Mr Invisible...are you still there? I can't see you!
Ran the Valleys route today following your CPs and route description. Just a couple of things I could do with help on...if you can remember the route.
i) Up to golf course and down to Jonathons Hollow was fine...but then I turned up "Long Batch" - is that the way you've gone? Followed it all the way to the top, but there was an absence of fell shoe prints Then made my way across to the Portway and followed that to the road and top of Ashes Hollow, which seemd ok.
ii) Dropped into Callow Hollow and turned up the batch. I then turned left at the prominent stream and followed that up and over the low point on the Minton ridge to drop down into Minton Batch. I think I just about dropped down to the CP. Does this sound correct? Again, there was an absence of footprints up the narrow path.
iii) Made my way on a contour path around slightly to the east of Packetstone Hill. But then had to contour a fair way back to drop down into Callow at the point where a steep "path" goes straight up Callow Hill. Looking at the map again, slightly west of Packetstone might be better?
iv)See what you mean about the choices from Yearlet!! I dropped straight down an obvious gully directly towards Church Stretton which meets a prominent path, contouring around the base of the last hill before crossing straight over the Burway just above the house where you turn right down the last slope. Have you tried other ways?
Think I'll probably try and get out there again later in the week to try some deviations from today's route
I'm back
i) The checkpoint is further up Jonathans Hollow. Turn left up stream at Jonathans Rock. Then across plateau to the Portway then road to Boiling Well.
ii) Seems OK
iii) Most people go east of Packetstone
iv) Some stay on the ridge (very fast running on grass) all the way to Long Mynd Hotel. I followed the Burway down once but that is road running and not much fun.
Aha, only just noticed your reply Mr Invisible....thanks for that info.
Off to run it again today in clearer but colder weather. Will look out for those couple of places where I seem to have gone a bit wrong. Glad the wind's dropped since yesterday....wouldn't fancy 80mph+ winds on top of the Mynd
Mr 1470 how did you get on?
Had a grand morning out Invisible. It was actually quite warm out there...ended up running in just shorts and shirt, coat left in bumbag
I hope the breeze stays as it is now...it's behind you on the way back over Packetstone, Callow and Yearlet.
Tried a couple of alternatives today....best one was to attack Yearlet head on rather than contouring the side. Felt much easier that way.
One new rather large tree down in Minton Batch which I ran straight into
Only other point of note...it'd be nice if the ground dried up a bit. Certain descents are like mudslides...I ended up on my backside several times coming off Packetstone and down off Callow.
Might run it again next weekend for fun
Ran over some of course today - wind was fierce in places
where can i get a map of the course cos me and a mate are thinkin of doin this one
s'called Ordnance Survey! See ya there. Maybe Gina will sell you a map?
Simon Blease
Monmouth