3.3 of 5 (24 votes)
1

Church Stretton - Long Mynd

A moderate walk (low hills and fells (below 600m)) in Shropshire, England, about 9.70km (6.03 mi) long with an estimated walking time of about 3:30h. It is suitable for families with children, but unsuitable for prams & pushchairs, wheelchairs.
Elevation Profile
Ascent 307m (1007ft)
Descent 284m (931ft)
Max. Elevation 500m (1640ft)
Altitude Gain & Loss 591m (1938ft)
Start & End
Church Stretton
Distance 9.70km
(6.03mi)
Duration ~3:30h
Difficulty  
Moderate
3Created by John Walker on 27 Jul 2014
This walk starts from and returns to Church Stretton railway station, taking in Pole Bank, the highest point on the Long Mynd. These hills are part of the Shropshire Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and are full of outstanding views and variety of nature. It is quite a stiff walk of around 11km and took us around 3 hours.

Walk Functions

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Church Stretton to Craven Arms

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Walk Map

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Waypoints

OS Grid SO455935
Leave the station by the service road and continue ahead on Sandford Ave. Take the High St., third turning on the left and after about 50m cross the road and take a small road to the right of the church. Cross another road onto a track, passing between stone gate posts, into a park.
OS Grid SO451936
Climb the grassy hill ahead, keeping just left of Old Rectory Wood on the right. When you are almost level with a large house turn right into the wood through a gate and then shortly turn left onto a wider crossing path.
About 0.48 km (~0.3 miles) from
OS Grid SO447938
Follow around a contour for about 100 m and then the path heads steeply down into a valley. Cross a small stream (Town Brook) on a bridge and then climb the other side of the valley towards a fenced enclosure which has a small reservoir within it.
About 0.43 km (~0.27 miles) from
OS Grid SO446938
Go ahead with the reservoir on the left, through a gate and follow a clear path up the valley.
About 0.12 km (~0.07 miles) from
OS Grid SO443938
The stony path stays close to the stream, rising steadily up the valley as foxgloves and buttercups give way to short cropped grass and thistles. Climbing higher, bracken and gorse take over.
About 0.24 km (~0.15 miles) from
OS Grid SO435939
Higher still you pass the last of the stunted hawthorn trees. Areas of scree intrude in the steeper parts and then heather begins to appear. Turn round to look back the way you have come. Now you are higher than the steep hills which loomed above you only fifteen minutes ago. Just across the valley Caer Caradoc hill is imposing and on a clear day you can see way beyond, to the long smooth green sweep of Wenlock Edge.
About 0.86 km (~0.53 miles) from
OS Grid SO433937
The path sweeps round to the right as you reach the top of the valley. Once on the plateau itself the path joins a road. Continue left along this, taking the left fork at the next junction.
About 0.25 km (~0.16 miles) from
OS Grid SO423945
In 300m the road turns left but leave it at that point to take a stony track going straight ahead.
About 1.27 km (~0.79 miles) from
OS Grid SO419945
In another 300m follow the path going right at a junction. The highest point on Pole Bank (516m) is a short way off to the left.
About 0.41 km (~0.25 miles) from
OS Grid SO417947
For the next kilometre the path crosses high moorland with good views west over the Shropshire hills and into Wales.
About 0.31 km (~0.19 miles) from
OS Grid SO420953
At Shooting Box cross over a road with a car park on the left and continue ahead, shortly after passing a partially ploughed out bronze age disc barrow.
About 0.68 km (~0.42 miles) from
OS Grid SO422955
In 300m at a junction of paths head to the right, taking the narrower path which curves round to descend towards the floor of a small valley, Lightspout Hollow.
About 0.29 km (~0.18 miles) from
OS Grid SO427954
The path becomes more rocky and you have to scramble down some short sections. The biggest rocky section hides Lightspout Falls which may be just a trickle or a significant torrent, depending on the state of recent weather.
About 0.49 km (~0.3 miles) from
OS Grid SO430950
Continue following the stream downhill until the valley opens out into a larger one, Carding Mill Valley.
About 0.48 km (~0.3 miles) from
OS Grid SO435951
Turn right here, crossing the stream to stay on the right bank of the larger stream. At a car park the track becomes a minor road continuing down past National Trust owned properties, some renovated from parts of the former carding mill which occupied the site. There are toilets and a teashop here.
About 0.52 km (~0.32 miles) from
OS Grid SO443943
Continue on down the valley but take the footpath which leaves the road, staying higher up to the right.
About 1.10 km (~0.68 miles) from
OS Grid SO447942
The track curves away around the headland of Burway Hill, joining Burway Road to descend back into Church Stretton.
About 0.45 km (~0.28 miles) from
OS Grid SO451938
At a road junction cross over and bear left into a road which leads to another cross roads in 100m. Cross here to return to Sandford Avenue and the train station is ahead in 200 m.
About 0.52 km (~0.32 miles) from

1 comment... join the discussion!


Kay F
29 Jan 2015
Long Mynd

A fantastic walk, incredible scenery, but we didn't bring a map (just printed directions) and got lost at Pole Bank, accidentally went left instead of right and had to find our own way back to Church Stretton! We plan to do this walk again, but go the right way this time!

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