Although it had rained overnight and this morning we thought it would
clear up after 10, and planned a route over to Cardington (for a pub lunch)
then return over the hill overlooking the campsite (this was perhaps the wrong
way around, however we needed to make the most of the short opening time in
the pub and the late start.
The rain cleared up and we started off from the campsite... There was a
hunt preparing in the farm yard as we passed by. We left the lane across the
ploughed field to the base of the col on Caer Caradoc. Then along the base track
to go around the Little Caradoc hill that the others had walked up yesterday.
Onto the back road around the end of the hill passing a
quarry at Comley
- famous for the earliest trilobites found in the country. this looked a little
un-special and overgrown. Then down a lane to Gulley Green.
The lane stopped at a house and we had to back track to gain a footpath in the
field behind it. Looking over to the col on Caer Caradoc we could see the hunt
outlined on the ridge.
After the field we traversed across the slope of an area called "The Wilderness"
and over the top of the slope. The other side dropped down through fields
towards Cardington village.
Through the fields past Manor farm and into the village. The centre of the
village is a circle around the church with the Royal Oak pub on the far side. We
were the only ones in the pub at the start (although a couple of others came in
later) and we settled in for a big lunch from an extensive menu.
After a couple of hours in the warmth of the pub it was a bit of a shock to step
outside for the return journey. We left the village past a large house of mixed
heritage then down the lane to Willstone.
beyond Lower farm at Willstone we left the back road as it turned away and onto
a track climbing up behind Caer Caradoc. On the slope above the hunt was
descending and passed us on the track.
We followed the track all along the side of the hill to a col before turning up
the slope and climbing diagonally up to the ridge line.
The path climbed steeply up the ridge to the crown of rocs above.
Here we gained the true ridge line and followed on a gentler slope across the
innards of the ancient fort to the highest point of the hill.
The view around from the top looking over to Long Mynd
Lookign down to the campsite and our vans lined up in the field.
Through the ramparts of the old fort to reach the slope heading down tot he col
we were underneath at the start of the walk.
Steeply down to the col on a track over grass. The slope eased up as we reached the col
To ease the descent we took the track that traversed the slope away from the camp site, but was easier to descend. This reached the track along the base of the hill and back to the ploughed field from the start of the walk. Back at the van ready for a lighter supper, with views up to Caer Caradoc.
