Shropshire hills

Shropshire hills

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C43

Original Poster:

666 posts

197 months

Tuesday 26th August 2014
quotequote all
Hi

I am driving from Banbury to Dolgellau towards the end of the week. Normally I start further south and have worked out a pretty decent route but I am nut used to starting this far north. I will be travelling in a Lotus so want to avoid motorways and 'enjoy' the great country roads. Does anyone know what the road over the Shropshire hills is like starting off at Kidderminster (going to do the first part on motorway, no choice as far as I can see). Also are there any speed cameras (just in case my foot should slip on the accelerator...

thanks

C43

vournikas

11,683 posts

203 months

Friday 29th August 2014
quotequote all
wavey from Shropshire

There's lots of very good roads that criss-cross the Shropshire Hills, but if I were you the decision on my route would be fairly easy; it goes like this :

From Kiddy, head towards Bridgnorth and follow the signs for the A458 Shrewsbury. When you enter the village of Morville (not Morville Heath), keep an eye out for The Acton Arms on your right because immediately after the pub there's a left turn which (IIRC) is signposted for Craven Arms. Take this exit onto the B4368.

It's a super piece of road with long straights, open corners, tight corners, blind corners, and off-camber corners. This roads takes you through the South East Shropshire Hills, past Shropshire's highest point (Brown Clee Hill). Eventually, you'll get to Craven Arms and a r'bout at the junction with the A49.

Turn right here, heading North towards Shrewsbury.

Very shortly after you leave Craven Arms, immediately after a slight hump-back bridge, there's a left turn for the A489. Take this exit, and follow all the way to a T-junction with the A488.

Turn right (should be signposted Minsterley / Pontesbury). Follow this road, which is perfectly suited for a Lotus, through the above villages and eventually you'll get to a r'bout at the junction with the A5.

From there, it's on to mid-Wales.

Have fun.

Trefy5

459 posts

151 months

Tuesday 2nd September 2014
quotequote all
^^ Good advice
so I'll just confuse things by giving you an alternative from Craven Arms. This assumes you are not in a hurry.
Instead of turning North up the A49 turn left /South to a small roundabout and turn right/West on to B4368 toward Clun. Pass thru Adton on Clun and Clunton.
Thru Clun crossing River and turning right onto B4368 (yes same number)
Thru Newcastle on Clun - Anchor - Kerry Ridge >> A489 turning left/West for Kerry then Newtown.
At traffic lights (nr McDonald's) left on to AA483 for Llanidloes.
At first Llanidloes roundabout tureen right into Yatton. At small roundabout by Texaco turn right over bridge then immediately left onto B4518.
- >>> Staylittle >>> left turn for Dylife (no Road number) (great view over gorge) - Forge - Machynlleth.
In Mach. turn left on to A489. To clock tower Hinton - right onto A487 and head for Dolgellau.

Whichever route i don't believe you'll be disappointed smile

theboss

6,878 posts

218 months

Saturday 6th September 2014
quotequote all
I live near Much Wenlock so am familiar with most of the roads mentioned, and they are good smile

Couple of things -

if you do come up via Bridgnorth and then West on the A458, observe the 30 carefully at Morville as in daylight there is frequently a van sited *just* inside the restriction.

I'm assuming you're coming cross country towards Worcester or Droitwich and then up to Kidderminster thus missing out the M40/M42/M5. This is a good idea as there are a lot of roadworks in the area currently, both on the M5 itself between Worcester and J4, and also at Hagley if you come off at J4. In this case I would consider avoiding Kidderminster entirely as the area is a nightmare if its approaching or during peak hours. Come off the A449 at Ombersley then onto the A443, turn right at Abberley by the public school, over the crossroads at Clows Top, and then on through Cleobury to meet the A49 at Ludlow.

If you end up on the A49 in this area and want a more direct - but still good route into Mid-Wales - take the A489 North of Craven Arms all the way through to Newtown.

