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Author Topic: Shropshire Hills overnighter - July 2012  (Read 8319 times)

whoRya

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Shropshire Hills overnighter - July 2012
« on: July 23, 2012 »
During last years family holiday I got to have a great wee overnighter on the Long Mynd in the Shropshire Hills AONB.  Returning to the same area again this year I was mad keen to get out again. 

This year the weather was pretty rubbish and it looked like it wasn't coming to come off for me.  While I'm sometimes keen to go regardless of the weather, the thought of going somewhere completely new, a forewarning of heavy rain and with no expectation of a decent view was putting me off the idea.  Then there was a break in the weather and it was time to go.  But you knew that anyway...it said "overnighter" in the thread title  :)

This time I planned to explore the hills on the other side of Church Stretton; Hope Bowdler and Caer Caradoc in particular.  Having already spent a night on the Long Mynd I thought it would be nice to spend a night looking at it.  As usual the difficult thing is to find a suitable place to park the car.  Eventually I found somewhere but the time taken searching had cost me the chance of catching the sunset.

Using a bridleway I set off to climb Hope Bowdler Hill which has a number of summits, the tallest being 426m.  Listening to my inner summit-bagger and the plan being to camp on top of Caer Caradoc I opted to head straight for the highest summit.  With its clearly defined soft grass paths bordered by lush vegetation the hill was a pleasure to walk across.

First view of Caer Caradoc.



Looking back at Hope Bowdler


I made it up onto Caer Caradoc (459m) with just enough time to have a good explore and pick out a good spot to camp.  There are loads of places on the hill to pitch a tent, offering protection from the wind should it be needed.  The hill is the site of a large Iron Age hill fort, thought to have been a stronghold of Caratacus, King of the Britons, whose defeat by the invading Romans in 51 AD meant much of southern Britain was then under Roman control.   

I decided to pitch on the side of the hill looking towards the Long Mynd to get the best of the view in the morning.  It was a little bit more breezy but the outer ramparts of the fort gave good protection from any wind there was.  With the tent pitched I got a brew on and watched the final light of the day fade away.  A short rain shower moved in from the west and I had to retreat to the sanctuary of the tent, but was able to emerge again half an hour later.

I then spent a couple of hours relaxing on the summit watching the last of the overhead clouds disappear and revealing a rich tapestry of stars in the skies above.  I recently heard an astronomer say that the average number of clear night skies in a year is about 35.  It is always a pleasure to spend the night on a summit and enjoy one. 

Looking east towards the West Midlands I was glad not to be competing with the light pollution that the skies suffer from there.


As I was looking over the lights in the distance the most incredible blood-red moon rose out of the city lights.  Hard to capture on camera but it was quite incredible to watch.


Early morning sun gradually filling the valleys on the Long Mynd.




The outer ramparts gave fantastic shelter from the overnight winds.


Looking down towards Church Stretton or "little Switzerland" as the Victorians referred to it.


Three Finger Rock


Dropping down into the valley with Hope Bowdler looking on.


Looking back at Caer Caradoc


Don’t know what bird this was but they were majestic to watch as they floated effortlessly on the wind.


It’s hard not to be jealous of the brilliant network of footpaths that grace the English countryside.


It was another great night in a beautiful location.  I was blessed with the weather-window that opened up.  I can’t wait to return again.
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Mourneman

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Re: Shropshire Hills overnighter - July 2012
« Reply #1 on: July 23, 2012 »
Brilliant write-up & photo's,looks like an amazing place
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Rumblebum

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Re: Shropshire Hills overnighter - July 2012
« Reply #2 on: July 23, 2012 »
Nice one mate, im loving your photo down into the valley. :)
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LandyLiam

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Re: Shropshire Hills overnighter - July 2012
« Reply #3 on: July 23, 2012 »
looks like tellytubby land, thanks for sharing (must get round to my holiday write up soon!)
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Oisín

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Re: Shropshire Hills overnighter - July 2012
« Reply #4 on: July 24, 2012 »
Lovely pics, super write up.

It sounds familiar, I think it's the place that's always mentioned on countryfile.
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RedLeader

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Re: Shropshire Hills overnighter - July 2012
« Reply #5 on: July 24, 2012 »
Awesome writeup, looks like it was a top trip.
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sjh1

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Re: Shropshire Hills overnighter - July 2012
« Reply #6 on: July 25, 2012 »
Nice one. Bird looks like a common buzzard but not 100% sure.
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twentyclicks

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Re: Shropshire Hills overnighter - July 2012
« Reply #7 on: July 26, 2012 »
Very nice to see some new places. Sounds like you got a cracking camp.
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Craig
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whoRya

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Re: Shropshire Hills overnighter - July 2012
« Reply #8 on: July 26, 2012 »
Cheers for the replies. It is nice to get out somewhere different.

I'm sure it is the type of place countryfile would love (sans teletubbies).
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