This is another day when the weather forecast is not great. Lyn has decided to stay in Ludlow and explore a bit more of the town. Meanwhile I am heading to the south end of the Long Mynd with the intention of bagging another couple of trigs.
The starting point of my walk is a disused quarry besides a minor road close to Myndmill Wood (Grid Ref: SO387883). From the parking area I head south on a broad track that goes steadily uphill.
As I head up there are some fine views.
At a junction of paths I turn left and continue uphill on a broad grassy track in a northerly direction.
After going through a gate I continue uphill on the path towards Black Knoll. I have now joined the route of the Jack Mytton Way, this long distance path covers seventy-three miles mostly in Shropshire and goes between Cleobury Mortimer and Llanfair Waterdine on the Welsh border.
The route is named after John (Mad Jack) Mytton (1796-1834). He gained the “Mad Jack” title due to his eccentric behaviour. Coming from a long line of squires he inherited the family seat aged two when his father died. He was expelled from Westminster School and Harrow School because of unruly behaviour. After a spell in the army and going on a Grand Tour he returned to Shropshire and in 1819 became the Tory MP for Shrewsbury, it is reported that he only spent 30 minutes in parliament because he found it boring and did not seek re-election in 1820. He had a passion for horses and gambling and it is said that his favourite horse had free range of his home. He is also said to have had an extensive wardrobe which included over one thousands hats. I am a man who likes a bonnet but my collection is well short of fifty!
I go through another gate and continue on the Jack Mytton Way for just over four hundred metres to reach another crossing of paths where I turn right through a gate and head east on a track.
After 300 metres on the track there is a clear path through the heather to Knolls trig pillar.
Following this path I visit the trig, this is the 463rd Ordnance Survey trig pillar I have bagged.
Returning to the track I continue to head east and soon go through a gate and enter woodland. Now I stay with this main forestry track as it steadily descends to Priors Holt.
At Priors Holt the track becomes a minor road and I follow this to pass Hamperley and continue on to reach the B4370 and turn right along it.
After two hundred metres I turn left at Cwm Head and follow the driveway to Cwm Head Farm. As I go up the track I get a fine view of St Michael’s Church, which was built in 1845.
At Cwm Head Farm the route is slightly confusing, the map shows the path going straight on, but there is a slightly obscured footpath sign besides the gate on the left, I assume there has been a diversion and this takes me in front of a barn undergoing conversion and then heads across fields.
The route is well waymarked as it goes across fields to reach a minor road. Here I turn left and head north towards Whittingslow. After eight hundred metres on this lane I make a slight diversion to hop over a gate besides a radio mast and walk around the edge of the field to bag the Cwm Head Farm Ordnance Survey trig pillar.
Returning to the road I continue on to Whittingslow and then stay with the road to reach the B4370 where I turn right.
After 400 metres beside the road I take a bridleway on the left which heads north towards Minton.
The route goes through fields to reach a stream, unfortunately the pedestrian footbridge has collapsed, fortunately the water level is low enough for me to cross at a ford without getting wet feet. Later I will report this issue to Shropshire Council’s Rights of Way Officer.
The bridleway now heads uphill and joins a track leading into Minton, where I turn right at a junction where the post box sits in the wall of Minton Lower Barn. This leads to a triangle of grass where I turn left onto a dead end lane. This leads to a gate onto Minton Hill.
The clear track goes steeply, and I mean very steeply, up to reach open access land. I can now see that the predicted rain is not far away.
Following a bridleway across the access land I fork left at a junction of routes and continue up to reach Packet Stone. This outcrop sits beside an old drovers route and is said to have gained its name from being a place where travellers adjusted the strapping loads on their mules and horses.
I am tempted to stop at the stone for a break after ascending the hill, but I hear the rumble of thunder in the distance and decide it is best to press on before the storm gets any closer. Staying on the well-defined route I head above Windy Batch.
After going over Minton Hill I veer to the left to follow a path towards a minor road close to the Midland Gliding Club. Apparently the first flights from this club took place in 1934. Sadly in July 1998 an accident occurred at the site when a plane coming into land struck someone walking across the site.
As I near the minor road the storm is overhead and the weather looks too ominous to take the planned route which followed the John Mytton Way across the airfield. Instead I decide the sensible option is to get off the hill as quickly as possible. Walking along a ridge in a thunderstorm is obviously not recommended. I therefore follow the minor road as it descends steeply towards Asterton.
The rain is now pouring down so on reaching the village I turn left and follow the lane for just over 3km to get back to my starting point.
Although I have not followed the route I had initially planned it has still been an enjoyable twelve and a half mile walk. We head home tomorrow, but on this brief visit I have seen enough of this area to know we will be returning for a longer trip before too long.
To follow my walk you will need Ordnance Survey Explorer 217 – The Long Mynd & Wenlock Edge
You can view this 12.5 mile walk on OS Maps and download the GPX File Here
26th September 2024
© Two Dogs and an Awning (2024)
All information on this site is provided free of charge and in good faith and no liability is accepted in respect of damage, loss or injury which might result from it. To the best of my knowledge the routes are entirely on public rights of way or within areas that are open for public access.
Walking can be hazardous and is done entirely at your own risk. It is your responsibility to check your route and navigate using a map and compass.