The first big one

1 September 2012

The first big training walk involved a night walk on the Stiperstones loop. The plan was to walk the circuit from Stiperstones with most of the walk in the dark to match roughly the timings of the Hike. This was also our first real test of whether we can go fast enough to finish in 24 hours! So far our aggregated timings suggest we are on course for 26.5 hours so need to get faster.

Set off from Stiperstones car park at 4.15pm, starting the actual walk section at the summit checkpoint at 4.31pm. A glorious afternoon, definitely one of the days of the year. Not a lot of time to take in the view however, or photographs - you’ll have to just use your imagination for this walk.

We had targeted getting to Earls Hill in two hours, around five miles distance and a lot of decent sections once you get off the rocks on Stiperstones. The walk up Earls Hill was just as difficult as before but we just managed to get to the top for 6.31pm, 8km. We had taken the same route up as last time and although it is not as steep as Caradoc, it does seem to be a relentless slog so we think we might try the other route which we use for the descent one night this week. This route is steeper and a bit loose underfoot, but it is worth trying out.

Quick coffee and flapjack on the top although the wind made the coffee pour horizontally. We worked out that Shelve was probably the rough half way point on this walk so thought we need to get there in three hours which was going to be quite tough.

Next checkpoint is Bank House Farm which we reached at 7.25pm.  The section through Eastridge Woods is nice although it took longer than we remembered and we emerged at Snailbeach at 8pm, 13.6km and found a handy bench to have some food, home made rolls and salad from the garden. We then donned headlights as the next part was on the road. 

Shortly after setting off we had a brief chat with a man who was very interested in the various routes Long Mynd Hikers take through Eastridge and suggested an alternative to going through Snailbeach village which we located after leaving him.

The road section involves some gradual and not-so-gradual climbs up towards Pennerley. After passing Crow’s Nest we reached Tankerville at 9pm, 16.9km and then just a short uphill section before the turn off towards Shelve. It was a relief to get off the road as there was a surprising amount of traffic we had to stand aside for on the road from Snailbeach. Some drivers gave us more room than others and quite a few seemed to be a bit dazzled by our lights which on balance is probably a good thing as they could’t miss us, or rather they could miss us.

The walk to Shelve was punctuated by encounters with various scurrying animals, their bright eyes lit up with our torches. Arrived at Shelve with the moon now full, just outside the targeted 3 hours from Earl’s Hill at 9.33pm. No time to stop though so we hacked on through the forest section and out onto the A488 for a short stretch which was very quiet and only one car passed. After passing the Powys sign we slogged up the track from White Grit and made the foot of Corndon at 10.30pm, 22.7km. We needed some sustenance before we tackled the climb so we had a brief coffee and flapjack stop. The climb up Corndon was as tough as expected after the distance we had travelled and it is clearly going to take a lot of mental energy to make this on the Hike with 30 miles under our belts. Reached the summit at 11pm, 23.6km. It was very windy at the top but very exhilarating at night.

From the top you can see the glow of what we assumed was Shrewsbury. Invisible during daylight, it is a very obvious at night. The moon was now enveloped in cloud and the resulting gloom meant that we struggled to find the path from the summit and managed to go wrong for the first time here. After going through a gate that we couldn’t remember we eventually realised that was because we weren’t meant to go that way so had to retrace our steps losing about 10 minutes and then follow the hill boundary until we found our bearings again. We remembered heading towards the hill south of Black Rhadley and that line kept us on the right track.

The path down off Corndon was another that seemed to have lengthened in the dark and there were lots of eyes lit up in the dark as sheep scurried away. But having done this section twice we got to Woodgate Lodge Farm at 11.48pm, 26.4km without a hitch although the sheep were probably a bit grumpy having to move for these two brightly lit walkers.

We kept very quiet going through Little Cefn Farm as the footpath goes right across their property and then found the route across the hill, partly thanks to a neatly-placed square of fluorescent material. The final part of this was previously through a gate and down a field and we took that again but at the track at the bottom, realised that the landowner has now cleared the footpath which goes along a sunken track between the fields so that should be fine for the Hike.

It was very dark here so we just plumped for what we thought was the right direction and eventually found the single section of unattached fence which marks the route to the gate into the wood. On the other side the path was very, very boggy. Our new boots are well and truly christened now and this short stretch to the pig-trough stile is likely to be impossible when there are 500 Hikers on it so we will have to find a route on the higher ground and drop down at right angles to the stile. On the other side there was more bog but we were soon free of the clag and on the open hillside and found the route down to the A488 pretty easily. 

Arrived at the Nind road by Welsh Lodge at 12.35pm, and had another brief stop for coffee, flapjack and fruit. (In case you’re wondering, there’s a lot of details about food on the blog because it becomes very important when you are doing these distances.)

