cutting back across the border and past the 13th Century Castle just before the village of Clun.

While following the river valley, we passed through the tiny village of Aston on Clun who uphold an annual 'Arbor Day' tradition around their black poplar tree we passed, still decorated in flags from the festival in the Spring.

Finally, via the A49 down to Ludlow and over Clee Hill back home. Really nice ride.

Cheers Lindsay.

See this Wikipedia Article to find out more about Mitchell's Fold.

Total Mileage: 120