Long Mynd
|
|
Template:Infobox british hills (no image)
The Long Mynd, or 'Long Mountain', is a ridge of high ground in South Shropshire, running roughly SW to NE, and extending some 15 km in length, between the Stiperstones to the west, and Wenlock Edge to the east. The rock is pre-Cambrian, though not as old as the volcanic rock of the Stretton hills (Lawley, Caradoc and Ragleth) to the east.
The highest point is Pole Bank, 516m above sea level. An ancient track, the Portway, runs along the top of the ridge.
The area is popular with tourists, and there are many fine walks in the area. Most of the Long Mynd was bought by the National Trust in 1965. The Long Mynd Hotel in Church Stretton was built in 1900, originally as the Hydro, at a time when the town was popular as a spa. Of the many valleys running up into the Long Mynd, the most popular is Cardingmill Valley, which becomes very crowded at peak periods.
The windward slopes are popular with glider, hang-glider and paraglider pilots.
Principal settlements in and around the Long Mynd are the Strettons (Church Stretton, Little Stretton and All Stretton), Pulverbatch, Smethcott, Woolstaston, Myndtown, Wentnor and Ratlinghope.
While highly attractive in good conditions, the Long Mynd can be treacherous in severe weather, and has claimed many lives. The Revd E. D. Carr's A Night in the Snow describes his experience, in 1865, of surviving a winter's night on the Long Mynd when attempting to walk home after visiting an isolated parishioner.
The Long Mynd features in literature in the poetry of A. E. Housman, the novels of Mary Webb (in particular Gone To Earth), and Malcolm Saville's Lone Pine series for children.
External links
Walking map (http://www.churchstretton.co.uk/myndwalk.htm)
Midland Gliding Club (http://www.longmynd.com/)
Long Mynd hang-gliding & paragliding (http://www.longmynd.org/)