It’s for real!

30 August 2012

OK, now it’s the real thing. We’ve told everyone we’re doing it, linked up with Shropshire Wildlife Trust to raise money to mark their 50th anniversary, and completed our initial recce of the 50 miles; there’s no turning back now.

All the training walks from now on will be on full sections of the walk. First off is the section from Caradoc to High Park, one that we can easily do straight from home and should take us around 4 hours.

Set of from home at 7.16pm and reached the official starting point at Old Cardington Lane at 7.26 where we set the pedometer going. Caradoc is the first objective and we toyed with the idea of taking a track up past Three Fingers Rock, but decided to stay on the main track through the woods and then left through the gate on the first steep section up to the summit. It was back in June when we last did this section and though it was a bit easier this time it was still a tough climb. A full moon shone in the eastern sky and we did stop for one photograph at the first rock outcrop.

Full moon from Caradoc.

The summit was reached at 8.07, 2.3km, where the remains of the Jubilee Beacon could still be seen. We then hacked over the ridge and down the other side, aided by new boots (expertly fitted by The Outdoor Depot) which reminded me what it felt like having a sole which actually gripped. We actually jogged a bit downhill; the grazing sheep seemed unimpressed and carried on munching. The foot of the hill was reached at 8.27, 3.7km and then a brief stop to retighten Sue’s new boots.

As we emerged from the woods it was getting dark but we thought we could continue without torches until Lawley. The second hill on the Hike is a good deal easier than the first although the summit is further than you think with a constant climb seeming particularly endless in the half-light. Eventually we made the summit post with bird on top at 9.04pm, 7.75km. The moon was still shining brightly but after a very quick coffee we decided it might be safer to don headtorches for the descent which actually went very quickly. Our first encounter with another walker was at the foot of Lawley with a local walking her dog. She guessed we were training for the Long Mynd Hike, probably after being blinded by our head torches, and very kindly suggested we knock on her door if we there were any emergencies during the event itself.

After another coffee and brioche to fortify ourselves, we set off for Comley Farm, expecting to find the bullocks but the first field was empty, although we spotted a number of bright light points in the second one which turned out to be the bullocks’ eyes shining back at us. We had walked this section just a week ago which was fortunate as we could remember the rough orientation of the paths and where the exits were. At least we thought we could, until we got to the section after the lane where two very nosy horses put us off our stride and we took a while to find the stile in the far corner of the field. The horses were really very friendly and not put off too much by our bright lights.

Arrived at the A49 crossing at 10.10, 9.0km and then headed off on the paths towards Gogbatch. More horses encountered here although they didn’t get quite as close. We found most of the route fairly easily but actually took a different path without knowing it that ended up alongside the stream in Gogbatch that is in fact better than the scramble up through the gorse bushes we used last time. 

After the very steep final climb out of the lane in Gogbatch we got to the junction at 10.45, 10.7km. More climbing on the lane up to High Park where we reached the crossroads at 11.04, 11.7km. No need for lights here as the moon was so strong. We need to check the map reference again but think the checkpoint is at this crossroads, although it could be a bit further uphill where the path forks. Anyway our time wasn’t too bad; just over three and a half hours for the 7 mile section, and in the dark too. 

We decided to bail out here and get back before Francis alerted the police and mountain rescue, and took the lane down past Jinlye and then the footpath fork to the right past the farms and into All Stretton. Looking north before Jinlye you could see the glow of Shrewsbury’s lights which is far more noticeable at night, and there was also a glow to the east which was presumably the various parts of Telford. Over on the other side of the Long Mynd which will be the actual night walking section, we may find more of a sense of wilderness.

Home at 11.55 after walking our planned 10 miles. Next up is a longer night walk with a 24 mile circuit starting at Stiperstones.