Stiperstones Weekend

The Society last visited Shropshire over two years ago for their Annual Gathering at Church Stretton, so not unexpectedly a good turnout of 55 members, including a healthy sprinkling of first-time attendees, gathered at Bishops Castle for this weekend.

In many ways Bishops Castle is an old-world town of character and it is also a friendly place where many of its community smile and say hello to strangers. It is lively too particularly on a Friday evening. Judging from the crowd, The Three Tuns with its adjacent brewery seems to be the main social centre, but fortunately there was room for many of us too thanks to a prudent booking made some time beforehand, and we enjoyed a very good evening meal.

Saturday was a near-perfect day for walking and we made an early start for the Bog Visitor Centre. The volunteers there made us welcome (and have posted our group photograph on their website). Among the fascinating intrepretive displays, the Centre's Saville Corner is certainly worth a look at.

Here the party split into two. The longer walk group were to attempt over 9 miles and the shorter walking group about half that distance. The first part of the long walk was fairly flat and easy-going. Much of it was through a former mining area and one of the principal buildings that remain, the Tankerville Engine House, was on our route. Then after a short rest at Stiperstones (where we were convinced that the shop next door to the pub was the model for 'General HARMAN Stores' in Seven White Gates) the serious climb of the day began. This was up Perkins Beach (a.k.a. Black Dingle) where we met many of the short walk party coming down. At the top, we stopped for a picnic lunch on a saddle between Perkins Beach and Mytton Dingle (a.k.a. Greystone Dingle) with good views down both. Then came a long trek along the spine of the Stiperstones ridge over quite a difficult stony track, with some of the most adventurous pausing to climb the Devil's Chair en-route. The full length was to Nipstone Rock, but at the road, some turned sharply right back to the car park thereby shortening the walk.

All, including guests, met up again at The Three Tuns, for an evening hog roast prepared by an outside caterer and served in a private room. As at Shap, attendees enjoyed this exclusive venue so hopefully, the arrangement may be repeated at future events. It was but one example of the superb organization throughout and later in the evening, Christina van Duivenbode was warmly applauded for planning and running it.

Even the best planners can't control the weather though, as we found on Sunday morning when a hardy group huddled under a small shelter at Clun in pouring rain. Reluctantly but sensibly, we decided to abandon the planned walk whereupon Christina kindly offered us coffee at her house. The coffee break developed into a very enjoyable social occasion that included a first reading of Jenny Aitken's adaptation of The Gay Dolphin Adventure radio play, scheduled for presentation at the Rye Gathering next year. Then Christina amazingly provided us with a 'cold collation' (how did she plan it all?) before we left for the special Saville event at Church Stretton.

Most started the long drive home afterwards, but not all and luckily Monday was a rare and perfect Autumn day of bright sunshine. Feeling only a little guilty at the thought of those at work, I drove south again through Clun and on to the 'green triangle' before completing the planned Sunday walk over The Secret of Grey Walls country. The route included Llanfair Hill (the highest point of Offa's Dyke) and passed Garbett Hall (the possible inspiration for Grey Walls) and Burfield Farm (upon which Bury Fields was definitely modelled). Then I set off home too.

Thank you again Christina, for a really superb weekend!

 

Photo's from the event

The Long Walk group at The Bog centre

Climbing Perkins Beach above Stiperstones village

Sitting on The Devils Chair

Sunday at Clun. Rain stopped play