Across the Breiddens with the LDWA

28 October 2012

Our first event with the LDWA was an enjoyable 12-mile tour of the Breiddens. We worked out that it was probably 23 years since we'd last been to Rodney's Pillar. But this time I was carrying waterproofs, coffee and rolls in the backpack instead of our daughter. 

The group assembled near Crew Green and 17 of us set off across the bridge and along the Severn Way. Soon we reached the confluence where the Severn and Vrynwy meet, having seen a heron and cormorant just before. The group debated the difference between a confluence and a bifurcation - a new term to us - for a while and then continued on the path leaving the Vyrnwy behind and following the Severn. 

Inquisitive ram.

Woolly-bottomed sheep.

Cuddly-looking sheep on Severn Way.

The approach to Rodney's Pillar looked exceedingly steep but our friendly walk leader Margaret assured us that we were circling round a bit and the climb would be gentler than it looked from here. The river path was unsurprisingly very squelchy, but the rare breed sheep were an entertaining diversion and worth a photo or two. We left the river and headed towards the foot of the hill at Criggion, stopping for coffee and flapjack before the ascent which we were warned was 30 minutes. It was fairly steep but not too bad and there was even a brief first appearance of the day for the sun as we got close to the summit. 

Quick sustenance before the climb up to Rodney's Pillar.

LDWA group at Rodney's Pillar.

After another food stop we headed on over the ridge past the quarry and then down a very nice path through the forest, although we realised that Margaret had planned to take us right down to the bottom again before the next climb back up. The route was not that easy to follow, but Mike's occasional interventions kept us on track even if one of the groups' GPS informed us that we were not always on rights of way. 

On route down from Breidden Hill.

Moel y Golfa monument.

Coming down off Moel y Golfa.

The route was taking us to the far end of the Breidden Hills and then back along the ridge path. The climb up to Moel y Golfa was a tough one and included a minor scramble. We stopped again for a food break although it was probably not quite brief enough as we cooled down very quickly when not moving. The monument at the top is an interesting commemoration of a  traveller who was a renowned bare knuckle fighter and the stone edifice was apparently organised by his son with contemporary newspaper tales of him 'kidnapping' people to help him build it. 

Friendly pony.

Rodney's Pillar from Middletown Hill.

Corndon in distance from Middletown Hill.

Track up to Middletown Hill.

The next section was a lovely route across to Middletown Hill with a brief down and up bit, followed by a rewarding 360-degree view from the summit. The Stiperstones and Corndon were clear landmarks to the south and much of the central Shropshire plain was there to see. A final descent across Blithy Hill, Kempster's Hill and Bausley Hill were next and then we dropped back down to rejoin the river and the bridge back to the starting point. 

Across the final path from Middletown Hill.

All in all a very pleasant tour of the Breiddens in good company. It was the first time we'd been on a group walk like this but it was good fun and we met some great characters and gained lots of tips about walks and equipment. 

Don't stray into the dingle!

20 Oct 2012

Beacon Ring on the skyline

We've returned to Marton for the second week running for more familiarisation in the area ahead of the South Shropshire Circular. This time we were heading west from Marton and started off on a path through the caravan park at Marton Pool. The path is reasonably well signed although it does zigzag around the caravans and we did head off in the wrong direction at first. 

Once through the park we entered some extremely boggy fields. It's essentially a flood meadow which has been drained but then grazed by cattle which have made it pretty much a mud bath again. Fair to middling signage meant we held the path pretty well, guessing that the plastic covering over an electic fence meant a crossing point and after passing a couple of walkers going the other way, we made it to Lower Wood and the lane to Betton. 

And then it all went pear-shaped. A simple enough looking path through Betton Dingle, a nature reserve, was our aim but we should have noted the hesitation in the voice of the angler who said, 'yes there is a path up there'. He was right; there was no such path, just some footpath signs which led into a dense thicket. With fallen trees and rampant brambles barring the way, we fought our way through for about an hour before finally giving up and deciding to go back. However, this was easier said than done as there was no discernable path and so we couldn't find our way out again. Eventually, in desperation, we climbed a tree and hurled ourselves over a barbed wire fence to escape. It was then we realised we had gone hardly any distance at all and must have been going round in circles. I feel an email is imminent to whoever is responsible for Betton Dingle.