Generally in this area you can make good progress on the B roads as you can get around anything moving slowly. On the trunk roads you all too often find yourself in a long procession at HGV speeds for miles on end.

Slippydiff

14,742 posts

222 months

Sunday 7th September 2014
quotequote all
Ignore all the advice given here. It's rubbish (as are the roads being recommended)
Nothing more to see here, move on please.

Topic closed

wink

SteveSPG

2,120 posts

201 months

Tuesday 9th September 2014
quotequote all
salops roads are absolutely useless, full of potholes, clogged with tractors, or worse errant sheep attempting suicide, especially when you get towards the welsh hills, its always cloudy and misty, absolutely no good reason to come here....really....

Shewie

553 posts

189 months

Wednesday 10th September 2014
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SteveSPG said:
salops roads are absolutely useless, full of potholes.
Can agree with the potholes, broke a bloody coil spring just outside Much Wenlock last week in a car I'd only bought 3 days previously. An auspicious start thankfully now resolved so I can now enjoy the car, albeit with my wallet 500 quid lighter! Shropshire Council fix your roads properly.

theboss

6,878 posts

218 months

Saturday 13th September 2014
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w
Shewie said:
SteveSPG said:
salops roads are absolutely useless, full of potholes.
Can agree with the potholes, broke a bloody coil spring just outside Much Wenlock last week in a car I'd only bought 3 days previously. An auspicious start thankfully now resolved so I can now enjoy the car, albeit with my wallet 500 quid lighter! Shropshire Council fix your roads properly.
Can you let me know where? I live just outside Wenlock and try to maintain an awareness of the 'really bad' [pot] holes. My own lane is so bad the entire road surface is literally disintegrating.

s m

23,164 posts

202 months

Monday 15th September 2014
quotequote all
Slippydiff said:
Ignore all the advice given here. It's rubbish (as are the roads being recommended)
Nothing more to see here, move on please.

Topic closed

wink
Good advice - no worthwhile roads in this area

Shewie

553 posts

189 months

Tuesday 16th September 2014
quotequote all
theboss said:
w
Shewie said:
SteveSPG said:
salops roads are absolutely useless, full of potholes.
Can agree with the potholes, broke a bloody coil spring just outside Much Wenlock last week in a car I'd only bought 3 days previously. An auspicious start thankfully now resolved so I can now enjoy the car, albeit with my wallet 500 quid lighter! Shropshire Council fix your roads properly.
Can you let me know where? I live just outside Wenlock and try to maintain an awareness of the 'really bad' [pot] holes. My own lane is so bad the entire road surface is literally disintegrating.
I had to divert off the A458 as Harley Bank was closed, so ended up going the scenic route through Homer! The pothole was halfway between Homer and the Ironbridge road (A4169)

Trefy5

459 posts

151 months

Monday 22nd September 2014
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Silly me
I have no idea what i was saying. Must be the wedding madness going on.
Well in a lucid moment i shall add... absolutely nothing to see here.
No green rolling hills wth miles of bl**dy lovely roads. Try Birmingham wink

Richair

1,021 posts

196 months

Monday 22nd September 2014
quotequote all
As said above, absolutely nothing to see here so I'd avoid the place, especially the B4380 and the B4396. Whilst you're avoiding those you should also stay well clear of the A4117, B4363 and B4364 wink

In all seriousness though it can get a bit busy round here, so don't expect remote Wales levels of (no) traffic but don't let that put you off.

GT3cs

1,200 posts

240 months

Wednesday 2nd August 2023
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Holy thread revival .

Looking for an interesting route similar to above but from Caffiene and machine to portmeiron . Any changes in the last 10years !

Tupwood

162 posts

67 months

Wednesday 2nd August 2023
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The traffic has got worse, and the potholes are deeper. The roads are still great / terrible (delete as needed) but you have to set your alarm clock earlier to beat everyone else…

GT3cs

1,200 posts

240 months

Wednesday 2nd August 2023
quotequote all
It’ll be mid week and early !