03/08/19 - High Rock, Rindleford and Bridgnorth's Black Horse Hotel

Distance - 5 Miles
Geocaches - 1
Walk Inspiration - AA Walks in Shropshire


Mrs M will testify that I have a decent collection of walking books.    Every time I walk one, I make a little note of the date walked at the top of the route page.

Today, we had the honour of looking after Guide Dog in Training Poppy - so I thought I would find an old favourite ramble to keep her entertained.

The note at the top of the page showed that I last walked this in April 2004.   15 years ago.   Where on earth does the time go.

By the state of the paths, I would suggest that very few people have subsequently walked it.

We start at the Cemetery - a steep path running alongside the walls.   Some serious tree maintenance since my last visit - to the point of decimation.

Wasteland

Its nice and shady for Poppy, who is happy to pose for next year's Guide Dog Calendar.  Reasonable paths take us up to High Rock - which does exactly what it says on the tin.   Views over the Severn and Poppy tethered in case she doesn't appreciate heights.

Guide Dog Photo Shoot

Always a tree in the way

From here on, things get tricky.   The paths along the edge of Pendlestone Rock disappear and are frequently blocked by fallen trees.  A tough half mile, not made any easier with adult kids in tow.  When Ms Mappiman gets her hair bun stuck in a tree, you know you are in trouble.

Short lived relief at Woodside, where a sunken path takes us down to Fenn Gate and into the Batch.   As strange a place as I have ever walked.  Completely remote, leading to the River Whorfe and Rindleford - the place that time (and everyone else) forgot.

Even I, the hardiest of ramblers, cannot put on a brave face as we battle 6ft ferns.   Rindleford does not want outsiders to find them.

Public Footpath to the Batch.  Only 1 out of 5 of us smiling

The Whorfe was almost worth it - a fast flowing, shallow stream that Poppy loved a splash around in.  No drama on the way back through crop fields and taking a short cut to town along the footpath on the A454.

The Walk is Over

Onwards to promised refreshment.  Bridgnorth has 6 Good Beer Guide Entries.   With a couple previously explored, we made our way to Low Town for a visit to the a first - Will Mod themed pubs catch on?

The Black Horse Hotel is a sprawling, multi roomed pub that has recently been extended into next door's building.   Finding the bar where someone was serving required a full tour through empty rooms.

Enter through the Round Portal

Empty Room #1

The Who

With a left over prop from Quadrophonia 

Beer wise - it was a delight of quite similar Pale Ales.   Batham's Bitter, Hobson's Town Crier and Three Tuns XXX sounds like a starter for my top five beers ever and all were on display. Something I've been putting off for long time had to happen and my favourite declared.

The task was made slightly easier by the bloke in front of me returning his Bathams for the pump clip to be reversed and declared off.   The overall winner selection cancelled due to non runners.

I can report that The Three Tuns was in exceptional condition.   Been a long time since I found this old favourite on sale.

Earlier we mentioned Ms M woe at being snagged in trees and her day got progressively worse.   The Black Horse does not do cooked food, so her promised lunch was a pickle laden cob and crisps.  Taken outside, where she was singled out for attack by a hoard of angry wasps.

She went and sat in the car.