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A meander round the Myndd On the fine, early spring day, when this walk was taken,
the hills were positively alive with the sound of walking boots and people animatedly
chatting as they made their way across this vast, idyllic expanse. Perhaps the hill - which is in truth more of a mountain -
with the biggest appeal and most magnetic of draws is the Long Myndd
itself.
Sitting in the centre of the south Regarded as a mountain by the Welsh, the Myndd is still
technically a hill at 1693ft high or a Marilyn in strict walking terms.
(Myndd incidentally also means mountain in Welsh). Apparently peaks above 3,000 ft are dubbed Because the Myndd is so long and wide, walkers are offered
a glorious selection of walking paths and trails. There is practically a
heaving intersection of way-marked routes in every direction you might care
to look.
The summit is perhaps a bit pedestrian, being largely flat
and level. It's also perhaps not the
most exciting part of this leviathan structure that could potentially be
explored. So, the Running almost parallel to Townsbrook, there is a
visitors' centre and car park here, and a wide road and trail that can take
walkers to the top of the Myndd with relative ease. Not far from the market town of Church Stretton, this area
was known in the 18th and 19th centuries for its textiles industry. It also became something of a spa town for
Georgian and Victorian gentry. (Spring water is still bottled here from a
glacial lake underneath the Myndd). The best place to start this walk, however, is in the car
park close to Rectory Woods and the Long Myndd Hotel. Supposedly landscaped by one Lancelot
'Capability' Brown, the Rectory that once stood here was owned by a James
Mainwaring, who was among Capability's closest friends. Brown earned the nick-name Capability apparently because
he would always tell his clients that their gardens had 'great capabilities'.
And it would be fair to say that this walk more than lives up to that moniker
too.
So to set out, you need to cross the short field prior to
the woods proper and walk up a fairly gentle hill until you meet the entrance
gate of the woods. There is a circular walking route that can be taken around
these parts. However, this walk is
concerned with exploring the Myndd, so people need to bear leftwards and
follow the trail posts marked in red - first down a slope, next across a
stream and then leftwards to the What immediately stands out about this area is that is a
place of quite amazing and striking contrasts. The sunlight sweeps into to
certain sections of the valley, while others remain completely in the shade. Hills ripple gently throughout the landscape, while a
small gurgling stream meanders energetically between them on the narrow
valley floor. The hills themselves rarely have a jagged edge. The last Ice Age, a careful craftsman, has
seen to that. Every slope and
embankment seems to have been expertly planned so that the few rough edges
remaining are only found right at the very summit.
The pebble strewn pathway leads gently through the valley
with many dwarf shrubs, bracken and wild grasses lining the route and the
steeply curving hillside. Many in the darker shade of the valley floor seem to be
eager for sunlight to reach them, so that they can begin their annual rebirth
in earnest. However, at this time of year, the sunlight clips the top
half of the Myndd alone. Sunbeams also
like to congregate in certain deep inlets or expansive hollows. Like blazing balls of light, they
illuminate the gloom of this enchanting and magical landscape. An azure blue and entirely cloudless sky could be seen above
on this day and only added to this quiet and more secret of valley's serenity
and beauty.
Fortunately during my trek, there were few other walkers
or parties in sight. One particularly
lithesome young woman, in full walking gear barely stopped to stand and stare
at all the wonderful scenery. With her i-pod in hand, she purposefully marched up the
steepening pathway and barely paused to stop for breath. But that, for me, is the whole purpose of walking. The fantastic surroundings you find
yourself in are what makes walking such a delight. At the mid-point of the walk, sheep start to fill the
valley and choose the sunnier climes for their pasture and grazing. As the gradient steepens, if you turn
around, you can see more breath-taking vistas and views of the far-reaching
panoply of hills that melt hazily into the horizon. (The return journey offers this in a much
more generous measures.) Beginners and the less energetic may want to wait at the
mid-point for their more adventurous family or friends to reach the summit
and back. However, it's worth climbing
higher to catch a glimpse of the fantastic views and or just picnic or
generally take time out at the summit. There is also a fairly sheer drop as the pathway climbs
towards the Myndd's peak, but it is relatively easy to negotiate the route.
Only one or two sections of rocky outcrops need careful handling or require a
bit of a scramble.
Those who triumphantly reach the summit are rewarded with
the most exceptional panoramas of the surrounding countryside. On this day, the sunlit haze cloaked the
far distance, so that only the nearby hills and valleys could be seen. Almost
like a stage set or a scene by an impressionist artist, the landscape seemed
to be bathed in a misty blue light.
There were, however, no special effects or photographic tricks. Perhaps this was the legendary secret that
was just waiting to be revealed. To complete this walk, people should just retrace their
footsteps back to the Rectory Woods' car park. Then perhaps they could try one of the tea
rooms, restaurants or pubs in nearby Church Stretton, Directions: To get to
the Long Myndd from Faddiley, you need to travel southwards on the A49
towards |
