CARDINGMILL VALLEY TRIP 11^TH SEPT

These are the details of our trip to see some Shropshire geology on the Long Mynd near Church Stretton on Wednesday 11^th September.

As only a few members have previously shown interest in this trip I have had to cancel both the coach to Church Stretton and the minibuses to bring us down from the top. The trip is instead now offered as a car sharing trip and with walking both up and down the Long Myndd

Chuch Stretton is 36 miles away and car journey takes about 1½ hrs.

Drivers will be able to collect a total of 20p per mile divided amongst their passengers.

If you are interested please email me or ‘phone and also say if you are prepared to be a driver. (People who have already expressed an interest in the revised trip need not contact me again.)

Alan Hughes on 01886 880130

DESCRIPTION

Here is a brief description of the walk to see if you are interested. I will provide the detailed information including the geology later.

Walking up the beautiful Cardingmill valley is time travelling at 2000 years for each step. The pre-cambrian sedimentary strata have been folded into a syncline where the limbs are  nearly vertical and the walk takes us through the Longmyndian ‘supergroup’ to a beach conglomerate at about 480m O.D. on the top of the long Myndd. There are a lot of exposures of this series.

A member of the Shropshire Geology Society, Keith Hotchkiss, will be our guide and introduce us to the fascinating geology to be found around Church Stretton . Hopefully this is the first of several trips to the area.

A handout will be available before the day.

WALKING CONDITIONS

The distance to the top is approx 5km (3 miles) The first half is very good underfoot and is an easy gradient . We then leave this path and head up a steeper narrow path to a waterfall and the underfoot conditions become rougher with a boulder to scramble round in one place and a set of steep, rough steps to get past the waterfall later. The final stage on the top of the Longmyndd is easy hill walking.

The return walk ( 3 miles) is via the Jack Mitton trail which is an easier route down to the bottom

ITINERARY

Meet at the link top car park at 08:45 to sort out car sharing.

Arrive Cardingmill Valley around 10:30

Loo’s coffee and cake in NT cafe if required.

Guided walk up the valley including stop for picnic lunch

If there is time we hope to see excellent Wenlock series limestones lain over patch reef at Knowle Quarry ( short walk)

The aim is to back in Malvern by 5:30 pm

Alan Hughes