After last Mondays trek - decided to make another early start to allow plenty of time, as this section ends with the climb up and over Ragleth Hill. This is 'optional' in the guide book, but if you're there!! The views are fabulous; some of us had climbed it recently, but not the way the route goes - up the steep way! On that occasion, we came down that way and confirm it is steep. So with that thought hanging over us, off we went.
The weather was grey and drizzly with a lot of mist hanging round the hilltops, so we'd have to make a decision about the final climb when we got to oi - the forecast promised very little change.
Anyway, back to Longville and a sharp climb up the lane to pick up the Shropshire Way opposite the entrance to Wilderhope Manor. The way continues to follow Wenlock Edge and the landscape stretches away on either side
before dipping back along the top edge of Coats Wood. This is a lovely woodland pathway - it would be all dappled in Spring and Summer. - but currently bright with ferns, mosses and fungi. Every season has something.
After views of Stanway Manor the route drops down Roman Bank to briefly join a lane and then a track which takes you up the edge of more woodland, but with great views of Hope Dale to the other side.
The Shropshire Way leaves the trees to cross a field and where you re-enter the wood, you then follow the Jack Mytton Way to walk down through the wood. This section, through Stars Coppice, is steep and after all the recent rain, rather slippery. Wet leaves on exposed rock are a bit treacherous, so slow going. And it keeps going down - you think you're there and it drops down again even more steeply!
Apparently its an old river bed, hence the stones. Its also a bridleway, but i wouldn't fancy coming down it on a horse.
Eventually, we made our way down and came out in Eaton. This 'village' seems to consist of just the Manor, the church, and The Old Rectory, no other housing in sight!
The church is lovely, dating back to the 12th Century. Very simple, with a squat, square tower. Here we stopped for coffee - coffee making facilities were on offer at the church, but it seemed easier to drink our own, sitting in the shelter of the lovely old porch.
The route then follows the lane to Tickleston, and then on out of the village before heading off across fields towards the Chelmick Valley, still following the Jack Mytton Way. At the end of the valley, the toute takes you up a steep field - really steep! If we'd read on, we would have found that you can choose to follow the lane around, which arrives at the same place, but less painfully!
Following the lane, you climb up to Chelmick. Just past Chelmick, we stopped on a grassy verge for a picnic lunch! Damp, but not raining, the weather had actually lifted a bit and it was good walking. So no excuses to miss the big climb! At this point, you start to meet lots of local footpaths, some of which we've used before, but the route stays on the lane, on the Jack Mytton Way, to the base of Ragleth Hill.
Here you leave the Jack Mytton Way, to complete the Ragleth loop. The lane takes you through Ragdon to the far end of the hill. Then a stile takes you up and over fields to Ragleth Hill itself.
Then the climb! As the ground was damp and slippy from all the recent rain, it was heads down, poles out all the way to the top! Years of climbers have worn 'steps' into the hillside, but its a pull! At the top, the wind hits you, but the views are stunning, not bad even on a grey day.
Then all the way along the top, following a wide, grassy track(back towards Church Stretton). You curve down off the hill and then double back on yourself to follow the Shropshire Way down through woodland into Church Stretton. This is quite a steep descent, even after you've left the hill, and slippy!
Finally, we reached the houses on the edge of Church Stretton, and made our way towards the railway station. From here, you follow Sandford Avenue up to the centre of town, and then turn towards All Stretton. Before you reach the edge of town, you take a turning for the Cardingmill Valley, where we had parked just inside the National Trust park. This meant that once again, we had stopped directly on the route with no extra mileage to do!
After an inauspicious start, weather threatening, all of us half asleep, it had been an excellent days walking, lots of variety and the smug satisfaction of having completed the climb.
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