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Spring walk 2023 Bridges, Shropshire,
8/6/2023 - 12/6/2023
Thursday 8th June.
Travel day
We arranged to meet at The Nags Head at Pontesbury. Paul, Dick, Dave and Pat in car 1, John W, Mick and Ben in car 2, Ian, Graham and Ralph car 3. John S and Pete arrived in separate cars as from different directions.
After lunch and refreshment it was time for some gentle exercise in the form of the warm up walk. This was around Earls Hill and wood. Some took the lower longer route right around the hill others branched off half way round and went up and over on the way back. All meeting back at the starting point, before an interesting drive on narrow bendy roads, to Bridges YHA our base for the weekend. Phil, got in touch with us saying he was stuck at Church Stretton(he had come up on the train) Pete went to get him and take him to the hostel. We had quite a shock at lunch time as John S had NO ale or food due to a dodgy curry earlier in the week.
We had arranged to have Dinners and Breakfasts in the Hostel as the pub next door had the kitchens closed for refurbishment. Whilst we had dinner the weirdest thing happened John S was giving away food, he really was ill!! After Dinner we all went to The Bridges (formerly The Horseshoe Inn) for refreshment though John S stayed on water.
Friday 9th June.
We woke up to a fine, sunny day. After breakfast (during which Ben said the Warden would make a fine wife for someone, must be something in the water!!) we split into 2 groups.
Group 1 Dick, Ian, Pat, Pete and John S took a lower route from Bridges to Wentnor via Kinnerton Farm, England Shelve, Gravenor, Lower Gravenor then down to The Inn on the Green for lunch where they had arranged to meet the other group. There had been ups and downs but not as steep as the walk for the others. There were some indistinct parts as paths had been rerouted and nettles had grown. Just what is needed in summer, hot weather and shorts? They also saw some Red Kites very close and low down.
Group 2 Paul, Graham, Dave, Ben, Mick, Ralph, John W and Phil went over The Long Mynd to Wentnor via road from hostel up to the Shropshire Way past Ratlinghope, Lower Darnford, Betchcott Hills on The Port Way to Duckley Nap then back on the Shropshire Way past Shooting Box, Pole Bank, Pole Cottage, Standbatch, Moorhouse to meet the others at The Inn on the Green. It was a bit windy along the Mynd but welcome as it was quite warm. During the walk Ben noticed loads of white stuff on the path and on a fence he said look at all that Sheep Fur!!
After lunch both groups returned to Bridges Gp 1 taking a lower route along quiet country roads apart from the last part past New House and on into Bridges. Gp2 went up Adstone Hill, along the ridge then down into Bridges meeting the others for light refreshment before dinner. John S went home as he was still feeling unwell.
Saturday 10th June.
Again we woke up to another fine and sunny day. After breakfast we again split into 2 groups for different routes with the same members in each apart from John S who had gone home.
GP1 went with Pete in his car to the car park, by the Shooting Box, to walk along the Mynd as far as Pole Bank then return to leave Pete to read his book and meet us later at the Carding Mill Visitor Centre. On our outgoing walk we had seen some Ponies in a field. On the way back the stallion was feeling frisky serving a mare and we saw some people filming it, were they Nagging?
GP2 walked from the hostel along the Shropshire Way to Coates Bungalow, Coates Farm, Priory Cottage and up to the Shooting Box where they met the other group they then went down to Carding Mill Visitor Centre via Light Spout Hollow whereas GP1 went down via the Jack Milton Way. Up near the Shooting Box we saw a Lizard and what looked to be a pair of Hen Harriers before we all met up at the Visitor Centre. GP1 then went on to the agreed lunch time meeting place The Kings Arms in Church Stretton
GP2 then set off to go up Caer Caradoc Hill via New House Farm, Three Fingers Rock, Caer Caradoc Fort, Cwms Cottage and back down to the train station just making it back in time to catch the bus back as it had been a hard hot work. They were able to refresh at Bridges as the bus stop was next to the pub.
GP1 journey back was also with incident. They walked back to Pete's car at Vis Cen. The road from Church Stretton to Bridges was steep and narrow but as they started Pete had to reverse as a pair of fire engines were coming down and could not pass by. After they got through all went well with great views. Once back we went for an aperitif.
After Dinner, Ben and Phil took their tablets down to the pub to watch the Champion's league Final. Ben retired early with Man Flu. The rest of stayed a while before retiring for the night.
Sunday 11th June.
We woke up to a cloudy morning with some light drizzle, this soon cleared to be a hot, sunny and humid day. After breakfast we again split into 2 groups. GP1 Dick, Pete, Pat and Ian went in Dick's car to the Bog Centre to look around. This was the old school building of a mining village which was demolished after mining stopped. As it was a good day they decided to walk up towards the Stiperstones. The initial path was steep but then became more gradual so they carried on crossing Black Ditch and then on to the Resr (they heard a Cuckoo in the distance whilst walking along). After a brief rest it was decided to carry on up and round the Stiperstones by taking the path to the Shropshire Way and past Devils Chair, Manstone Rock (where Dick and Pete climbed up to the trig point), Cranberry Rock (where they met the others coming up), then back down to the Bog Centre.
GP2 Paul, Dave, Phil, John W, Mick, Ben, Ralph and Graham Walked from Bridges via Kinnerton Cottage, Birchope, Great Wood House on to the Shropshire Way, Rock House, The Rock, Stiperstones, Nipstone Rock. As they came to cross a road Phil said he was not feeling well and would rest before going to the Bog Centre in an effort to meet the other group. There was a path directly to the Bog Centre so no issue of getting lost so they left Phil and carried on up to the rocks meeting the others and explaining Phil's predicament. We then managed to contact him telling him to stay put and Dick would pick him up. Once contact had been made with Phil they carried on past Manstone Rock (where they climbed to the trig point), Devils Chair, Shepherd’s Rock then down to the lunchtime stop The Stiperstones Inn for some much needed refreshment.
Dick had picked up Phil, who was feeling much better by then and they all went to meet the others at the Inn. GP2 got the bus back to Bridges and Dick drove the others. There was some bad news for the day though the Bridges Inn closed at 8pm so not much time for after dinner refreshment, however a deal was done with the Landlord that if someone rushed down and got some beers we could sit outside and drink them as long as we were quiet. We had met a Dutch lady who was camping. Her name was Tina, during our time in pub we had some interesting conversations over the weekend. Dinner was eaten quickly Dick stayed behind to do washing up as long as someone got him a beer. It all ran like clockwork its good when a plan comes together. Once we had finished our drinks we returned to the hostel to raise a glass to absent friends. Being early we played some games one of which was winding Ralph up as he could not crack the code.
Monday 12th June.
During Sunday night Ian and Phil had both been unwell. It is not known what caused it, most likely the sun as we had all eaten the same food. So they did not have breakfast the rest of us did. After breakfast Ian, Graham and Ralph went straight off. Pete took Phil to the station at Church Stretton the rest went on to Shrewsbury for a look round before going on to home. The drive home was bad though as the M1 was closed, an alternative route was found but there were holdups with congestion, road works and later around Buckingham adverse weather in the form of Thunderstorms, Hail, Torrential rain and poor visibility. All made it home safely though.
It had been a good walk very hot at times but most enjoyable.
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