Carlisle & District Rambling & Fellwalking Club

Annual Club Holiday  Photos    

Annual Club Holiday

Shropshire

Report by Ken Halliday

Photos by

Mary & John Atkinson

One of the walks during the Annual Club Holiday

The Long Mynd from Church Stretton

9.75 Miles Grade 3

Leaders: Mary & John Atkinson

What a delightful walk to start the holiday. After a short, sharp ascent through woodland, just to check that  our hearts, lungs and legs were in good working order. We found ourselves climbing  gently westwards across the moorland of the Long Mynd, eventually  reaching the highest point of the walk, Pole Bank, at 516 metres. Its viewpoint confirmed that the peak we had been seeing to the north east was indeed the Wrekin. The ten of us felt we had been doing really well till we encountered a group of young girls carrying packs that appeared to be as tall and as heavy as they were. Lunch was at the roadside (the Shropshire Way), watching gliders land and take off from the Midland Gliding Club field, as skylarks sang overhead. Further entertainment was provided by a family trying to master a Frisbee in the strong breeze. Our descent was by the beautiful valley of the Minton Batch, with more exciting wildlife. First we were scolded by a male stonechat, then a pair of cuckoos flew across low over our heads, followed by a raven lower down the valley , with a rapping call. A short road stretch was enhanced by our efforts to identify the myriad of wild flowers by the roadside (and frequently failing). A final uphill grassy stretch and a wooded path down to the road and we were back at Church Stretton for tea and coffee and a memorable Shropshire Lass at the warren that is Barry’s Coffee Shop, with its delightful serving girls. A memorable day and very many thanks  to our exceptional leaders, Mary and John, for their care, consideration and good humour. They even organised perfect weather, mild, with a cooling breeze where needed.  

Ken Halliday