It had rained again overnight, however it had cleared up by 9am and so we had
a plan to walk over another local hill - The Lawley, then head over to the
village of Leebotwood where the Pound Inn was celebrated for its pies. The
weather was due to deteriorate after lunch so we hopped to get there in the
dry. Dominique would start off with us then turn back for a video conference
and meet us at the pub.
Out from the campsite, however we stayed on the lane rather than follow
yesterday's path to Comley. we stayed on the lane past the quarry and the
junction where we parted ways yesterday. At Comley farm we left the lane and
took the path up the end of The lawley.
We crossed a field with Highland cattle and began the climb up the end of the
ridge - a constant steep climb, although not quite as steep as yesterday.
Looking back down the valley towards Church Stretton, as we strung out along the
ascent.
The steep climb over there just remained the walk along the top - another
ancient settlement.
The top was spread out over a distance leading to the high point marked with a
post.
The 360 degree views - each side
Dominique had turned around before we made the top, and we paused only for a
while before setting off down the other end.
Down in a series of steep(ish) steps passing a microwave station and another
ancient settlement
At the end of the ridge where it met a back road we turned around and followed a
track back along the base of the hill. This track was generally dry, however had
a number of large muddy puddles that had to be carefully negotiated.
Underneath the high points on The Lawley we dropped down through a field to
Penkridge hall
Around the house and down its driveway to a back road. We followed this out to the main A49 road. On the pavement into the village of Leebotwood and the pub.
A more modern pub than yesterday, where Dominique was waiting and a reserved table. We sat around and ordered from a huge menu as well as the pies. The portions were huge and we all felt gorged afterwards, as we got up to go. Outside it had started raining, so the trip back to the campsite would be along the roads.
First back to the Roman road - the back road we had approached on, before turning down to Hollyhurst, and on until this back road touched the A49. Then along the continuation back to the campsite. This was probably about the same distance as going back to Comley and along the road we started on, however this was much flatter, and given the rain and our engorged stomachs was a better idea. Back at the vans we escaped from the rain -Bertie in his bath robe to dry off, while we all changed and hung the wet stuff in the shower then had a very small supper
