The Marcher Castles Way

The Marcher Castles Way is a Cycling UK route that takes you on an off-road adventure through the historic borderlands of England and Wales, known as the Welsh Marches. This was once a turbulent frontier, home to centuries of conflict, power struggles, and castle building and this route traces that history through some of the most scenic parts of Shropshire.

The ride officially starts and ends in Shrewsbury, looping through a landscape shaped by medieval power. You’ll pass through towns and villages like iron bridge, Ludlow, Clun, Knighton, and weaving between the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and quieter valleys tucked between.

It’s not one continuous trail, but a mix of different types of terrain from canal paths and bridleways to grassy hillsides, old railway lines, forest tracks, and back lanes. There’s a bit of everything. You’ll definitely want a GPS device or navigation app, as the route changes surface and trail type quite often.

At just over 180 miles, with a fair bit of climbing, it’s not the longest route out there — but don’t underestimate it. The hills here can be steep over 15,000ft of elevation gain. If you're into routes that blend historical landmarks great panoramic views countryside, this one really delivers, especially if you're into castles.

Direction of travel

Being a loop, you can ride the Marcher Castles Way in either direction and I did look at the elevation profile before setting off and thought the reverse might actually be the better option. But having now ridden it, I do think the official direction is probably the right call.

The climbs in this direction are generally a bit smoother and more rideable, which definitely helps when you’re grinding uphill with gear. The descents might be a little rougher going this way, but honestly, that’s what you want it’s much more enjoyable riding the rougher stuff downhill than having to push or struggle your way up it.

So while both ways are totally doable, I’d recommend sticking with the official direction unless you’ve got a very specific reason to reverse it. It flows well, and the tough sections feel a bit more manageable this way.

Which Bike?

I took this on with a flat bar gravel bike running 50mm tyres and a 38 x 11/46 gearing setup. Overall, it handled the route pretty well. There wasn’t much I couldn’t ride or didn’t feel confident riding, but I’m not going to lie, there were definitely a few climbs where I’d have loved an extra gear or two. Some of the climbing is steep and just keeps on coming, so having something easier to spin would make those moments a bit more manageable.

I tackled this in pretty dry conditions. Even though I had some rain during the trip, the trails had been baked dry for a couple of weeks beforehand, so most of them were hard-packed and even dusty in places. In that kind of weather, a big-tyred gravel bike can be a solid option, but I’d recommend only using a gravel bike if you’re used to riding rougher tracks already with a bit more experience. That said, for most people, I’d probably recommend going with a hardtail mountain bike. You’ll want something with reliable brakes and the easiest gearing you can get. A lot of the route is wide, double-track style trails, but that doesn’t always mean they’re smooth. And when the rain does come. Which, let’s face it, in the Shropshire hills is never too far away. A mountain bike’s extra grip, comfort, and braking power will make a big difference on this route especially if the trails are a little on the wetter side.

Wild camping or accommodation

When it comes to where to sleep along the Marcher Castles Way, you’ve actually got a lot of flexibility. Whether you’re into wild camping, prefer booking a BnB, or want something in between like a proper campsite, this route gives you all of those options.

The route passes through a good number of small towns and villages. While they’re not packed with accommodation, most of them have at least a few places to stay, whether it’s a small hotel, or a pub with rooms. So if you’re not into wild camping or just want a bit more comfort, this route would be fairly easy to do that way.

As for wild camping, there are definitely some good options along the route, especially if you’re willing to head a bit higher up. Most of the better wild camping spots are on the more exposed side, up on the hills, which means the views can be amazing, but so can the wind. The Shropshire Hills can get pretty blustery, so make sure your tent is up to the job if you're planning to camp up top. Wouldn’t want you to get blown away now.

There are also a few wooded sections that could be useful if you need to get out of the weather, but they’re fewer and further apart, so you might need to plan your days a bit more carefully to reach them. If wild camping’s not really your thing but you still want to sleep outside, a quick search will show there are quite a few official campsites around the Shropshire Hills too.

Basically, whatever your camping style is this route has you covered.

Difficulty

This is one of Cycling UK's tougher routes, but not because it's overly technical. Most of the riding is on wider double track and smoother gravel paths, with some rougher sections here and there. If you’ve got some off-road experience, you’ll probably find most of the terrain very rideable, especially in dry conditions. But beginners or anyone not used to uneven trails might find a few sections a bit more challenging, especially when the ground’s wet or rutted.

The real difficulty comes from the climbing. This route has a lot of it, long, steady climbs and short, punchy ones, often one after the other. It can feel pretty relentless, and with a fully loaded bike, it will definitely start to add up. You’ll feel those climbs in your legs by the end of each day.

That said, one of the things that makes this route more manageable is how often you pass through small towns or villages. You’re never really too far from civilisation, which means food, water, and even a bed for the night are never too far away if you need them. It’s has a really good balance. Physically demanding, but not logistically overwhelming. You don’t need to carry days’ worth of supplies, and that can make a huge difference on long rides like this.

Other things to keep in mind: weather can change quickly in the Shropshire Hills, and wind can make some of the exposed sections tough going. But if you get a good weather window, the trails are mostly fast-rolling and dry, especially in summer. The climbs are tough, but the scenery is amazing. Tough climbs, but the views make it worth it.

So overall, I’d give this route a 7.5 out of 10 for difficulty. It’s one of the more physically demanding routes Cycling UK has put out, mainly because of the hills and the sustained effort needed across multiple days. But with the right setup and a bit of fitness, it’s definitely a rewarding one to take on. But maybe not if you are a beginner. Cycling UK has some easier routes to choose from.

Check out CyclingUK Marcher Castles Way for the most up-to-date route/info