Snow and survival
Shropshire’s charming Long Mynd deserves its ‘Little Switzerland’ nickname. But one man’s survival during a miraculous night in the snow shows how wild this landscape can be, explains Simon Whaley
Church Stretton, Shropshire
THESE MILES OF WINDSWEPT MOORLAND ARE A NOTORIOUSLY WILD PLACE”
On 39 January 1865, the Reverend Carr spent a night out on the Long Mynd, battling against one of the fiercest snow storms to hit 19th-century Shropshire.
This 21-square mile expanse of windswept heather moorland can be notoriously wild in winter. The Burway, the single-track lane that snakes up to altitudes of 475m, is frequently closed in winter, adding a sense of adventure for hikers out exploring this vast plateau in winter. Reverend Carr regularly crossed the Long Mynd to deliver Sunday services at Woolstaston and Ratlinghope churches. On this occasion, after his morning service at Woolstaston, he trekked four miles through deep snow to preach the afternoon service at Ratlinghope. But on his return journey for Woolstaston’s evening service, the weather worsened. Carr became disoriented by fierce blizzards, got stuck in chest-deep snowdrifts and plummeted down the sides of steep, frozen valleys.
1 VOICES IN THE VALLEY
This eight mile route begins in Carding Mill Valley, where Carr was ultimately rescued, 22 hours after setting out and five miles off-course. Blinded by his frozen eyelashes, he heard children’s voices and called for help. In one of the cottages here, he was given warm soup, his first real sustenance for hours. Today, the National Trust’s Chalet Pavilion offers similar restorative refreshments to weary Long Mynd walkers.
Take the main track, past the pavilion, to the top car park, and continue climbing through
the ever-narrowing valley, to the confluence of two streams.
2 WATERY FALLS
For a short diversion, fork left to Lightspout Waterfall. Miraculously, Carr missed this, despite tumbling over another shorter drop higher up. By this point of his ordeal he’d lost his walking boots and gloves.
To continue our walk, fork right, keeping to the main path, and climbing onto the Mynd’s plateau. Mynd is a corruption of the Welsh Mynydd, which means mountain. Turn left onto a wide stone track, towards Shooting Box. Look out for red grouse, red kites, golden plover and hares. Westward views include the
Stiperstones and much of mid-Wales. Fork right at a junction, onto the Shropshire
Way, passing the Shooting Box, to reach the Burway singletrack lane. Turn right.
Drop gently, forking right onto a grassy path, signed to Ratlinghope. Descend to a track, and bear left to rejoin the lane. Cross the cattle grid, and drop to a junction. Turn right.
3 THE SINFUL EATER
Ratlinghope’s St Margaret’s
Church is also the burial place of Richard Munslow, England’s last sin-eater. Sin-eaters would consume bread and wine over a corpse in order to take on their immorality before burial.
From here, follow the lane through the isolated Darnford
Valley, part of Carr’s usual route between his churches. Climb back onto the Mynd, passing Wildmoor Pool on the right. Ascend to a junction, taking the stone bridleway on the right, signed to Pole Bank. Join another bridleway and follow this to reach the junction. Turn left to return into Carding
Mill Valley. Warming up from the cold, you’ll feel a new appreciation for Carr’s tale of survival, still known locally as the Miracle on the Mynd.