I had no idea that Wenlock Edge went on for so far. I always assumed it was hill near Much Wenlock but having spent a week in the area, I can now confirm it is a 18 mile ridge, running straight and thin all the way to Craven Arms.
Today, we have a short but beautiful walk from Rushbury. There is little to report. Rushbury has no pub. The church is austere.
But the walking is fantastic - a gentle climb out of Apedale along the flanks of agricultural fields. A long section on the Jack Mytton Way - on the edge - and back down to the village.
All I can bring you are the photos;
Wenlock Edge behind the trees
Apedale
Jack Mytton Signpost
The Wrekin in the far distant
Rushbury Church - an austere interior
This is our last day in Shropshire. Next week, I hope to bring you pubs.
Walk Details
Distance - 3.75 miles
Geocaches - 1
Walk Inspiration - 40 Walks in the Welsh Marches, Walk 8
Walking comes into the modern age. No pubs or cafes on route today, but post walk refreshment can be found in a (for me) first of a kind. At the trail head - a shed - with automatic hot and cold drink and snacks running the gamut from twix to ice cream.
Ginger beers and brownies, post walk
But I am getting ahead of myself. First the walk - a lung-bursting ascent of Caer Caradoc, via three fingers rock. Descent over Little Caradoc and stop before climbing the Lawley. The return on fern infested paths along the flanks of the Caradocs.
We could watch the rain-storms sweeping in and were rewarded with a rainbow and surprisingly, by not getting a drenching ourselves.
A delight of a walk, where the photos only just begin to do it justice.
Views over Church Stretton
Climbing
Summiting
Mrs M at Three Fingers
Minnie and her daughter, Curly - the flatcoat retreivers
The Queen PJ Harvey's second single. I've been listening to it for 34 years. It's taken a trip to deepest Shropshire to find my first one. A tiny church in the tiny hamlet of Holdgate, deep in the Corvedale Valley, in the shadow of the Clee Hills.
On the south wall, above the chancel door
It's rather weathered and a little tricky to decipher. But once you have had it explained to you, it's impossible not to spot. From the Sheela-Na-Gig project;
The figure is described by some authors as “pugilistic” which is understandable given the weathering on the figure. In fact what at first seem to be the figure's hands are in fact its knees. The arms are behind the knees with the hand holding the vagina open.
No one can quite agree what they are for - a pre-Christian fertility symbol? A warning against lust? Who knows, but you wouldn't necessarily expect them on a church wall. If we wanted to see more of this ilk, we could have headed onwards to the next Hamlet. Tugford also has one.
This walk climbs out the Corvedale valley on the Shropshire Way. If you don't like sheep and/or stiles then maybe give this one a miss. It's not a bad walk, it's just that Mrs M is a tough woman to please. Already disinterested in rude symbols, she then moans that this route "is a bit samey and can we do something more exciting tomorrow?"
Corvedale Valley Floor Views
The Clee Hills in the far distance from Wenlock Edge
Not even spectacular Elizabethan architecture can excite her. On the crest of Wenlock Edge, we come across Wilderhope Manor House.
From the 1580s - restored by the Cadbury Family in the 1930s
If you like it, you can stay there - either in a single room or by hiring out the entire gaff. It is a youth hostel.
On the drop down to the valley floor, we find our second Elizabethan home - Shipton Hall. Many parallels with Wilderhope, although this is in private ownership.
Same period, style and building material
Walking Details
Distance - 7 Miles
Geocaches - 2 (including a 3 year resus)
Walk Inspiration - Les Lumsdon's Best Shropshire Walks, Walk 29
This walk over Long Mynd is my most walked "boots on" ramble. It's the one I loved from the first time walked. It's the one where Country Walking Magazine ran a feature on Geocaching. It's the one I used for training when my son had an interest in walking Snowdon. Cost me children's boots, rucksack, socks and a penknife. He didn't like rambling.
We are staying in the wilds of Shropshire on our latest dog sit. A first, as it is 3 dogs. Never have more dogs than you have hands. Or children. It looks close to Church Stretton on the map but with the roads not taking the most direct route, it's a 40 mile round trip.
I found a new route on Komoot. We park in our (not so) secret free car park in Cunnery Road but instead of heading to Little Stretton and Round Hill, we head up Townbrook Valley. This will shave a couple of miles off and test out our dog handling skills.
All the views from the highest point, Pole Bank, and the slightly more dramatic hands-on-rock descent of Light Hollow Spout are present.
The top of Townbrook Valley
Old Boy Punch left snoozing - the two flat coats are up for it
The real wild ponies are in the far distance
Light Hollow Spout
Heading down Carding Mill Valley - for coffee and cake at the NT Cafe
