Long Mynd Weekend. 9th to 11th Feb 2007 - Report by Neil

Seven of us spent a wintry weekend in Shropshire at the beginning of February. Myself, Jane, Rosemary Steve and Niki set off early from London on the Friday morning. There had been snow showers across the UK the previous two days and we had been advised by the hostel warden that the side roads to the Bridges Youth Hostel, where we were staying, were inpassable and to keep to the main road. We arrived midday at Bridges just as the snow began to fall. After a stop for lunch at the Three Horseshoes pub we headed off for a walk in the direction of the Stiperstones.

  

The snow was falling heavily as we walked and there was a couple of feet or more of lying snow in the fields, deeper where it had drifted. As we approached the Stiperstones ridge the visibility deteriorated and we took the path through the Gatten Plantation and then back to Bridges.

The warden at the hostel gave us a friendly welcome and we recovered from the walk in front of a blazing wood fire in the dining room of the Hostel eating Niki's irresistable homemade chocolate flapjacks. We were the only people staying at the Hostel that night. A group from Swansea University that had booked decided to postpone their Journey until the Saturday. We had given up hope of seeing Ian and Michael that evening as they hadn't left London until the afternoon. To everybody's surprise they arrived at the Hostel with car intact late that evening.

           About to set off walking on Friday afternoon

On the Saturday Ian lead a walk up onto the top of the Lond Mynd. The weather conditions were better in the morning but as we ascended the Long Mynd the visibility got worse with snow showers and the wind blowing the lying snow. As we approached the top of the Long Mynd ridge the snow got deeper and was up to our waist in places. We reached Pole Bank, the highest point on the Long Mynd and then eventually returned to Bridges along Darnford Brook.

Towards Stiperstones (Friday)

On the Sunday morning we walked along the Stiperstones. The visiblity was good and the snow was thawing fast. We had lunch at the Stiperstones Inn and then headed back home. It was a memorable weekend with some exhilarating walking. Thanks Ian for organising the weekend and getting the weather conditions right.
 

 

Looking across from the Stiperstones to the Long Mynd (Sunday)

 

Ascent of the Long Mynd (Saturday)

 

 

Lunch stop on the Long Mynd (Saturday)

 
 

 

Exiting the Gatten Plantation (Friday)

 
     
 
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