16/17.3.2020 - Long Mynd Pole Bank 516m and Caer Caradoc Hill 459m (Marilyns).
Long Mynd Pole Bank
I had been looking forward to a trip to Church Stretton for a while now and on this sky blue spring day after a cancelled Italy trip due to the corona virus pandemic it was ideal timing.
We parked the van in the main town car park opposite the co op. My MWB Sprinter just fits in some of the bays here. It’s pay and display, 50p per hour or £4 for all day.
We meandered up through town and headed out on the unclassified road towards Burway Hill but turned off right on a footpath that takes you into beautiful Carding Mill Valley. This is a very popular area with several other car parks, toilets and a cafe owned by the National Trust. It’s really quaint and scenic.
There are numerous hikes from here but we simply followed the little brook (Ashbrook) up the steep sided valley for 2kms to Calf Ridge where we hung a left and shortly after we came to Little Spout waterfall. We then went up and around the waterfall and carried on for about a km before turning south and eventually joined the Jack Mytton Way which is a substantive track and that took us directly to the trig pointed summit of Long Mynd Pole Bank. We then carried on heading south a short while to Pole Cottage car park on the mountain road and then turned SE off onto a good footpath but turned off it soon after to take in the two spot heights (463 and 462) of Round Hill amidst some rough heather. We then rejoined the footpath and turned off it again to walk up Grindle. We then came off Grindle heading SW to rejoin the footpath for the last time to contour around and down Small Batch valley to the outskirts of Little Stretton. Here is a ford and directly opposite is a style that takes you onto a footpath that takes you all the way back to Church Stretton.
I will add there are a myriad of routes and paths hereabouts and I simply made it up as I went along to take in Pole Bank and Grindle which are peak-bagger registered peaks. The former being a Marilyn.
Parking and Access: A large car park in town and plenty of others in Carding Hill valley but the whole area does get busy during peak times and weekends.
Route Summary: In the main well defined paths and tracks but not if you decide to take in the spot heights.
Route Statistics: 14km and 517m of height gain done in 3hr 41min.
Caer Caradoc Hill
Not as nice a day as yesterday by a long way but this part of the world is always gorgeous. The starting point was the co op car park again in Church Stretton.
Head out of town over the railway line line and head towards New House farm where by the entrance gate to the farm is a style going off across the fields to the right. I forgot to start my GPS so this is marked as my start point.
Follow the hedgerow around to the north and into the little valley below Caer Caradoc. Here is a little footbridge you cross over and shortly after there is a steep path that takes you directly up the hill. It is a good pull to the top but the surrounding views of the Shropshire hills are quite beautiful and the hilltop fort is also quite impressive.
You then simply go all along the spine of Caradoc Hill and down into a valley before finding your way along well marked trails to the bottom of Lawley hill. This is a nice steep pull to the top too and looking back you more lovely views. Another nice ridge walk is in front of you but you are soon coming off the spine of Lawley and down onto the back roads for the long 8-9km hike back to the start point which is all easy enough to find.
Parking and Access: A large car park in town and plenty of others in Carding Hill valley but the whole area does get busy during peak times and weekends.
Route Summary: Back roads and well marked paths and tracks.
Route Statistics: 19km (including the bit I missed off at the start) with 783m of height gain done in 4hrs 49min.
GPX files: For gpx files go to the Peakbagger website by following these links and go to the bottom right hand of the page and click ‘Download this GPS track as a GPX file.’
Ascent Entry on Peakbagger: Long Mynd Pole Bank and Caer Caradoc Hill
Long Mynd Pole Bank
Route overview using ViewRanger.
Car parking in Church Stretton opposite the Co op. Same parking on both days.
Beautiful views around the Shropshire hills.
Caer Caradoc Hill
Route overview using ViewRanger.
An overcast second day.