One of four 6-24 miles cycle rides around Market Drayton following quiet lanes and country roads.
A market (so good the town was named after it) has been running in Market Drayton for over 759 years and remains one of the liveliest weekly street markets in the area. Market Drayton is also the home of gingerbread, however, the locals prefer to dunk it in port rather than eat it dry – which may explain why a certain Robert Clive – better known as Clive of India, who was born in Market Drayton – chose to climb the spire of St Mary’s church when he was a boy. The town itself retains much of its medieval street pattern with red sandstone and mellow brick buildings mingling with black and white half-timbered properties; and to add even more character to the town, the Shropshire Union Canal passes just a few hundred yards from the town centre. For more information visit: www.market-drayton.com/InDevelopment/
Home to St Chad’s church, which dates from the 12th Century, rebuilt in Victorian times. Out on the village green is a great boulder called “Bradling Stone” on which it was the custom to “bradle” or bump any man or boy found still working after noon on Shrove Tuesday.
The canalside village is home to a flight of 15 locks on the Shropshire Union Canal. The locks drop 93ft over 11⁄2 miles. The canalside pub, the “Shroppie Fly”, is named after the flyboats, fast horse-drawn passenger waterbuses used in the canal’s heyday.
Established in 1685, the parkland (and some buildings) still remains but sadly the grand hall was demolished in 1958.
Home to St Margaret’s Church built in 1200. To the right hand side of the front door is a tablet reading “Robert Lord Clive 1725-1774 founder of the British Empire in India, baptized and buried in this church”.
Leave Market Drayton along Rowan Road. At the T-junction turn right onto Fairfields and right at the next T-junction following Cycle Route 552 towards Norton-in-Hales and Audlem
At the junction with the pub turn left signposted Audlem. Follow this small country lane up to Mere Farm and cross the border into Cheshire
Go downhill and turn first left into Bagley Lane signposted Adderley
After about a mile the road crosses the Shropshire Union Canal at Coxbank Bridge. To visit Audlem follow the towpath along a well made track for 1 mile to the village centre and return to the Coxbank Bridge.
From the bridge go straight on and turn next left to Coxbank
At Coxbank turn first right down Chapel Lane (next to the old chapel). Go over the old railway line bridge and down to the main road. Cross directly over into Heywood Lane (take care)
At the next T-junction turn left towards Shavington Park
Cycle through Shavington Park and turn first right signposted Spoonley. Continue through parkland. Just past the pair of gatehouses turn right signposted Moreton Say and Calverhall
Go over the River Ducklow and uphill. At the crossroads go straight on to Moreton Say
At Moreton Say turn left to Market Drayton. Cycle through Longford and straight on to Market Drayton. Go under the bypass and turn left onto Shrewsbury Road back to the town centre
