05/02/23 - January Man - February on Long Mynd, Shropshire

Walking the chapters of Christopher Somerville's The January Man, Month by Month

Distance - 9 miles

Previous Walks - January

Walk Inspiration - Self developed from the book references 

Pub - Bottle and Glass, Picklescott

February's theme is snow. Somerville reflects on childhood memories at the vicarage, his father battling to get his ancient Austin started and onto the A34.

He chooses the Long Mynd for this month's walk and recounts the well told story of the Reverend Carr almost losing his life in an 1865 snow storm. The Reverend was responsible for hosting services across a number of villages and set off to walk from Ratlinghope back to his home in Woolstaston, 5 miles away. Disorientated in the snow-drifts, he lost his hat, gloves and boots and nearly his life. 27 hrs after setting off, he stumbled into Carding Mill Valley, snow blind and half dead.

No snow today, but there is a hard frost, as I tackle the minor roads to Picklescott. Somerville stayed the night at the Bottle and Glass pub, so my first walk necessities are easily achieved. Parking and post walk refreshment.

My planned route is developed from the clues in the text and it doesn't disappoint. From Picklescott, I climb Betchcott Hill to drop down the Golden Valley to Ratlinghope. Fine walking on a crisp winter's day.

View from Betchcott Hill

Dropping down into the Golden Valley

Views from the valley floor

Ratlinghope Church has another story. The last of the English Sin Eaters, Richard Munslow, is buried here. The Sin Eater's job was to spend a night with a corpse, and to drink ale and eat bread that had been balanced on the dead person's body. The fodder absorbing their sins before burial. The story, and hope to correctly pronounce Ratlinghope, detailed in this video.

Richard Munslow, the last of the Sin Eaters

A interesting diversion before more uphill walking to the Shooting Box and the Portway - an old drovers road - which carries me arrow straight to Woolstaston.

The Portway

Reverend Carr's other Church - Wollstaston

Just another mile back to the Bottle and Glass to pay for my parking through the purchase of lunch.

A fine Country Inn....which is best explained by the fact that two horses are parked in the bay next to my car. The place was doing a fine trade with the Sunday lunch crowd, but I was able to commandeer a bar area for my tuna chiabatta and decent Ludlow Gold.

The huge roaring fire, an added bonus to thaw out in front of.

Bottle and Glass, Picklescott

A blissful fire

Ludlow Gold in a Three Tuns glass.

I struck lucky with February. A brilliant ramble, relatively local...... let's see what March brings!