About Us

The Long Mynd & District Bridleways Association (LMDBA) covers some of the most beautiful riding country in Shropshire including moorland of the Long Mynd, the Stretton Hills, Wenlock Edge, the dramatic Stiperstones and the wild Kerry Ridgeway. The area is criss-crossed by a network of hundreds of byways, bridleways and quiet country lanes.

The Association’s main aims are to ensure that our bridleway network is maintained and improved, and to provide opportunities for local and visiting riders to enjoy the Shropshire countryside. We have an active committee, arrange escorted rides, organise clearance parties, hold popular quiz nights, arrange other ridden and non-ridden events and produce an attractive full colour newsletter for our members. 

Since the Association was formed in 1997, the strength in our numbers, the relationships we have formed with landowners and tenants, our association with Shropshire Council in generating circular rides and assisting in bridleway maintenance, and our co-operation with The National Trust, Natural England and Shropshire Hills AONB have all done much to increase our influence. 

The purpose of the Association is:-

1. To lobby for the improvement and creation of safer off-road riding.
2. To establish where bridleways and other rights of way (i.e. byways open to all traffic and unclassified county roads) exist, that can be used by the ridden or driven horse within the area of the Association.
3. To have surveyed all those rights of way described above, to establish their condition and to note any obstructions or unsafe sections and to report the survey’s findings to the appropriate Highway authority. To encourage, and assist where appropriate, the Highway authority to carry out its statutory duty of maintaining and improving access for horse riders and carriage drivers on these routes.
4. To submit claims to the appropriate Highway authority for the upgrading of paths not currently defined on the definitive map as bridleways or byways where evidence exists that such paths should be so defined. Also, submit to the appropriate Highways authority suggestions for the creation of paths which would improve the bridleways network (and not unreasonably affect other interests) without necessarily having to find evidence of previous use.
5. To lobby the Highways authority to improve the safety and suitability of classified roads, particularly when such sections of the road or road crossings form an essential part of a desirable “community circuit”.
6. To establish good relationships with landowners, occupiers and Local Authorities (County and Parish Councils) in order to promote the interests of riders and carriage drivers, while at the same time keeping on good terms with other path users such as ramblers and cyclists.
7. To promote awareness of the network of bridleways amongst members and communicate interesting rides and routes in the area for members to explore.
8. To promote the ideals of safe riding and road safety amongst members and riders generally.
9. To co-operate with appropriate organisations on any project that will enhance off-road riding within the area of the Association.