CHURCH STRETTON, SHROPSHIRE

SUNDAY, 30TH SEPTEMBER 2007

Coach Leader: Chris Cox

Coach Leaves at 5.30 pm

Please read these coach notes carefully - they will help you to decide which walk will be the most suitable for you. If you have any doubts, do not hesitate to ask the leader for advice. For the safety and enjoyment of yourself and others, please try not to join a walk which is beyond your capabilities.

TODAY'S WALKS

Strenuous Leader: Jackie Gudgeon Distance: 10 miles

Today we are going to study the valley which contains Church Stretton from both sides. First we will climb Caer Caradoc (very steep but shortish climb) then we will cross over the A49 to tackle the Long Mynd via All Stretton, Long Batch, and Carding Mill Valley. A good varied walk with stunning views, weather permitting.

Moderate Leader: Chris Cox Distance : 8 miles

Train Station - Cunnery Road - The Owlets - Little Stretton Camp Site - Callow Hill - Cross Dyke - Round Hill - Pole Bank - Shooting Box - Jack Mytton Way - Carding Mill Valley - minor road back to Church Stretton.
A journey to the top of the Long Mynd! The high point is called Pole Bank, 516m (1652ft). fortunately, we start off at about 200m, so only 316m to climb. The paths are good, but there are one or two steep sections which provide an opportunity to look behind and enjoy the view. The return walk through Carding Mill Valley takes us through a narrow path between the steep Shropshire hills back to Church Stretton. We should be back in time for a tea and scone, or possibly something stronger..

Leisurely Leader: Ruth Melling & Hazel Anderton Distance 7 miles

A very pleasant varied walk with good views most of the way as we go across fields, down lanes, through woods and over a bracken covered moor. After leaving town we skirt Helmeth and Hazler Hills, gradually rising up to the top of Ragleth Hill. Here, weather permitting, we can tarry a while to enjoy the splendid 360 degree panoramic views. We then drop down hill, re cross the main road, and go through the hamlet of Little Stretton, where there are some lovely old buildings, before making our way back to town along the foothills of the Long Mynd.

Easy Leader: Sue Daniels

I have not been able to do a pre-walk for today, but I intend to take the group over to All Stretton and then follow lanes and pathways towards Leebotwood. We can judge how far we can go on the day.

NOTES ON THE AREA

Church Stretton lies on the A49 between the ancient towns of Shrewsbury and Ludlow, in an idyllic spot between the Stretton Hills and the Long Mynd, in an area of outstanding natural beauty. Church Stretton, a natural centre for walkers because of its attractive hills, gets it name from the Roman Road "Watling Street" part of which now forms the A49 by-pass. Church Stretton means "street town" or, literally, "the Church which stands near the Roman Road". The town lies in a vale of soft shale overlaid with boulder clays. Almost in Church Stretton is Old Rectory Wood, 17.5 acres of mixed woodland with a yew-shadowed pool, fine views of the Stretton valley, and delightful meandering paths

The great 6 mile range of hills known as The Long Mynd, rising to 1,700 ft, is a world of its own. It encompasses wild moorland where red grouse whirr out of the heather, waterfalls that cascade into half-hidden valleys, springs that rise icy clear through bog moss and pink bog pimpernel, bracken covered hillsides, and sunlit streams. The Burway, a single track road climbing steeply out of the snug little town of Church Stretton, gives spectacular views of the surrounding Shropshire Hills. A track called The Port Way has run along the ridge for more than 3,500 years. Much of the Long Mynd belongs to the National Trust and parts are leased as grouse moors, with commoners having rights to graze their sheep and ponies.

Across the narrow Stretton valley, to the east of the Long Mynd, is the miniature mountain range of the Stretton Hills. The valley itself follows an enormous fault, a break in the earth's crust, and separates the rounded whaleback of the pre-Cambrian Long Mynd from the even older and craggier summits of Caer Caradoc, The Lawley, and Ragleth Hill. Unlike the Long Mynd, The Stretton Hills were not formed from ancient sea-bed sediments, but by the lava and ash spilled from volcanoes some 900 million years ago. Like The Wrekin, their rocks are among the oldest in Britain. On the summit of Caer Caradoc is a high and precipitous Iron Age hill-fort, enclosing some 6 acres with well defined double ramparts. It is said that the British chief Caractacus made his last stand here against the invading Roman army.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

NEXT RAMBLE.

Sunday 28th October 2007. Hollingworth Lake, Manchester.

Leaders: Strenuous: Jimmy Need, Moderate: Philomena Walker, Leisurely: Derek Lee, Easy: Bernadette Platts

Bookings Derek Lee. Cheques to Skelmersdale Rambling Club.

Coach pick-up times: Ormskirk bus station 8.40 am, Railway Road, Skelmersdale 8.50 am, Skelmersdale Baths car park 9.00 am.

Will walk leaders please let Jackie have details of their walks as far before the walk as possible. At least a week would be nice. Thanks. Those who have the technology can e-mail your notes - please use the address on the Contacts page.

SKELMERSDALE CHURCHES RAMBLING CLUB

Saturday, 13th October 2007. Ulverston, South Cumbria..

Coach leaves Ormskirk Bus Station 8.30 am, Railway Road Bus Stop 8.45 am, Skelmersdale Baths Car Park 8.50 am, Upholland Labour Club 9.00 am.

Bookings: Yvonne Turton.

RAMBLERS ASSOCIATION WEST LANCS GROUP

Saturday, 6th October 2007. 11.00 am. Nicky Nook and Scorton from Garstang Information Centre car park (pay & display). 8 miles.

Wednesday, 17th October 2007. 1.30 pm. Wrightington from St John the Great Church, Church Lane. 5 miles.

Sunday, 21st October 2007. 1.30 pm. Pennington Flash, Leigh. From car park to left inside main entrance, off A572, off A580 East Lancs Road. 6 miles.

CLUB NOTES

COACH FARES (error on non members fares)

Please note, starting with the ramble to Hollingworth Lake on the 28th October 2007, coach fares will be £8.00 (£10.00 for non members).

RUCKSACKS

Please store rucksacks, poles etc in the coach luggage compartment. It is the coach company's rules that rucksacks etc are not brought into the coach, and this should only be waived (with the prior permission of the driver on the day) for those two or three people who are getting off the coach at places other than the main dropping off points.

Please remember that the rucksack rule is for our comfort and safety on the coach. Most members find it easy enough to bring a smaller bag on to the coach containing those things which are needed 'on the coach', and this requires only a little bit of thought when packing in the morning. Thanks.

Also, the custom of putting rucksacks into separate compartments for the journey home seems to be working quite well - remember, side boot for Skelmersdale, back boot for Ormskirk, although we appreciate this may not always be possible when the side locker is a very small one.

Please make every effort to ensure that, when you leave the bus, you take all your possessions with you. Please check the luggage rack, under the seat, etc, not to mention the boot. Please try not to take anyone else's stuff. Thanks.

LOST PROPERTY

Left on the Betws y Coed bus: two pairs of waterproof trousers - please contact Derek to arrange collection.

Left on the Malham bus: a "sweatshirt" zipped cardigan, stone or beige coloured. See Jackie.

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SKELMERSDALE RAMBLING CLUB