Marches Tinsel Trail

This is a route taken on one of the Marches Group LDWA Christmas Festive Walks. They originally intended these to be easily organised walks with a sociable party theme that filled a gap in the LDWA National calendar, and this has very few gaps. However long distance walkers are addicted to their recreation and like addicts every where they don't like doing a spot of cold turkey even at a time when the hot version is the seasonal fare. And so this event is well on the way to becoming an annual fixture and the numbers joining in are now making this into a major event.

This route is based on the village hall in the small village of Church Pulverbatch that is just off a minor road through Longden about 8 miles south of Shrewsbury. There is on-road parking but if there is no activity taking place then local residents prefer walkers to use the hall's car park.

The distance is a 20 mile circular that crosses the Long Mynd by way of the Betchcott Hills to Church Stretton that caters well for the wants of walkers. It then returns back via the Mynd and the Shropshire Way up the glorious Golden Valley.

Church Pulverbatch to Church Stretton

  1. Leave Hall turning Rt up road thru village and at bend to right turn Lt across small Green with SP and follow wide Trk for 1Km to Rd and turn Lt to farm complex there turrning RT up enclosed Trk(SP SW) and ascend to go thru Gt and keep AH by LHS hedge through field to St.(2.7Km; SJ 427008).
  2. Cross Rd to go thru Gt and keep AHby LHS hedge as it curves Lt down to Gt and go thru to ascend bank under Power lines (B 190) to reach St under Trees and cross continuing AH going gently uphill across large field keeping about 100m from LHS wood reach far fence bordering Rd and turn Rt to St in field corner and cross onto Rd.(4.7Km; SO 415996).
  3. Cross Rd then Rt and after 10m Lt follow lane for 2Km along crest of the Betchcot Hills changing as it does so to a gated grassy Trk then to dirt as it passes a small LHS wood then at sharp bend to Lt up bank to Rd where Rt for 100 m to small LHS car park and turn Lt.(8.1Km; SO 435 966).
  4. Go over car park to narrow path thru deep heather and in 400 m reach broad cross Trk going AH by cairn to Trk going east across flanks of Haddon Hill and after 1Km go down steep slope to corner of Golf course and east along LHS fence for 100m to turn Rt down spur into Cardingmill Valley and turn Lt down Rd passing Visitor centre and continue into Town (Church Stretton). (12.8Km; SO 453 938).

Church Stretton to Church Pulverbatch

  1. Leave town taking path through Rectory Field opposite Church with scout hut and ascend bank with steps to cross St and turn Rt into wood along broad Trk following it to cross bridge by pool to keep on Trk as bends around LHS of pool and follow LHS stream still in wood to Gt going thru to major Trk passing LHS fenced reservoir and up Valley to climbing to saddle where turn RT then Lt ascending broad green Trk along line of Way mark posts and after the Third post continue ahead westwards on line of a broad crest in 1Km to minor Rd turning RT and at Cross roads left (SP Ratlinghope) (3.5Km; SO 423945).
  2. Follow Rd for 1Km descending to sharp bend where go ahead on stony Trk up Bank going over summit and down to join RHS fence passing RHS house and cross St going down by LHS fence to St and cross onto Trk turning Lt and immediately Rt down road to Tee junction turning Rt passing farm then Lt down Lane passing LHS Church (7.1Km; S0 402968).
  3. And down to Stream crossing Bridge and in 10 mTurn Rt over St by Gt(SP SW) and follow SW up Western side of Golden Valley after 1.5 K turning Lt uphill to go thru Gt and ascend Trk in 1Km reach Rd and turn Rt for 600m passing RHS building(Thresholds) than at far end of RHS wood by RHS Trkcross LHS St. (11.2Km; SO 413991).
  4. Follow lane to Tee junct crossing ½ Rt to St and cross field by ancient boundary Stone to St in opposite fence and cross to join Trk going downhill by RHS wood to Gt and descend deeply pitted field by LHS fence passing farm then thru Gt onto Rd and turn Lt. (17.5Km; SJ 426010).
  5. Descend Rd into valley and at Rd jnct turn Rt up Rd and in 1Km reach Trk(re-rejoining outward Route turning Lt and follow to Village turning Rt thru village back to Hall. (20.1Km; SJ 427 008).

Key

LHS=Left Hand Side; RHS=Right Hand Side; St=Stile; Lt=Left; Rt=Right