23 September 2012
Getting close now.
This is the final long walk in the training schedule. We think it's
best to avoid very long days in the week or so before the Hike so have
opted for another 25-odd miler today.
As we have done the other loop twice recently we returned to the
loop around Stiperstones. Set off at 6.51 from what we now know as The
Knolls car park and got to the checkpoint at the top by 7.07. Very cold
in the early morning light and we're both wearing gloves for the first
time.
We disturbed a couple of red grouse, first time we've spotted this
distinctive Mynd bird on our walks so far. We kept up a reasonable pace
with the objective of getting to Earls Hill summit in two hours, but
discovered that that is quite a tough task. We almost managed it,
arriving at the checkpoint at 9.13, and then a quick descent where we
met two walkers/runners on the way up.
Arrived at Bank House at 9.59 and then into the woods at Eastridge
where we had first coffee stop, having survived on the hydro water till
then. As we approached Snailbeach, we could hear the two walkers
approaching. They didn't seem to be running but had caught us up anyway.
They took a slightly different route out of the woods and then went
across into the Snailbeach mine land so after an early lunch we followed
and found a nice track which took us past the village and then
continued on to Crows Nest. Need to leave the path as you arrive in
Crows Nest though otherwise you'd end up back on top of Stiperstones.
The pub at Stiperstones village is the Hike half-way marker and we
reached there at 11.19, just over 4 hours from Stiperstones summit.
Pedometer reading was 16.45km but we have found that it is
underestimating now. (That's my story and I am sticking to it.)
Having missed out the first bit of road walking helped us move on
quickly to Pennerley, reaching the turn marked Nant Isa at 11.48. The
aim was to reach Shelve checkpoint in 5 hours and we just about made
that as the sky turned distinctly grey and raindrops began.
By the time we had stopped for a snack at White Grit church, our
regular stop, it was raining properly and the trudge up Corndon was just
that. Somewhat concerned that the grassy slopes here could be very
tricky if there's a lot of rain on the Hike. We reached the top at
1.35pm, 24km, or thereabouts. The wind was very strong on top and heads
bowed we went along the ridge, avoiding the wrong path we had taken last
time in the dark, and we counted 196 steps (my feet) from the corner to
the path leading down. The route was much clearer than on previous
occasions, which may be down to the number of people now out on training
walks.
Arrived at Woodgate Farm at 2.08pm, 7 hours from Stiperstones. The
geese at Little Cefn Farm were taking shelter in the covered barn but
still found their voices as we passed through. We were passed here by a
runner who seemed familiar from some of the Hike photos and he said "see
you in two weeks" before disappearing into the distance. Good job we
weren't trying to get route tips from following him as there was no sign
at all of him in the next field.
The path that has been reopened near here is still pretty
impossible and by the look of the mud on the barred gate most people are
still going through the next field and then down into the really boggy
section. Last time we were here it was really wet leading up to the pig
trough stile so we took the higher path and there is a straightforward
route down to the stile. Rather worryingly though it may be a waterfall
if it has rained.
We got to Welsh Lodge at 2.50 and then Rhadley Cottage on the
8-hour mark. We stopped for a final coffee before the final stretch of
road up to Black Rhadley, and made the mistake of not putting on
waterproof trousers, something we paid for by the time we got back down
from Black Rhadley (having reached summit at 3.56), as we were soaked on
the way down.
The road section from here is a real bore but we were delighted to
find a shortcut by following the Shropshire Way from Nipstone Rock which
cuts off the corner to The Bog.
Back to the car park atThe
Knolls at 4.41pm, 11.5 hours for the section which gives us some hope
that we can get back under 22 hours.
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