I joined Cycling UK last year, I think, and was intrigued when they published details of a new route on the Welsh Border: the Marcher Castles Way.

When Penny from the Turn Cycling gang (as Niel Copeland’s coachees are called) asked if anyone was interested in doing it I looked at the dates proposed and arranged for the dog to be looked after as my wife would be at a conference. Ok, she arranged for the dog to be looked after so I could join Penny, Niel and Jo mid week and do the route over three days.

I planned my rail journey from Shireoaks to Shrewsbury and enjoyed the different space given bikes on the Crosscountry train compared with Transport for Wales or my local Northern train to Sheffield. The Crosscountry train had space patently designed by someone who has no experience of any bikes other than drop handlebar road bikes without any luggage.

I got to Birmingham New Street and met Penny who was already on the train to Shrewsbury. Two fully loaded mountain bikes? Transport for Wales = no problem.

Disembarking at Shrewsbury we learnt that Jo and Niel had been held up as the M40 was closed following a very bad accident. They told us to press on. So we did.

Leaving alongside the river we made pretty good progress passing an old Roman Fort at Wroxeter

If you want insights into all the history and archaeology of the route then there is no better source than Guy Kesteven’s YouTube videos which are based on his recce of the route. You can download the full GPX files from the CyclingUK website and order the guidebook as well.

I began to realise that the route was going to take me back through parts I had ridden last year on the Solstice Sprint. Once more I went around the Wrekin, from which comes the phrase ‘going all around the Wrekin’. The phrase can also be used figuratively to describe someone who talks or explains things in a rambling or roundabout way, taking a long time to get to the point. Maybe I shouldn’t point that out….

The Solstice Sprint also took us through Ironbridge which even on a second visit is impressive.

What began to impress me even more, and continuously, were the views. This was a constant throughout the route, aided by the fact that it ‘undulates’ significantly.

We soon encountered our first hike a bike section. Do not underestimate the climbing on this route. It was relentless and in some places quite savage but then you are rewarded with the descents and even the climbs had views to look back on.

Given the time of year and it being Wales we were surrounded by lambs, everywhere!

We made the top of the final hill just as the sun was setting and descended to Ludlow using our lights.

Meanwhile Niel and Jo had short-circuited a bit of the route to get to the Travelodge before us and made sure we could order dinner in the pub next to it. This is one advantage of the route, it can be shortened if needs must.

I do like it when the hotel lets you keep your bike in your room. After all, according to FlannO’Brien, the molecular interchange between you and the bike means that, by now, my mountain bike is part human and I am part bike…..