Cardingmill Valley - blue skies ahead.
The first of many encounters with fell ponies today.
"Where's Mott's Road?"
A few more ponies near the Shooting Box on the Long Mynd.
At Pole bank trig point.
At Pole Bank toposcope.
Glider overhead.
The Long Mynd Glider Club - getting ready for take off.
Pole Bank Cottage and Pole Bank from Minton Hill
Our last encounter with ponies on Minton Hill.
The hills to South of the Long Mynd, including Caer Caradoc and Ragleth Hill.
The picturesque church at Little Stretton.
Walk stats: Distance: 9.7 miles. Climb: 960'.
Time: 5 hours 6 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.4 m.p.h. Overall walking average: 1.9 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn, Roger and Mike.
We set off from Chester with lots of early morning mist, but thankfully by the time we arrived at Church Stretton it had cleared. The rest of the day was largely sunny, hardly any wind and pleasantly warm. The views were pretty good, although it was still a little misty towards the Stipperstones.
Our firs surprise was to see fell ponies in Cardingmill Valley and even more on the top of Long Mynd itself. This was the first time that we had seen fell ponies on the Long Mynd, and we must have seen nearly twenty in all.
Once on the Long Mynd we soon came to realise how popular it was for walkers and cyclist and happy bushes were very scarce!
The paths on the Long Mynd across Pole Bank had been made up since our last visit, making this stretch of the walk very easy.
Lunch was taken just before taking the path over Minton Hill to Minton, We only sat on the grassy bank looking back towards Pole Bank and the route we had covered in the morning.
The path over Minton Hill was a very pleasant grassy track and the route gave us good views of the gliders as the flew over our heads.
The last stretch of the walk was along the road, a rather tedious, seemingly never ending trek, even though it was only about 3 miles. The temperature must have reached mid twenties by now, so the heat didn't help.
Birds seen or heard today included: Jackdaw, Rook, Common crow, Winter wren, Pied wagtail, Common kestrel, Goldfinch and Common buzzard.
After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Pant-yr-Ochain at where Purple Moose, Snowdonia Ale slaked our thirst admirably.
Overall an excellent day out in the Shropshire Hills and still home before six.
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