Location:	Shropshire Hills and Church Stretton
For:	Singles Walking
From:	14th September 2012
Days:	2.5
Nights:	2
Price:	£235

September - lovely light, still long days, and these hills are beautiful with the lasst of the heather - a purple haze as summer enters autumn. We are flexible on days/dates  - just come for as many nights and days as you want.

The Walking

We walk the glorious Shropshire Hills - simply magical walks, with upland scenery all around - a panorarama rarely beaten.  We walk 9 -10 miles per day, plenty of breaks, and at a moderate pace.  No rushing about, too much to see.  We have selected five superb moderate Shropshire Hills walks for you.   Each walk is in a different area of the Shropshire Hills, showing the diversity of countryside here.  Each has it’s own magnificent views.  The walks take in the majesty of Caer Caradoc, the wild Stiperstones ridge, the country around Offa’s Dyke, and the Long Mynd’s spectacular valleys and moorland walks. (See below)

Flexibility

We are flexible on days/dates.  We are walking from Friday afternoon - May 28  to Wednesday evening 3 June.  Join us for as many days/nights as you want.   

Accommodation and meals

Accommodation en suite rooms.   You can see the hotel accommodation by visiting www.longmynd.co.uk,  We have lunch at one of Shropshire’s lovely country pubs, and dinner is three course at the hotel.  An example of a menu is shown below.  Walking starts at 9.30 am, and we generally finish for that welcome cuppa at 4.30 pm.  This will give you plenty of time to get ready for dinner.  Dress code is smart casual.

Your walk leaders will make this weekend break relaxing and the wonderful walking will stimulate your enthusiasm for the wide outdoors.

What you get on a Secret Hills break

• Hotel bed and breakfast – en suite
• Three course dinner
• Lunch
• Personal service - includes train pickup and set downs, individual holiday planning for you
  Total flexibility on when you arrive and depart - come for as many or few days as you want
  Personal service - includes train pickup and set downs, individual holiday planning for you
• Total flexibility on when you arrive and depart - come for as many or few days as you want
• Expert guiding
• No single supplement- there will be a number of single people on each break.  No sharing unless you state so.
• A social, relaxed approach 

Walking - Grades and difficulty

We walk at a steady pace, we don’t rush.  We want you to enjoy our lovely scenery - these hills are a walkers paradise with good paths and an ever changing landscape.

There are hills to ascend  - we go up to a maximum of 500 metres over two miles of walking, but the climbing is gradual and we won’t rush. What’s the point of huffing and puffing, being exhausted then not being able to enjoy this fabulous land.  Descending is not precarious, and is gentle in relationship to many walking areas.

Shropshire is a land of ever changing vistas - on any walk we get four or five different landscapes to enjoy.  The views over 360 degrees are unrivalled - we see into Mid Wales to Cader Idris, the Berwyns, Malverns, Clee’s and Staffordshire peaks, as well as Shropshir’es own individual hills. Walking boots or shoes are obligatory, and many walkers find a walking pole useful, especially on the downhills.  You will also need wet weather gear—generally we have a mild climate, lovely springs and autumns, and winter walking too is outstanding in theses secret hills.

Some example walks we may do:

The Longmynd - A superb walk through Carding Mill Valley,  ascending to the top of the Long Mynd at Pole Bank. Walking along the heather-clad ridge before descending down one of the many delightful valleys for our lunch stop at a local hostelry.  In the afternoon, we ascend Ragleth Hill and walk along its ridgeline with superb views in all directions. We finally return to Church Stretton in time for a cuppa.

The Stretton Hills - Our walk takes us to the ancient and picturesque village of Cardington, over the Stretton Hills in the morning, passing ancient rock formations, steeped in local legend. Lunch is at the magnificent Royal Oak - a 16th Century hostel, offering a great menu selection.  We return to Church Stretton via the Wilderness and moody Caer Caradoc, site of an ancient hill fort.

The Stiperstones Ridge - We travel out over the Long Mynd to reach the rocky tors of the Stiperstones ridge.  This is a magnificent drive in Shropshire’s best hill country.  Our walk takes us under the legendary Devil’s Chair before descending to the old lead mining village of Snailbeach. Lunch is at the quaint Stiperstones Inn.  In the afternoon, we pass several old lead mines as we view the Stiperstones Ridge from a distance ending up at The Bog Visitor Centre for a cuppa and cake.  Transport back to Church Stretton.

The South End of the Longmynd - Through Rectory Wood, and ascend Town brook valley to the top of the Longmynd, We the walk along it's spine with magnificent views, and round the south end of the hill to Hamperley, before arriving at Little Stretton.  After lunch, either pub or packed, we ascend Ragleth Hill, walk along its magical ridge line before descending into Church Stretton for tea.

Clun's castles and hill forts - We travel to Clun and walk over Steppleknoll to Bury Ditches Hill fort - a superb Iron Age fort - and then through fort and glade back to Clun along the Cefns ridge.  Little steep climbing, many pastoral scenes, good paths - a superb walk.

From the Bog to the Church - We travel to the Bog Centre on the Stiperstones, and walk back to Church Stretton.  Under the Devils Chair, over Gatten and Ratlinghope Hills, before lunch at Bridges.  We ascend the Longmynd moor via the Darnford Valley, and Wildmoor, before arriving at Cardingmill Valley, then back into Church Stretton for tea.

Ashes  and  Batch Valleys - We walk up Ashes Valley to Pole bank and along the Longmynd spine to it's north end.  We descend down the Gallups and the Batch Valley into All Stretton for lunch.  We wander out towards Caer Caradoc in the afternoon, take in wooded Helmeth Hill, and back into the town for tea.

The Blacksmith's Walk and Longmynd Heights - A pastoral walk, out to Acton Scott and Wenlock Edge, and around Ragleth Hill.  We follow the route of Balcksmith's who looked after the heavy horses on the Acton estate, eventually reaching Little Stretton for lunch.  We ascend Ashes Hollow and descend the Burway in an undulating afternoon walk.