Guest contributor: Emma | @wrwkcyclist takes on the Long Mynd and The Burway, with Black Rhadley as her base.
When I was planning a solo cycling trip, I knew I wanted two specific things: scenic local routes with some decent climbs and a quiet, secure space where I could properly reset. Tucked away in the Shropshire Hills, Heather and Stone’s Black Rhadley cabin turned out to be exactly what I was looking for, pairing luxury and comfort with direct access to picturesque, challenging elevation right from the doorstep.
Stepping through the trees and into the cabin, I immediately felt a sense of relief. For me, solo stays require a delicate balance - I want to feel isolated and off the grid, but I also need to feel safe, especially when traveling alone and with my bike. Knowing the owner was nearby, yet completely out of sight (I didn’t see a single soul from the cabin across three days), gave me total peace of mind.
On that first evening, sitting outside with a book and a glass of wine, listening to woodland birds (including a woodpecker) as the sun went down, was perfect. It’s a feeling I wish I could bottle up and take home. The next morning, after cooking up some eggs from Heather and Stone’s free range chickens and drinking coffee with a woodland background, I set off. My route took me straight into the heart of the Long Mynd, a plateau running above Church Stretton that delivers some of the best riding in the region. I picked off a fast, sweeping descent down the western side first, but my main target for the day was the return effort up The Burway - arguably the most iconic climb in the Shropshire Hills. The Burway doesn't offer much of a warm-up. Leaving Church Stretton, it ramps up sharply straight away, hitting gradients of up to 17%. It’s single-track, exposed to the elements and hugs a drop on one side as you grind your way up the valley.
Just when you think it settles into a rhythm, the road kicks again near the top with pitches hovering around 12% before finally leveling out on the summit plateau. I got lucky and found it closed to cars due to fire risk, meaning I got to tackle the steep gradients and admire the sweeping valley views completely traffic-free. The views were well worth the climb. After conquering The Burway, I tacked on a few extra miles to Bishop’s Castle to grab some lunch before heading back to the cabin, which involved a sneaky climb that felt like the biggest effort of the day! Luckily, the cabin setup made post-ride recovery easy. Jumping straight into the cold bath was all I could think about on that final climb and it instantly revived my legs (it’s wood-fired, so could also be used for a warm soak in the winter months).
With direct trail access to the Stiperstones right outside the door made it easy to stretch out tight muscles on a gentle evening stroll and complete privacy meant I could eat, stretch and relax without any distractions.
I loved everything about my stay at Heather and Stone and I fully intend on returning to explore (and climb) more of those Shropshire hills. There are plenty more miles to explore too, with routes winding through the Shropshire Hills towards Shrewsbury, Ludlow and the market towns in between.
If you're looking for a cycling getaway that pairs challenging riding with a peaceful, private place to come back to, this corner of Shropshire is hard to beat.