The road section up to Black Rhadley is just a slog and it has taken us well over an hour in the past but we managed it in 45 minutes and then marched up to the summit in just ten minutes to arrive at 1.37am. We now had just 50 minutes to walk back to Stiperstones car park via The Bog which we managed by the skin of our teeth, arriving at 2.31am, exactly 10 hours from the start. 

We made it! Our longest ever walk and the tough night section of the Hike. More night walks to follow next weekend.

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.

Sponsor us and support the Shropshire Wildlife Trust

As the Hike is 50 miles it seems very appropriate to support the Shropshire Wildilfe Trust which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. The Trust has a number of reserves along the route - Earl's Hill, Brook Vessons, The Hollies and Nipstone and does great work in protecting wild places around the county.

We have now set up a fundraising page with Shropshire Wildlife Trust, so if you would like to sponsor our mad quest, please click this link and visit their page where you can make a secure online donation.

We hope you will give generously!

50 miles - in the bag!

22 August

Final missing section to complete in our third consecutive night of walking. This had to be a linear walk from Bridges to Little Stretton with the plan to leave one car there and return later to pick it up. Set off at 17.15 and made good progress up to Coates 1.0km, 17.32, through three gates and on to Medlicott (2.1km, 17.51) where we headed straight up towards Medlicott Cottage. Spotted our first glider of the evening here.

Between Coates and Medlicott.

Reached Medlicott Cottage and the boundary to the National Trust land at 2.7km, 18.06. Full of enthusiasm we set off with confidence - up the wrong track. Realised after a while that we were following the NT boundary when we should have been going at 45 degrees from the entrance gate towards Pole Cottage.

The wrong path!

The right path - looking back to Medlicott Cottage

After retracing our steps, we set off again from Medlicott Cottage at 3.2km, 18.21. The path was difficult to see but we could make out a faint track in roughly the right direction which eventually became a path through the blooming heather. (Don’t worry I’m not about to break into song …) JP had warned us that this could be a wet walk through the heather, not on this occasion but he is right if it had been raining heavily before. Further up the hill the path kept disappearing and when we studied the OS map carefully we realised there should be some ponds nearby.

Among the blooming heather...

On the horizon we spotted some rushes/sedges which we thought could indicate ponds, and we were right. The path skirted to the left of the ponds and then headed for a clump of trees which marked the site of the former Pole Cottage. This is now just an enclosure where the cottage once stood and is used as a group camp site, 4.3km, 18.44. An easy walk along The Portway followed and the track to Minton was nicely signposted, although we couldn’t identify all the paths shown on the OS map. After a brief coffee break we set off at 19.03, 5.5km. 

The ponds near Pole Cottage.

Good track over Minton Hill and on past the Packet Stone into a charming valley resplendent in purple heather. Reached the NT sign at the foot of the hill at 8.1km, 19.51, and into hamlet of Minton where there is a fine example of a cruck-framed house being renovated.

The route to Minton.

Just past the Packet Stone.

The next section is a slog along the lane to Little Stretton which took longer than anticipated and we even tried a bit of jogging along here. Arrived at the Green Dragon at 9.7km, 20.16 then back home along the road before setting out to collect the car, and of course have a pint in The Bridges - well we did make use of their car park so it’s only fair. 

Hurrah, that’s the 50 miles completed; just have to do it in 24 hours now. I feel some more night walking coming our way.

The last hill on the Hike

21 August 2012

Another short evening walk to fill in the missing sections. Set off at 7.06pm to Little Stretton to pick up the final part of the Hike over Ragleth. Arrived at Ragleth Inn at 7.45 then a few minutes later turned down Crown Lane opposite the Green Dragon pub at 2.7km. Turned right onto the A49 then left up a lane to a house which becomes a footpath past Knoll Cottage. Lots of turkeys milling around and a very peaceful grave of a young man who died in 2002.

Looking across to the Long Mynd.

Ragleth Hill information sign

The path climbs up the hill and we reached the Ragleth Hill sign at 8.11pm, 3.6km. Then a steeper climb up to the summit via some helpfully-provided footholds. England flag flying at summit reached at 8.25pm, 4.1km. Very breezy on top and after a couple of quick photos headed along ridge and found the path that veers left towards the town.

Path from summit along the ridge.

The darkness in the woods meant we had to get the head torches out and it was a very slippery descent, fortunately on the Hike it will be light when we reach here. Tawny owl heard in the woods but he went quiet when the bright lights went on.

At the summit of Ragleth.

Reached the foot of the hill and alleyway to Poplar Drive at 9.03pm, 5.8km, then home at 9.25, 7.5km. Just the Bridges to Minton stretch to complete now.

Evening ramble

20 August 2012

Short evening walk to test out new head torch and sort out route from The Lawley. Set off at 7.05pm. First wildlife was slow worm on path near Cwm Dale. Through All Stretton then lane off to right and across railway and A49.

Never seen any of these properties before, good-looking barn conversions at Botvyle Farm.

