Fortunate to have a lovely sunny day on Sunday (Mother’s Day in the UK) and an extra hour of daylight (the start of British Summer time so clocks went forward an hour) I was determined to get out of the house and go for a walk.
Cardingmill Valley lies on the edge of Church Stretton, a little Shropshire town that I still need to explore. Church Stretton is a small town and civil parish in Shropshire, England. The town lies entirely in the Shropshire Hills AONB, on the A49 road approximately 13 miles south of Shrewsbury, the county town, and 15 miles north of Ludlow. Wikipedia
Just as Ludlow is the gastronomic capital of Shropshire, Church Stretton is the walking capital of the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. I have been here many times, it is my favourite part of Shropshire and has been called ‘Little Switzerland’ on account of its hills. And when coated in snow it is very pretty.
But on Sunday it was sunny and spring was springing. We could have taken any number of trails, but decided that we’d return to the Reservoir as it is a wide path and fairly flat.
This trail is quite gentle and soon you are hidden amongst the hills with only the sound of birdsong and a burbling brook. A hidden lost world.
At the reservoir you do have to climb up quite a steep hill to reach the water, and the trail continues should you wish to head further onto the Long Mynd (Long Mountain).
You can swim in the reservoir, though the water probably isn’t all that warm today.
Before heading back to the car park I nipped over a stile to have a closer look at the reservoir and found this pair of Common Toads at the side of the path. I spared them their blushes and swiftly moved on.
Doesn’t look as though we can go this way, so head back down the hill.
A choice of routes, but I’m going to stick to the one I came along, the other one looks as though it might end in a sheep trail and I’ve been there before and it didn’t end well.
Or you could go over the stream and head for a path on the other side.
Returning on the orange route there are caves up on the left, and ahead on the top of that hill in front are the remains of an Iron Age Hill Fort.
Back at the road we could turn right and walk to the tea-room, but as it is now after 5 p.m. it will be closed.
We’ll head back to the car, after one last look around and go home for a well-deserved glass of red wine. If you decide to come for a walk here, please take note of the signs. Some people seem to think their dogs are much better controlled than they actually are around sheep, and watching a sheep being chased is not amusing for me or the sheep.
Next time I’ll take you up the red route and see if we can find the waterfall.
Cee’s Which Way Challenge: There is no specific theme given. It just needs to be some sort of ‘Which Way’. The possibilities are endless.
Join in with the challenge or view other ‘Which Ways’.
and you may like to have a look at Jo’s Monday Walks over on Restlessjo’s blog where you are in for a treat.
TRAVEL WORDS 
Lovely walk in beautiful countryside Jude. Those toads are certainly getting into the spirit of things 😉
It was a nice afternoon Sherri, shame the rest of the week hasn’t been as good (well, Monday was beautiful, but not since). I think I was about 8 when I last saw a toad!!
This is your “backyard”? It’s beautiful.
Thanks LD. Yes it’s only 15 miles away – we are pretty much surrounded by countryside and hills here. On the Welsh borders 🙂
Such an inviting walk as I wilf lazily on a rainy Tuesday morning. I LOVE rain.
You do? Get yourself over here then, we have LOTS of it!