Shropshire Ramblings

"Come this side," said Bill after a little, "and you'll see Caradoc. He looks like a crouching lion! Look! There he is."

Several members had asked us to arrange a weekend with some challenging walking and the opportunity to venture over the A49 to the other side of the Church Stretton valley - this was it!

The first day we completed the tough climb high onto the summit of Caer Caradoc and were able to look back across to Church Stretton and beyond, to the Long Mynd and all its batches, streams, smooth summits and outcrops, as it stretched away from us for miles in three directions - to the north, west and south. 

We moved on to Willstone Hill and towards the Battle Stones, by then hardly above to hear each other or remain upright in the buffeting wind, then descended to the more sheltered village of Hope Bowdler. Our evening meal in the Green Dragon was a reward for our efforts. 

Sunday saw us returning to the more familiar territory between the Long Mynd and the Stiperstones. Our half-day walk started from The Bridges Country Pub, known to us all as the Hope Anchor, where David and Peter found a meal ready for them in The Neglected Mountain. After following the 'Darnford Valley' route, we found ourselves returning very wet and muddy, after experiencing rain, hail, snowy sleet, then driving wind and rain, and we were very pleased to be able to get warm and dry and to enjoy a delicious Sunday lunch back at The Bridges. A great end to a lovely weekend!