Shropshire Cycleway: East (Telford to Cleobury Mortimer)

Ride directions

1. Step 1

   Start at Telford train station. Exit the station using the station lifts to cross the Silver Swallow bridge over railway and Queensway / Rampart Roads.  Exit left onto Ironmasters Way crossing at the pedestrian crossing. 

2. Step 2

   Turn left onto Lawn Central and at the roundabout take the third exit onto Grange Central. At the next roundabout take the first exit along St Quentin Gate. Turn right into International Way and follow this road to the end where it joins a path into Telford town park. 

3. Step 3

   Heading towards Spout Pool and the war memorial, find the cycle route S-Telford-Wy which runs through Telford town park heading south past Withy Pool, Exotic Zoo and Hinkshay Meadows. At Stirchley Pools turn left to join The Silkin Way cycle path. The Silkin Way runs through meadows and woods, skirting to the right hand side of Telford Town Park, passing Stirchley and heading towards Madeley. 

4. Step 4

   The path crosses Southall road with a bridge. with nice views of the High Street below. Continue on to a T junction with another path and turn right onto S-Telford-wy. This path has pedestrians and cyclists. Cross a bridge over Queensway Road and continue on through woods passing Madeley Court Windmill on the right. 

5. Step 5

   Skirting Madeley the path continues on through woods and green areas passing the Foresters Arms after which it joins Legges Way. Pass Blists Hill Victorian town and the path becomes the Silkin Way again running parallel to Coalport Road on the right. 

6. Step 6

   As it approaches the River Severn, the cycle path splits. To the right signed Jackfield and to the left Coalport. Stay on the Silkin Way to Coalport, with Coalport High Street to the right. Cross the Coalport High Street and join a slip road to the Coalport road bridge over the River Severn. At the next junction take a sharp left turn onto the Severn Way.

   Follow the wide car free Severn Way (NCR route) alongside the River Severn for 5.5 miles, through the Apley Estate, signed Bridgnorth. This off road route is best described as a wide but rutted gravel 'forest road' path which is better suited to a mountain bike with suspension for a comfortable ride. 

   At Bridgnorth follow signs to Stanley Lane. Turn left onto Bramble Ridge. When it comes to an end join the Friar Street path through the parkland of Ropewalk Dingle Countryside Site and meet back up with Friar Street.

    

7. Step 7

   At the T junction turn left and follow it round the residential street to join Southwell Riverside road in Bridgnorth. Cycle along the Riverside and turn left into Cartway. At the bridge, the road becomes Underhill Street. A nice lunch stop by the pretty bridge - bike racks are available. Leave bikes here to take a trip up to High town on the cliff railway (station opposite) or wander through the old streets of Bridgnorth. 

8. Step 8

   To rejoin the route, take Underhill Street alongside the river towards Eardington. Turn left onto Oldbury Road and left again onto The Cankhorn, B4555. Pass through Eardington and head towards Chelmarsh on a wider but faster road. 

9. Step 9

   Before reaching Chelmarsh turn left signed to The Dinney. At the cross roads (with the entrance to The Dinney ahead) turn left onto a wide gravel track signed NCR 45.

   From this point, the route closely follows the River Severn and then the Severn Valley railway. The route is varied, interesting and over a range of surfaces including wooden boardwalks, mud tracks and  narrower old tarmac and sections.  Towards the Severn Valley Country Park the it becomes a cinder track. This fun route  is suitable for mountain bikes, hybrids and gravel bikes, but not suitable for road bikes due to mud and uneven off-road surfaces. 

   After 750 yards on the gravel track turn right through a metal gate signed Public Brideway and follow a single earth track uphill lined by oak trees. 

   Follow the NCR 48 track through another gate and head downhill towards the pretty Chelmarsh Reservoir and sailing club. 'Caution water hazard' sign refers to Reservoir which is safe to pass. The narrow track joins the wider tarmac entrance road for Chelmarsh Sailing club and this road follows the ridge with great views over the countryside and path of the River Severn.

    

10. Step 10

    At the T-junction turn left, signed NCR 45 and follow the road past the farms at Hampton and head left to Hampton Loade down a steep winding hill. Be careful of traffic coming up. Before reaching the River Severn, pass the grand Hampton Loade Station of the Great Western Railway, on your right and turn immediately right onto the Mercian Way/ NCR 45 with signs to Bewdley and Highley (2.4 miles). A Severn Valley Railway sign warns cyclists to use the path at their own risk - this is due to no current cycle path maintenance agreement being in place. At time of writing (Nov 2025), the route was open and rideable. 

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

11. Step 11

     The NCR 45 route runs alongside the Severn from Hampton Loade, a large number of waterfowl live beside the path as it follows close to the river. It is undulating and at times steep, on varying uneven surfaces.  After half a mile the route meets the Severn Valley railway line on the right hand side and runs alongside. 

    The route enters the Severn Country Park, a pretty wooded path lined by silver birches. At the Country Park Halt (platform and request stop) interpretation boards describe the history of the railway sidings and the Highley Mining Company's Steaming Trains and coal screening area in the 1940's. The visitor centre and toilets for the Country Park are signed but to continue to Highley cross the track using the gate and look back to see the Halt platform. Beware of trains passing and be sure to close the security gates. 

    After crossing the line the gravel path goes uphill through woods until it finally reaches a small kissing gate. (Manouvre bike on back wheel through gate) . There are some no cycling signs on the other gate so dismount here. Follow the gravel track up hill with a caravan park to your left and at the top turn left into Vicarage Lane.

     

    At the T-junction with High Street turn right onto High Street/Bridgnorth road B4555 and follow it round through the town until turning left into Kinlet View before the cemetery. At the crossroads continue straight crossing over Netherton Lane into New England Lane.

     

     

     

     

12. Step 12

    Follow New England Lane down to a ford. Cross the ford and then continue up a steep hill - the lane is slightly rutted. Turn left onto the B4363 signed Equine Centre.

     

     

13. Step 13

    Turn right at the junction signed The Rays and Chorley and immediately cross a stream. Keep going through Chorley, past Chorley village hall. Turn left at the T junction and follow the road signed Stottesdon. In Stottesdon turn left to Harcourt. Turn right at the next cross roads. Then turn left, signed Kinlet/ Cleobury, and immediately right signed Neen Savage and Cleobury Mortimer.

     

14. Step 14

    At Detton continue on signed Neen Savage, with  more great views to the right of the Clee hills. Go down the hill and through woods, and turn right at the top of a bank following signs to Neen Savage. A steep hill takes you down a rutted road to a ford. Turn right over the ford and keep going straight, with great views.

15. Step 15

    Turn left at the A4117 (Ludlow Road) signed to Cleobury Mortimer - take care joining this faster road. In Cleobury town, turn left onto Childe Road and find the public car park on the right hand side. 

    This the end of the Shropshire Cycleway East: Telford to Cleobury Mortimer route. 

    The Shropshire  Cycleway South: Cleobury to Bucknell starts from the same car park in Cleobury Mortimer.

16. Step 16