Home
Travel StoriesMuch A-Wenlock About Nothing
Home And Epilogue
Ride Date 15 Feb 2026
By Ren Withnell
Blimey that didn't last long. It's time to go home already so after a simple breakfast we're already stuffing the bags and loading them onto the bikes once again. Fortunately the weather this morning is of course cold but thankfully it's no longer freezing, I don't think there's any ice risk today.
There's norra lorra things to say about the ride home. A lunchtime snack at the Halfway House truckstop just south of Market Drayton, another quick brew at J&S's store at Oakmere (Northwich), and that dear reader is that.
What are my thoughts regarding Much Wenlock? It's a lovely little town surrounded by pleasant countryside. It lacks any breath-taking social media worthy outstanding scenery, you won't be impressing anyone by saying you've been there, there's plenty of other lovely little towns across the UK, and it won't provide a life changing experience. However as an easy, safe, comfortable, and enjoyable setting for a well earned weekend away Much Wenlock is ideal.
A lovely little town is Much Wenlock.
As winter grinds on hopefully spring is just around the corner. We already have plans for a trip to France that need solidifying soon, otherwise it's back to the grind and trying to keep warm. Urgh roll on summer!
Advertise here - contact ren@bikesandtravels.com
Prologue, Rain, Lost, And Hot
Another short winter break in Shropshire. This time Much Wenlock provides the location and the weather does what winter weather does. It'll be fine, hopefully.
Much Wenlock - Charming, Dry, And Cold
It's an easy and pleasant day in and around Much Wenlock for The Dynamic Muppets. It might even have been romantic if it weren't for Ren, the mean old grumpy curmudgeon.
Home And Epilogue
Just a brief summary of the return leg from Much Wenlock and Ren's thoughts of the lovely little town.
Reader's Comments
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Ow rayt u at me o'd mucka. Thee knoost.
Sometimes the nicest spots are close to home. On the day ride the other day it just reinforced that I'll be going to Peebles or thereabouts for a holiday sometime soon. It might only be a 1 hour jaunt away but it's blummin lovely. It shouldn't really matter how far we travel but how much we enjoy it whilst we're there.
Ta me ducks.
Upt.
12/07/2026 13:29:31 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
You are quite fortunate Upt' to live near to some rather pleasant places - but then even I living in the gritty grimy parts of north west England can find some enchanting spots without having to travel vast distances. And each person's notions of and enchanting spot varies quite a lot too! I was talking with folks the other day who rate Liverpool city centre as a great place to go. Personally there's no attraction for myself but if you like shopping and/or architecture and/or nightlife and/or food from around the globe - OK I get it.
Sharon and I had a rather too hot yet still enjoyable mooch around some gorgeous little villages on the English/Welsh borders between Ellesmere (Shropshire) and Wrexham this weekend. Narrow lanes with dirt down the middle, old timber frame buildings, quaint pubs, and fields bursting with crops all around. All that within an hour and a quarter's slow and genteel ride from Sharon's place.
Have you noticed how much nicer many places look in the sun? Heck even my home town of Horwich looks "tolerable" late in the evening when the traffic has died down.
13/07/2026 15:13:36 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
We do have some pretty scenery and nice roads around the West Midlands. The Cotswolds re just a short hop away. The Welsh Marches a little further. Even more local, there's a nice little circuit around local roads which I dubbed the Hall Green TT being around 35 miles long, ranging from 70mph dual carriageways to single track lanes with passing places. In fact, didn't we have a series some time ago where we submitted nice routes? Maybe Ren could resuscitate it.
However the bane of my life is British (well OK then probably mainly English) traffic. Most roads are either clogged with dopy people who shouldn't be allowed out* or lunatics who hurtle around everywhere at max revs, bouncing off the wastegates in their hot hatches. What would othersie be a pleasant ride can be spoiled by either or both of these.
*I do appreciate that there may be misguided people who would put me in that category!
14/07/2026 12:18:43 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
The BAT Recommended Rides page still lives in the Menu Ian. If perchance you can put together a google maps of the route and a few words to go with it I shall gladly add your small but perfectly formed route.
https://bikesandtravels.com/bat-recommended-rides.aspx...
16/07/2026 08:20:57 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
It's still there:
https://bikesandtravels.com/biker.aspx?ride=7188...
16/07/2026 11:34:43 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
As is my Roman Road to the south:
https://bikesandtravels.com/biker.aspx?ride=7190...
16/07/2026 11:35:22 UTC
Name
Comment
Add a RELEVANT link (not required)
Home
Travel StoriesMuch A-Wenlock About Nothing