Paul and I have our own exclusive walking club. We meet on Wednesdays and go for a country walk followed by a pub meal. We follow directions for walks from the internet or from books of local walks. This week we set out for a walk based around the village of Hope and The Stables Inn at Hopesgate.
The walk was recommended by Vikki from my old work and is from the book:
20 Walks in and Around Shrewsbury: from 2 to 6 Miles with Clear Route Descriptions and Maps by Audrey Menhinick (Editor), John Newnham (Editor), Mike Ashton (Illustrator)
We had difficulty locating Hope. We looked at the map in the walks book and turned off the main road from Shrewsbury at the obvious place. We then drove around the area for at least 15 minutes before eventually finding the Stables Inn. As on previous occasions we were critical of the map and of the sign posts for their inconsistencies. Looking at the map now I see we turned off about two and half miles early.
Anyway having found our base we set off on our walk and it was fantastic. We took a few short cuts but overall did about four and a half miles.
It was a lovely sunny evening and the views of the Shropshire Hills, the Shropshire Plain and the Welsh Hills in the distance were breath taking.
One of the early landmarks we looked out for was Bromlow Callow. This is a high hill with a clump of conifers on top. It was used by drovers in the past to keep on the right track as they took their animals from Wales to the markets of Shrewsbury and the West Midlands.
We walked through fields and woodland and admired the views.
The we returned over the Callow and back down the hill to the Stables Inn.
It is an old Drover's Inn that has been there since 1680!
It is a lovely cosy pub. Very friendly and the meals were delicious. Just what we needed. Thanks for the recommendation Vikki!
That Bromwell Callow reminds me of a very similar looking hill with a circle of trees on top that you see when driving to cornwall, just past exeter. I always wondered who planted them and why, maybe for the same reason as yours! Do you know the one i mean?
ReplyDeleteI might have seen it but can't really remember . I will look out for it next time. It is very interesting about the drovers.
DeleteLovely post but the title gave it a rather melancholy feel....also the fact that the photos were taken in the evening. Beautiful views though. Why have you kept your walking club so exclusive?
ReplyDeleteWell it was a walk back in time not melancholy but thought provoking.
DeleteAnd we did lose Hope (Village)
DeleteLove that second photo, with the line of clouds. Aah, 'Hope'
ReplyDeleteYes the clouds are nice. Didn't really pay much attention to them at the time. Will remember to look in future.
ReplyDeleteParticularly like the second photo. It reminds me of the view from Battery Hill down to Pett village. We were out walking at 10 p.m and it really was a lovely evening to walk.
ReplyDeleteYes it was a lovely evening everywhere.
DeleteForgot to mention the book 20 walks in and around Shrewsbury is published by the Shropshire ramblers association.
ReplyDelete