NCN 81 - Birmingham to Aberystwyth

The surface is mostly road throughout. Past Oakengates and Ketley the line crosses into Shropshire and follows a corridor through Shrewsbury's eastern fringe, touching Monkmoor, Porthill and Copthorne before heading into open country toward Ponthen and Wollaston. Beyond Belan and Penygloddfa the route climbs into mid-Wales, and the long passage through Llangurig and up to Pwllpeiran is the remotest and hardest section before the descent through Crosswood and Llanfarian into Aberystwyth.

The stretch from roughly Llangurig to Crosswood is genuinely isolated, with no settlements of any size for around sixty-five kilometres, so carry food and water before leaving Llangurig. Shrewsbury is the last reliable resupply point before the hills close in. Around eighteen percent of the route is off road, but no specific surface types are recorded here, so check conditions ahead if you are on a road bike.