Ragleth Hill
Today I did hike #2. The description of hike #3 suggested I wouldn't see anything I haven't already seen, but I would have two more miles of hot hiking. Today's distance 8 miles with 1,150 feet of ascent. Trip descrip:
"Starting with a visit to the pretty village of Little Stretton, we tackle a sharp ascent to the summit of Ragleth Hill, where we are rewarded with stunning 360 degree views. Following the grassy ridge to its northern end, we head down to Chelmick Valley and the village of Hope Bowdler before returning to Longmynd House via the lower slopes of Hope Bowdler Hill and Helmeth Hill."
In Little Stretton, we first encountered a lovely church.
I'd seen similar thatched roofs on the Isle of Wight. The house below had a pheasant woven onto the ridge – I'd seen many of these on IoW as well (rabbits, cockerels, etc).
We had a chat with a man who had spent 18 years fixing up the house below, part of which was built in the early 1400s, part in the 1500s and then with Victorian updates. He and his wife not only restored it to its original condition, but did so with environmental impact in mind. For instance they took off the roof, insulated it, and put it back on. Imagine!! Read more in this pdf.
The house is called the Tan House. If the link breaks, that is the search term. Sadly, he has developed some type of neurological condition and is preparing the house for sale so they can move to a bungalow. The photo below taken through the gate behind him.
And so we hiked up and up to Ragleth Hill. I carried the pack of a Colombian woman who had taken on a bit more than she could handle. Note the overall brown and sand-coloured tones.
The view of Church Stretton from the top. I've helpfully if somewhat messily circled Long Mynd House.
My reward on the way down was to meet a springer spaniel out for a walk with his owner. All hyper energy. Lovely farmyard as we worked our way through the valleys.
I'd say on this hike I've enjoyed the architecture more than the scenery. When you are in the Lake District or Scotland, for instance, you aren't looking at heavily farmed land. Nothing wrong with cereal crops – where would breakfast be without them – but I think I want even an illusion of wildness when I hike.
21 July