The Long Mynd - Tuesday 16 December 2014
Route
Church Stretton - Townbrook Valley - Pole Bank - Shooting Box - Ratlinghope - Bridges - Adstone - Medlicott - Pole Bank - Shooting Box - Mott's Road - Carding Mill - Church Stretton
Parking
Lots of free parking in Church Stretton
Mileage
13.5 miles
Terrain
Stony tracks and grassy paths mostly. There is a section of road walking between Ratlinghope & Bridges. The public right of way between Adstone & Medlicott is muddy in part and a shallow ford requires crossing in the dip between the two points.
Weather
Sunny at first with cool breezes becoming overcast.
Time Taken
5hrs 30mins
Total Ascent
3057ft (932m)
Map
OS Explorer 217 - The Long Mynd & Wenlock Edge
Church Stretton - Townbrook Valley - Pole Bank - Shooting Box - Ratlinghope - Bridges - Adstone - Medlicott - Pole Bank - Shooting Box - Mott's Road - Carding Mill - Church Stretton
Parking
Lots of free parking in Church Stretton
Mileage
13.5 miles
Terrain
Stony tracks and grassy paths mostly. There is a section of road walking between Ratlinghope & Bridges. The public right of way between Adstone & Medlicott is muddy in part and a shallow ford requires crossing in the dip between the two points.
Weather
Sunny at first with cool breezes becoming overcast.
Time Taken
5hrs 30mins
Total Ascent
3057ft (932m)
Map
OS Explorer 217 - The Long Mynd & Wenlock Edge
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GPX File
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Walk Description
The Long Mynd (Long Mountain) is a mainly heathland plateau that is 7 miles long by roughly 3 miles wide and is in a beautiful part of the lovely county of Shropshire. The highest point on the Mynd is Pole Bank at 1693ft (516m). Living about an hour away by train, we have been up on to The Long Mynd many times and it has never really been that busy up on the top. There are many approaches to the highest point and the first part of the route today was one we have done several times before although the left hand side of the map above was new ground.
With Angie in Dorset for a few days, I was on my own today therefore having roused a sleepy pooch from his pit we caught the 0655 train from Llandrindod Wells and arrived at Church Stretton just after 8 o'clock. The weather for the day looked promising therefore Fudge and I trundled up the main street of the town, through the park and into the Townbrook Valley. From Townbrook there is a gentle ascent up on to the plateau and we were soon looking back to wonderful views over Caer Caradoc, The Lawley and over as far as The Wrekin. Reaching the top of the rise we walked up to the road and branched off soon after, turning left to reach the summit of Pole Bank. From here there is a glorious vista for 360 degrees and there is a handy Toposcope detailing the view - I could see most of it today. My peace was shattered by the arrival of a visitor who then saw fit, without prompting I may add, to give me an enlightening account of the new Shrewsbury Incinerator!
Suitably enlightened, we then proceeded back down to the path junction before carrying on to the parking area near the Shooting Box. When I turned left to head for Ratlinghope, the Shrewsbury Incinerator expert shouted over "you could have cut the corner off there from Pole Bank you know - saved you a walk" - I informed him I was in no hurry and wandered on. We then enjoyed a delightful amble on a good path down to the road at Ratlinghope before turning left along a quiet lane to the pub at Bridges - which unfortunately was shut. From Bridges, the road headed uphill to join The Shropshire Way, which we stayed with until the farm at Adstone. At the farm buildings we joined a Public Right of Way, which was pretty muddy in parts but not too difficult to transit. Heading downhill to a ford, we then headed steeply up to reach the farm buildings at Medlicott before making a gradual pull up on a good path to reach the turning for Pole Bank which was a short stroll to the right.
I had originally planned to take the path from Pole Bank down to Little Stretton and then follow the road back to Church Stretton but I had two options with the train times therefore made the decision to catch the early train. To that end I headed for Mott's Road and Carding Mill, which is a delightful transit down, and tempted as I was by the Tea Shop I carried on through to reach the town in time for a pint in The Kings Arms before I caught the train back home.
Post Walk Note - did you know that the new incinerator at Shrewsbury will burn up to 90000 tonnes of waste which will generate enough electricity to power 10000 homes? I didn't know that either until I visited Pole Bank!!
With Angie in Dorset for a few days, I was on my own today therefore having roused a sleepy pooch from his pit we caught the 0655 train from Llandrindod Wells and arrived at Church Stretton just after 8 o'clock. The weather for the day looked promising therefore Fudge and I trundled up the main street of the town, through the park and into the Townbrook Valley. From Townbrook there is a gentle ascent up on to the plateau and we were soon looking back to wonderful views over Caer Caradoc, The Lawley and over as far as The Wrekin. Reaching the top of the rise we walked up to the road and branched off soon after, turning left to reach the summit of Pole Bank. From here there is a glorious vista for 360 degrees and there is a handy Toposcope detailing the view - I could see most of it today. My peace was shattered by the arrival of a visitor who then saw fit, without prompting I may add, to give me an enlightening account of the new Shrewsbury Incinerator!
Suitably enlightened, we then proceeded back down to the path junction before carrying on to the parking area near the Shooting Box. When I turned left to head for Ratlinghope, the Shrewsbury Incinerator expert shouted over "you could have cut the corner off there from Pole Bank you know - saved you a walk" - I informed him I was in no hurry and wandered on. We then enjoyed a delightful amble on a good path down to the road at Ratlinghope before turning left along a quiet lane to the pub at Bridges - which unfortunately was shut. From Bridges, the road headed uphill to join The Shropshire Way, which we stayed with until the farm at Adstone. At the farm buildings we joined a Public Right of Way, which was pretty muddy in parts but not too difficult to transit. Heading downhill to a ford, we then headed steeply up to reach the farm buildings at Medlicott before making a gradual pull up on a good path to reach the turning for Pole Bank which was a short stroll to the right.
I had originally planned to take the path from Pole Bank down to Little Stretton and then follow the road back to Church Stretton but I had two options with the train times therefore made the decision to catch the early train. To that end I headed for Mott's Road and Carding Mill, which is a delightful transit down, and tempted as I was by the Tea Shop I carried on through to reach the town in time for a pint in The Kings Arms before I caught the train back home.
Post Walk Note - did you know that the new incinerator at Shrewsbury will burn up to 90000 tonnes of waste which will generate enough electricity to power 10000 homes? I didn't know that either until I visited Pole Bank!!
We started this walk from the station at Church Stretton
Heading up Townbrook Valley the weather was looking very promising
Looking back to Burway Hill and Caer Caradoc
It was 9 o'clock and the sun was up - looking over Burway Hill and left to right are The Wrekin, The Lawley and Caer Caradoc
Loads of markers for people to navigate by in order to get to Pole Bank
There is mischief in them there eyes
We would come up this path later from Medlicott
Stiperstones in the haze
Corndon Hill
The Trig Point on Pole Bank with Brown Clee Hill to the right in the far distance. Pole Bank is the highest point on The Long Mynd.
Pole Bank Trig Point & Toposcope
Not enough badges on this post for me
Our path to Ratlinghope
Corndon Hill & Stiperstones on the path down to Ratlinghope
Hmm - wonder if they are open??
That'll be a no then - mind you it was only 1045
You wait for a stile all day and then all of a sudden two come along at once
Looking back to Medlicott
I'm feeling better now - I'm back on The Mynd (sorry)
Back at Pole Bank
My "don't sit on damp grass or you will get haemorrhoids" advice was wasted on these Japanese Tourists
Near the Shooting Box heading down to the Carding Mill Valley turning
Carding Mill Valley
Looking back up Carding Mill
Oh go on then!