The Long Mynd is a moorland and heathland plateau high above Church Stretton. At it’s high point, Pole Bank, it is 1693feet above sea level. The plateau is 7 miles long and 3 miles wide.
Most of The Long Mynd is owned by the National Trust and managed along with the Long Mynd Commoners. It is a SSSI and is grazed by Commoners sheep and ponies. They still gather on foot and with dogs.
There are great walks on The Long Mynd. You can either drive up the Burway and park up and go for a walk or walk up one of the many valleys on the Eastern side, each with their own characteristics.
The Long Mynd offers great views over Shropshire, some of its many hills and an opportunity for exploring it’s historical past.
There are many earthworks to explore on The Long Mynd. Above Carding Mill Valley is Bodbury Ring. There are four Cross Ridge Dykes some visible, some parts hidden under the Heather. There are twenty barrows and an Ancient Ridgeway called the Portway.
The Long Mynd is known for it’s purple hue in summer caused by the Heather. Whinberries are still picked in the Summer although not on the scale they used be. In recent years bracket has encroached over areas where both of these grow and is now being actively managed.
Skylarks can still be heard if not seen on The Long Mynd. It is well worth a trip up for any bird watchers although you will no longer see the Ringed Ouzle which hasn’t been seen since 2003.
There are over sixty pools or ponds offering up other habitats for wildlife.
The Midlands Gliding Club is sited on the southern end of Long Mynd. It can be relaxing watching the gliders floating on upstarts and thermals.
The Long Mynd has Dark Sky areas on it, so well worth going up at night if you are interested in Star Gazing on a clear night.
The photograph in the header of this blog post was taken by Ben Brooksbank and shows the view from Burway Hill on the Long Mynd. It is used under this Creative Commons Licence.
