MAPS : Landranger 137; Pathfinder 909 910
DISTANCES : 8 and a quarter miles; shorter walk 4 and a quarter miles
MAIN START : On the Long Mynd at 'Shooting Box' car park. From Church Stretton take the narrow, twisty road up the hillside that runs just to the south of Carding Mill valley and, on reaching a fork after about two miles, bear right and the car park is on your right after another half mile. The same point can also be reached from the Bridges or Wentnor directions to the west. GR 422954
Public Transport : None at all to the start point - bus/train to Church Stretton only
SHORT START : The Crown Inn at Wentnor, a small village lying to the west of The Long Mynd and approached from the south via a turning off the A489 three miles east of Lydham or from the west along lanes off the A488. A local map would be useful. GR 385928
Public Transport : There is an infrequent service stopping at Wentnor but it is doubtful whether this would be practical
TERRAIN : Spectacular hill walking along the top of one of the county's best known landmarks with a diversion into the pleasant low lying area to the west. Walk at any time of the year although inadvisable in the winter months if there is bad weather about
THE PUB : A homely period pub with genial hosts, The Crown offers comfortable yet 'local' atmosphere with a good range of ales. Wadsworth 6X, Old Speckled Hen, Boddingtons, Caffreys and Murphy's are usually available together with Heineken and Scrumpy Jack cider. As well as bar snacks, more substantial fare is served in the restaurant with a truly mouth-watering menu to tempt you. Traditional opening times

THE LONG MYND is probably the best known of the Shropshire Hills consisting of a large moorland plateau cut by a number of ravines running eastwards and called locally 'batches' or 'hollows'. It is superb walking country although parts are no so heavily visited that active measures to protect the environment are becoming increasingly important. The National Trust owns most of the Long Mynd and is constantly working to maintain the area's natural beauty for the benefit of all. However; it is still easy to escape into the vast acreage of this superb wilderness and, if you are a bird watcher, a large variety of upland birds will keep you absorbed for hours. The carpet of heather and bilberry (known locally as 'whinberry') provides ideal cover for grouse and The Mynd is in fact the most southerly grouse moor in Britain. Do enjoy this place of unique beauty but please also respect it and, of course, observe the usual precautions in uncertain weather conditions

Take the path opposite (Jack Mytton Way) in a south westerly direction and, on reaching a broad crossing track, continue ahead to arrive at Pole Bank after a total distance of about three quarters of a mile. This is the highest point on the Long Mynd at 516m and there is a toposcope, built in 1986 to mark the diamond jubilee of the founding the Council for the Protection of Rural England; which identifies the various landmarks visible from this superb vantage point. Incidentally, Jack Mytton was an eccentric Shropshire character who lived in the early part of the last century and known as 'Mad Jack'. Renowned for practical jokes he turned to drink and got into debt, was put into debtors prison and died penniless in his late thirties.

Continue forward now with Corndon Hill and Heath Mynd clearly in view to the west and on reaching a junction with a tarmac lane turn right. You enter a long gradual descent then rise slightly before descending again to pass The Midland Gliding Club. The lane now starts to descend more steeply to pass a hang gliding club on the right with superb views over Corndon Hill et. As you go round a left bend there is a wonderful vista down into the valley on your right over farmhouses and patchwork quilt fields. Proceed on a steep descent towards the village of Asterton and, at the bottom, turn right at a junction by a phone box. MAP REF 1

Ignore a turning left to Wentnor after a few yards and walk through the small agricultural community with its attractive farmhouses. A distance of getting on for half a mile will bring you to Poplar Farm on the right and; immediately after here; go left through a gate and onto a waymarked path in a field. Follow the direction slicing off the left side towards the opposite boundary where there is a stile. Cross and continue in the next field alongside the left boundary and in the top left corner cross a further stile, turning right to go over another after 25 yards together with a footbridge over Griftin Brook.

Once in a field on the far side continue directly forward up the rise, ignoring a stile off to your left, but veer very slightly over towards the right boundary. Ahead in the top boundary you should be able to see a waymark post to the right of a metal gate - go through onto a lane and turn right. The lane climbs past 'Long Mynd View' and into the village of Wentnor. Ignore a turning left after the Church to find The Crown a short distance further on. MAP REF 2

WENTNOR. Described by Arthur Mee as 'A windswept village under the Long Mynd' it certainly feels the effects of the winter weather, being built on a small plateau above the River Onny, which affords it little protection. Despite that rather chilling description the village has a pleasant aspect with attractive stone houses lining its main street and it does have enviable views over the most superb hill country in practically every direction. The church of St Michaels and All Angles is well worth a visit; it was restored in the mid-nineteenth century but has much older roots going back to Norman times and contains many interesting artefacts. Of particular interest might be the 'Hurricane Tombstone' which tells the story of a storm which struck Asterton in 1772 sweeping away a house and killing seven people

Whilst in the pub bear in mind that there is still some walking (and some climbing) to do so don't put yourself totally out of action. On leaving turn right and continue past the turning to Prolley Moor and Medlicott. After another quarter of a mile you reach a point where the lane bears sharply left at a junction, with a narrower lane going ahead uphill. Take the narrower lane then, literally after 10 yards, go right through a gate into a field and follow the mixed tree boundary on your right. It kinks right and descends to the bottom where you go round to the left.

After 50 yards cross a stile on your right into the adjacent field with a hedged boundary on the left and at the bottom of this field go through another gate and continue the line forward to the left of a field boundary. In another 70 yards or so go ahead through a further gate onto a gravelly track to the left of Moorhouse Farm and, on the far side of it, continue on the track to exit through a gate onto a narrow lane. MAP REF 3

Bear left here and after 200 yards, just before the lane swings right, you come to Yew Tree Cottage with a waymarked metal gate to the right. Go through this onto a stoney track and, at the rear of the cottage, continue ahead in a field to the right of two more cottages. Cross a ditch and fence stile at the top to proceed ahead in the next field with tree boundary on your left and at the top is another ditch and stile. Having negotiated these and the following field there is a further fence stile to cross before exiting onto another tarmac lane where you turn left in front of the architecturally intriguing Stanbach Cottage. MAP REF 4

This quiet lane meanders an attractive way for about three quarters of a mile along the base of the western slope of the Long Mynd to reach a junction at Medlicott. Turn right at this point up a narrow lane signed 'No Through Road'. This is a fairly steep climb which takes you through a gate and on past the now derelict Medlicott Cottage. The surface has now become stony and there are excellent views over hill country to the right.

Keep going and on reaching more level ground where the post and wire fence ends; keep right at a fork on the unfenced track. I say 'more' level ground by way of comparison with what has gone before but the way continues upwards until you reach a crossroads at the top. You may recall this point as one passed on the outward route from the left and you bear left to retrace your steps for about half a mile back to the start.

SHORTER WALK

Starting from The Crown, Map Ref 2, follow the main route to Map Ref 4 and the junction with a lane in front of Stanbach Cottage. Turn right passing Laburnum Cottage and continue on this gently undulating lane enjoying the extensive views across the Shropshire Hills to your right. Where the lane bears sharp right signed Prolley Moor and Wentnor, continue straight ahead along a 'No Through Road'.

Ignore a bridleway and buzzard waymark in 200 yards on your left and stay ahead to pass a small farm cottage and outbuilding after which the surface becomes stony. Go through a metal gate onto what is now a green lane before arriving behind Fir Tree Farm. Branch off right here to go to the right of a barn and the farm buildings and continue along a stony drive. On emerging onto a lane turn right and in 200 yards you reach Poplar Farm on your right. Now pick up the long route from here, just after Map Ref 1 and return to Wentnor.