The Ecocabin by Bike : Our First Week-End Visit

A report by David and Monica Robinson from Chester.

The best way to arrive at the Obley Eco cabin is by bike. Why is it the best ? Because by using two wheels you really earn the pleasure of arriving.  After leaving Hoptonheath station the big landscape setting that dominated the road to Hopton Castle and the dark approaching autumn rain squall set the scene and we knew we had arrived in deepest Shropshire.  Half a mile of toil into the Hopton Woods, but now with the promise of blue sky. Ahead the Black Hill, sparkling light and a final gentle downhill to the chapel and the ecocabin. 3.7mls in 37 minutes, but we drank the landscape, felt the weather and relished the welcome of the ecocabin and its bike friendly veranda.

Practicalities. We have had ten years of train/biking but we do understand how newcomers can feel a little fazed by the experience. If you can, you should try the Heart of Wales line (only four trains a day but it needs your support.) Hopton Heath is the nearest stop for Obley, but we would recommend Bucknell as the station is much more bike friendly. Hopton Heath had long steep steps with a kissing gate at the top which is a little difficult with a bike ! Don’t forget that both Hopton Heath and Bucknell are request stops so let the guard know where you wish to alight.  Kate recommends not taking the direct route from Bucknell to Obley as apparently it is very steep. So from the station follow the B4367 in a north easterly direction and after about a mile turn left into Bedstone and right past the church on a very quiet lane to Hopton Castle. Then left and follow the signs to Obley, total route being just over five miles.

The trains in this area are operated by Arriva Trains Wales and we rarely book a place for our bikes. However to guarantee a bike space, which may make you feel more relaxed, bookings are free. The bike accommodation in and out of Shrewsbury, Craven Arms and Ludow is the narrow slot variety, which means you will have to remove panniers, to fit two bikes. Usually there is a small bike symbol sticker on the train window, showing the position of cycle storage. Most guards will permit more than two bikes (we’ve seen six on a two coach train !),   but the official limit is two. Craven Arms and Ludlow on the Crewe-Shrewsbury-Newport line have a much more frequent service that the HOW line so cycling from Craven Arms or Ludlow may suit your timings rather better, but if you can do try and use the HOW line.

Our weekend stay at Obley with two other cycling friends (Dave and Val) was the setting for two cycle expeditions. On the Saturday we took the lovely downhill route to Clun via Clunton (about 5 miles), shopped, had an educational input at the museum, and had a soup and a roll lunch at the Maltings. Then on to Knighton through stunning country, involving only one steady climb from Clun on the LLwyn lane, crossing Offa’s Dyke, at a short steep hill. near Selley Hall, down to Skyborrow and Knighton ( nostalgic visit for me as I have walked this section of the Dyke three times). We then took quiet, flat lanes to Bucknell Station, Buckton and Leintwardine. We checked the local facilities and then took our route back to Obley via Hoptonheath. In all about 32 miles which took us four hours of cycling time but we did have plenty of stops on top of that !

Sunday started very wet but the wind was a strong kind southerly for our ride to Shrewsbury. We suffered the short sharp steep hill on the lane from behind the Eco cabin, to the stunning ridge, Fidlers Elbow and Clun (about 3 miles). As  it was a Sunday we took the A488 for the five miles to Bishops Castle, the sun came out and it was quiet. Morning coffee was very welcome at the top of the town hill. Then on via Norbury, one short steep hill to Bridges and the popular Horseshoe Inn, another 3 miles to the top with great views of Stiperstones and the distant Berwyns.  Then a glorious downhill, via Pulverbatch and Longden to Shrewsbury. In all a pleasant 32miles, which with stops took us under five hours. The train home to Chester was fine. 

If you’re staying at the EcoCabin, then arriving by bike makes the eco experience almost complete. Routes from the north, west and south look very demanding but from the east they really are manageable. Why not try and feel virtuous at the amount of CO2 emissions you have saved.  

David and Monica Robinson from Chester
28th/30th October 2005