After escaping from the bramble jungle of Betton Dingle we retraced our steps back to Betton, and then made good progress along the lane to Bromlow Callow, which has connections with Mary Webb's Down to Earth. It was now 3pm,  and we had only gone 7km but this was a recce after all. Once we went past the Callow Inn, looking like it was being refurbished, we found good signs and a footpath from Ganderbeach which led to  Castle Ring, another hill fort, and on to Valley Knoll, a very interesting heathland landscape. We took a path, after a forced diversion along a sheep track, towards Stapeley hill and eventually reached the stone circle at Mitchell's Fold. This lies under the shadow of Corndon and according to the sign at the stone circle, there are a number of important prehistoric sites in the immediate vicinity. 

Bromlow Callow

Forested promontory of Ganderbeach

Castle Ring hill fort

It was now 4.30pm however and we needed to get back before dusk as we had had not bargained for dark and had no head torches in our packs. A simple path led west and we found the lane to Rorrington and on towards Marton fairly easily, arriving back in the village at 5.45. A rather longer walk than it should have been, but such is the joy of navigation. 

Next time we will probably take in Corndon and Lan Mawr.

Valley Knoll

Rorrington Hill

Mitchell's Fold Stone Circle with Corndon in the background

Corndon

Part of the prehistoric stone circle of Mitchell's Fold

Following a few of Offa's footsteps

13 Oct 2012

We've definitely got the bug now. Having joined the Long Distance Walkers Association and signed up for the South Shropshire Circular in February we are now investigating unknown country on the other side of Stiperstones. 

Starting off from Marton, where the SSC starts, at 1215 we headed east up towards Long Mountain. The first section leads up from the post office in Marton and soon gets into some seriously muddy fields before entering a wood with a very steep path. 

Black Bryony

Welshpool

We missed the stile at the top of the wood but saw it once we'd gone past and arrived in the lane. Diverse hedgerow included some black bryony full of berries which Sue managed to photograph. We up the lane and took a turn to the left towards Red House. It looked like a footpath on the map but it wasn't or isn't now anyway. A 1.5km trek to the end proved that it was a dead end. To be fair the path on the map didn't quite meet the next path and we should really know better than think we can just jump through gaps on the map. If the paths don't meet, don't go there!

Back on the lane we headed for the next path left. It wasn't quite where we expected either and we ended up further up the hill but it wasn't a problem. We soon entered the woods and after a slight diversion reached the road. A snack of coffee, nuts and grapes got us on our way and we then had an easy downhill trot to meet Offa's Dyke, although it was a bit further than we thought.

We set off on Offa's at 2.28 having done 7.6km, and proceeded to climb back up adjacent to the hill we had just run down. At the top of the slope we saw the path from the lane that had a 'no entry' sign; clearly the landowner, Leighton Estates, likes to punish walkers.  Three buzzards flew overhead, bizarrely joined by a solitary crow who joined their circling formation, evidently a case of species uncertainty. 

Walking along Offa's Dyke

The walk through the forest was a pleasant diversion after the road section and since this was a national route, the signage was good with a simple acorn symbol to follow. But the forest clearly has a story to tell as shown by the huge brick wall around one of the ponds, which was presumably linked to its industrial past. A monkey puzzle tree at 9.5km also showed evidence of planting of exotic species.

Colours of autumn

The track led back to the road for a short distance where there was a distinct deer-like movement in the woods opposite, but it didn't stick around long enough to be identified. We took a right turn towards Beacon Ring and then through a stile into a field. Several goldfinches flew across our path and on the final approach to Beacon Ring we came across a very large flock of finches, but too far away to identify clearly. 

Beacon Ring

We arrived at the ring at 3.36pm, 11.5km. The mound is topped by a beech plantation which we subsequently learned was planted in the coronation year and the planting also includes a group of conifers which spell out 'E II R' from the air. The source was a guide from the Powys Archaeological Trust who was conducting a guided walk for local children, and in his final sweep for lost infants found us floundering about in the thicket and led us back to the lane. 

Modest statue at The Beeches

Once back on the lane we headed down to the road and took a left back to Marton. This was an easy downhill section which we ran full pelt covering 2.5km in half an hour. Just hope that we don't get sent up this hill on the SSC!

Welcome to shropshirehillwalking

Welcome to shropshirehillwalking

Welcome to our new blog. Fresh from our first Long Mynd Hike which we covered in our longmyndmadnessblog, we are continuing our regular walks and sharing our stories and photographs here.

There are so many places that we want to discover in Shropshire that this could keep us occupied for years, and we'll probably include a few walks from further afield as well.