A long weekend in the Shropshire Hills

[Update: the hostel is now full. If you sign up for the trip staying elsewhere, please indicate on the form if you’d like to be put in touch with others interested in sharing alternative accommodation. If you’d like to get this sorted before signing up, please email the organiser. Please sign up by 3rd October at the latest in any case, so we know final numbers.]

Whether you’ve been on a number of BW trips away before lockdown and have been longing for another, or have joined us more recently and are looking forward to going on your first trip away with the group… we are pleased to be able to offer a long weekend trip to the Shropshire Hills from Thursday 14th to Sunday 17th October! Arrive on the Thursday evening for two full days of walking on Friday and Saturday, plus a shorter day on Sunday before heading home in the afternoon.

Walks

Specific walks will be decided nearer the time, but will almost certainly include the Long Mynd which is very close to our base in All Stretton. The hills are somewhat higher than those in Berkshire (though not mountains) and so the walks may be a little more strenuous than those we do locally, but we’ll aim to cater for a range of abilities. Especially if there are a large number signed up in total, volunteers to lead additional walks allowing a choice each day are very welcome!

Accommodation

We have exclusive hire of the YHA All Stretton Bunkhouse for the period of the trip, which sleeps 10 in total across three rooms, and is just under 2 miles from Church Stretton station, for anyone travelling by train. The exact cost will depend on how many spaces are taken – if we fill the hostel (which we hope to do) then it will be £63 each; with only 6 it would be £105 each. The deadline to sign up for this is Wednesday 18th August. Places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, initially to members of our own group. Affiliated members of other Ramblers groups who also walk with us are welcome to sign up, but will only be allocated a place in the hostel the they are not filled by members of the Berkshire Walkers – we’ll let you know by the 19th August.

If hostelling and shared rooms aren’t your thing, or you find that the hostel spaces are all taken, then you’re very welcome to book your own accommodation in the area and join us for the walks – there are a number of B&Bs and campsites in the area. Please make sure that you still sign up for the trip itself as soon as you know you’re coming, so that we can plan properly.

You’re welcome to come for only part of the trip (e.g. if you can’t take the Friday off work) but given the nature of the hostel booking, we can’t give a discount for this if you’re staying there.

If you’re happy either to make up numbers in the hostel, or to stay elsewhere if we have enough others to fill the hostel, that’s great – please indicate this when booking and we’ll let you know by the 19th August so you can then book elsewhere if necessary.

Evenings

Further details nearer the time, and depending on number in the hostel/elsewhere, but likely to be a combination of:

• a meal out all together on one of the evenings if possible;
• communal cooking in the hostel on the other evenings (volunteers welcome);
• doing your own thing for dinner if you prefer or are staying elsewhere;
• gathering in a pub between walking and dinner, or after dinner, for those who wish.

Travel

By road, All Stretton is on the A49 between Ludlow and Shrewsbury. By train, neighbouring Church Stretton is most quickly reached from Reading by changing at Newport (South Wales) although routes via Birmingham and Shrewsbury are also available.

We’ll try to coordinate car sharing amongst those who are able to offer lifts or would appreciate one – note that there are only four car parking spaces at the hostel.

Booking

Please sign up for the trip via the form here, indicating your choices and preferences where known.

Provisional programme for the weekend

Thursday 14th October:

• Arrival for those doing the full long weekend.
• Shared dinner at the hostel for those staying there.
• If the sky is clear: optional starlight walk starting from the hostel (3.5 miles / 275m ascent) as the area is known for dark skies.
  • If you want to do this, please bring a headtorch with a “red light” mode if you have one. No white lights, as these will ruin our night vision!
  • Otherwise, or afterwards: suggested pub to be confirmed.

Friday 15th October:

• Walk: Stiperstones (9 miles / 500m ascent or 5.75 miles / 300m ascent via short cut).
  • About 30 mins drive from hostel / Church Stretton.
  • Shared dinner at the hostel for those staying there.
• Suggested pub to be confirmed.

Saturday 16th October:

• Walk: Long Mynd (12.75 miles / 625m ascent or 7.75 miles / 400m ascent via short cut)
  • Starting from Cunnery Road car park in Church Stretton
  • Dinner out all together in the evening (subject to being able to book somewhere; time/location tbc)

Sunday 17th October:

• For those in hostel: check out before walk
• Walk: Caer Caradoc (7.25 miles / 500m ascent or 5.5 miles / 400m via short cut)
  • Starting from hostel
• Depart for home (return from longer walk expected no later than 15:00)

Notes

• For insurance purposes, you must be a current member of the Ramblers to join the trip.
• If you or someone else from your household has COVID-19 symptoms, please do not attend.
• You must follow all safety advice given by the trip organiser and/or walk leaders.
• Please bring appropriate clothing and footwear for all likely weather conditions, including full waterproofs.
• We will only use the contact information you provide to get in touch about the trip, or to share if requested with NHS Test and Trace.
• Feel free to contact the organiser with any queries about trip.