Reached the point where the path down from Caradoc meets the lane just after Caradoc Cottages at white picket fence at 8.03pm, 3.65km. Then down the lane past Comley Farm where the path goes up to The Lawley. Met Mr Farmer at 3.9km, nice chap who said no problem with cows in field although one of the mothers seemed a bit too interested in me and then they all stampeded across to the other side. 

Spotted a fox running in next field, much more wildlife around early and late in the day. Arrived at the house with the tin man at 8.29pm, 4.9km. Last time we had turned right here but the correct way is to go left and then take first footpath on right just before Heath House. Horses in field very interested in us and escorted us through two fields to the stile. More farmers out and about here moving sheep, then just couple more fairly straight paths to A49 reached at 8.40pm, 5.4km.

After crossing onto the All Stretton lane, took footpath immediately to right and first use of torch to see the map. Tawny owl heard and shadowy form seen in next field which was also full of horses that were keen to come and see us. The path then crosses the lane and continues past a cottage and through bracken all the way up to lane at Gogbatch. Reached lane at 9.03pm, 6.3km and decided to head for home. Properly dark now so good chance to test torch which was pretty impressive. Reached home at 9.45pm.

OS website calculated the walk at 7.8km to Gogbatch, 10.9km to home which meant we had made better pace than we had thought. Still going to be tough going to make the Hike in 24 hours though …

The missing bits behind Stiperstones

Heather in bloom on Stiperstones.

19 August 2012

An early start saw us at Stiperstones car park at 7.55am. The road up from Bridges was busy with birds including a flock of wheatears, lots of skylarks, pied wagtails and meadow pipits.

This marks the route to Habberley!

The path over Stiperstones didn’t feel quite so tough having suffered many hours on the rocky paths at Scafell Pike but it is still slow-going. Early morning sunshine was very warm but as we went over the top it began to cloud over. We reached the Shropshire Wildlife Trust reserve at 9.14am, 3.9km. We found the right path direct to Upper Vessons Farm this time and had coffee break at the cyclist’s entrance to Eastridge Woods at 9.45am, 5.4km.

Arriving in Habberley at 10.09, 6.6km, we decided to include Earl’s Hill, having originally planned to turn left to Bank House.

Heather on Stiperstones.

We have done Earl’s Hill before, but as we had gone a bit off-piste, decided to do it again and get it right this time. The final climb up to the summit is surprisingly tough and sure it will be tougher after having done 20 miles on the Hike. Reached the summit at 10.47am, 8.6km. We had been hoping for an hour to get to and from here from Habberley, but it was looking more like an hour and a quarter.

Snailbeach mine.

Arrived back in Habberley at 11.25am, having seen our first real rain on training walks. We lost a few minutes talking to a couple whose dog showed rather more intelligence that the rest of us, as he sheltered under a tree while we chatted out in the rain.

As we headed towards Bank House Farm we had to check the map for the first time on the walk. (Now missed our waterproof map cover which we had lost somewhere by the car at Seathwaite.) The crossroads with the Shropshire Way was clear just before we reached the farm and we turned left towards Eastridge woods at 11.44am, 11.5km. Once in the woods there was a very clear forest track which leads around the edge of the woods all the way to Snailbeach. The Shropshire Way turns left which we could take but it looks like involving much more climbing. 

The Eastridge cycle routes cross the path and we braved one of these to find a sheltered spot for lunch at 12.10pm, 12.75km. The path was so easy through the woods that we arrived at Snailbeach surprisingly quickly  at 12.57, 14.2km and then set off on the road section towards Tankerville and Pennerley. 

Stiperstones Inn - can't believe it's only half way on Hike!

Shop at Stiperstones Inn.

Crows Nest buildings.

 The settlements on this side of Stiperstones are very interesting with the mining heritage very evident everywhere. Passing through Snailbeach and Crow’s Nest we got to Tankerville Pottery at 14.00, 17.4km, where a neatly-position bench gave us a final coffee stop. The pottery shop was open, despite the sign and being unstaffed and it is certainly worth a look.

Post in the wall at the Old Cross Guns.

The former Cross Guns inn at Crows Nest.

Tankerville Pottery.

Old mine at Tankerville

For the benefit of a commenter who thought there were a bit too many pints of
beer on our blog, this shows we drink copious amounts of coffee too

Continuing uphill we arrived at Pennerley with its viewpoint back across the side of Stiperstones. The path left towards Shelve, marked by a Nant Isa B&B sign at 17.7km,  is a good one, being used by vehicles for access to a number of houses along the lane. Arrived as planned on the Shelve road close to the The Firs at 14.25, 18.3km. Then just a short hike back to the car park, reached at 15.10, 20.8km.

Only one more section to complete the hike route - Bridges - Ragleth, and sort out the best path down from The Lawley, and then we’ll be ready to do some serious endurance training!

View from Pennerley.

Well, you can't go past The Bridges without a swift pint can you?