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Walk up Long Mynd from Church Stretton

By Rik Henderson   

on April 16, 2019    3.5/5 (2)

Posted as a walk in – England, Europe, Shropshire

Walk up Long Mynd from Church Stretton

Route Essentials

Route Summary

A walk up one of the more popular areas in Shropshire from a quieter angle than the usual Carding Mill Valley.

See the end of the article for local information about parking, public transport facilities, pubs and cafes.

Distance

12.82 km

Ascent

553 m

Time

2.5-4 hours

Calculate the time using Naismith’s Rule and factor in your own pace.

Start Location

Church Stretton

Difficulty

Hard Walk

Hazards

None to note.

Weather Forecast:

Check out our Best Mountain Weather Forecast?
Remember that we cannot outline every single hazard on a walk – it’s up to you to be safe and competent. Read up on Mountain Safety , Navigation and what equipment you’ll need. 

Walk up Long Mynd from Church Stretton Ordnance Survey Map and GPX File Download

View the full route map

Download file for GPS

Walk up Long Mynd from Church Stretton

The Long Mynd is a heath and moorland plateau that sits on the Western flank of Church Stretton in the Shropshire Hills area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB). The Long Mynd is a popular area for walkers and cyclists and boasts stunning views of Caer Caradoc and its satellite peaks to the East, and the Stiperstones range to its West. Whilst The Long Mynd group is often accessed from Carding Mill Valley, this route takes an altogether different route taking in Burway Hill, Yearlet, Long Mynd / Pole Bank and Callow.

1) The car park is situated at Rectory Wood & Field. From here you can clearly see a path heading straight up towards the high crest on the woods edge, pass through the gate and drop down into the woods. Keeping left on a track that eventually turns into a railed path, following signs for Pole Bank.

2) Cross the stream and bear left up through the gate and towards the reservoir. Take the right-hand track that follows the woodland edge now to your right, a path that skirts around the bottom of Burway Hill until you come to a road. Take this road as it gains height up the side of the hill for roughly 300 meters, now bare left onto a lightly trodden track and find your way up onto the indistinct summit of Burway Hill (375m).

3) Now follow the crest West as it dips down before making a short climb up onto Devils Mouth, drop down and take the path that heads West and along the valleys edge, adjacent to the road on your right. Follow this track to the mouth of the valley

4) At the top junction take a left now heading in a Westerly direction, after roughly 200 meters bare righty and head up onto Yearlet (465m) …. there isn’t a distinct path here so take a South Easterly heading until you hit the top marked my a Cairn.

5) Now head back down the way you came and at the junction bare left, a path that runs adjacent with the road on your right (mostly out of view). Continue along until you eventually join the road for a small section (about 100 meters) and take the path in front of you that heads in a Westerly direction and following signage for Pole Bank. After about 400 meters take a left up to Pole Bank (516m), here you can take in excellent views of the Stiperstones from the vantage point.

6) Head South now and along the track towards Pole Bank Cottage, shortly after the cottage take a light track to your left that eventually filters left again onto a more prominent track. This long section of roughly 2.2km heading in a South Easterly direction eventually winds right around the base of the hill directly in front of you (named Grindle), and above Grindle Hollow to your right. The path levels out onto a small plateau, take a southerly baring up onto Callow (411m), a lightly trodden path that is not highlighted on an OS map, the top is signified by a small cairn…. very small in fact. Here you get incredible views towards the East and of Ragleth Hill, and Caer Caradoc to its North East.

7) From the summit of Callow take an Easterly line and down towards the obvious path ahead of you. This path will take you through two gates and through a campsite. Cross the small bridge over a stream baring right then immediately left, over a stile and onto a track that winds round to the left now in a Northerly direction. You will eventually come to another stile standing next to a shed that takes you into an open field.

8) Continuing in a northerly direction picking up the path that drops down into the woods and over a stile. The track bares right briefly onto the road and row of houses, before tacking the footpath back behind the houses and to your left. This path winds through the woods before coming to a short section of road and back to you start point.

Local Information and Recommended Maps and Guidebooks

Route Summary:

A walk up one of the more popular areas in Shropshire from a quieter angle than the usual Carding Mill Valley.

Route Start Location: Church Stretton

Distance
Ascent
Time
12.82 km 553 m 2.5-4 hours

Calculate the time using Naismith’s Rule and factor in your own pace.

Activivity Type: Hard Walk

Summits and Places on this Route

Facilities

There is a cafe in Carding Mill Valley with good facilities and a gift shop. Loads in Church Stretton, I just haven’t had the pleasure yet!

Hazards

None to note.

Remember that we cannot outline every single hazard on a walk – it’s up to you to be safe and competent. Read up on Mountain Safety , Navigation and what equipment you’ll need.

Parking : SY6 6AF

Rectory Wood & Field

Public Transport:

Railway Station in Church Stretton

Traveline for UK Public Transport

Weather Forecast:

Check out our Best Mountain Weather Forecast?

Recommended Maps

Guidebooks:

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Rik Henderson

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