MG- Castle Bistro Chirk Via Tilston Both Ways.

by Neil Tanner
4 years ago
Near Chester, GB

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Again Modified, resist trying white lanes near this route as I have already tried them and regretted. This route is a cracker up to 20+ miles. There after it has taken several rides to refine to this version, which sees several changes and the biggest is avoiding the atrocious down hill goat lane at 22+% that leads down to the river at Ddol ( the lane is that bad it is not even named and the worst thing I have ever ridden, due to steepness and potholed gravelly condition. Killed my fingers hanging on to brake levers ( on the drops, that bad, also rode up it & never again. So, this route now winds back on itself a bit to create a descent route, but no longer, infact 100’ less climbing.

This is the most interesting lane route I could dream up, stopping at the castle Bistro 31 miles.
Then a flat fast return, with easy options to divert to a second cafe stop, at lost Barn, Tilston.The return route is on good B roads with light traffic, but not bad at all to be fair.
there is also the Two Doves cafe at Overton, which we ride past, but only 10 miles into the return.

Bistro Cafe at Chirk has a lovely character and good coffee. Also a lovely outside courtyard ( feels like your inside) and a back entrance for the bikes.
The last bit in particular before the cafe is of particular interest with Very narrow country lanes over the last couple of miles and very steap in parts for the descent ( not a good route after bad weather. The descent to river Caeriog is a very narly on the old route to Ddol. This one slightly better
The river at the bottom is superb and well worth the effort (a real selfie spot) The climb back up into Chirk is long, but comfortable with great smooth lanes.

The route has now seen 4 modifications, one of the other big ones & why the route is longer to Chirk is to avoid the area around Hanmar & Horseman, by dropping south by a mile, so it has only added 1 mile.

if the ride was feeling tough early, then an easy cop out would be at Penley (19 miles) AND SHOOT UP THE A539 TO OVERTON AND THE TWO DOVES CAFE, JUST 3 MILES OR WAIT TILL THE A528, AFTER 22 MILES, WHICH AGAIN RUNS TO OVERTON AND SIMPLY 3 MILES LONGER. the Two Doves opens at 9am & closed Sun/Mon