ACTIVITY BREAKS

Bridge itself, which has spanned the since 1779. Across the bridge, clinging to the gorge side, the pretty village of Ironbridge has plenty of places to restore energy for your return to Presthope. , in an area known as ‘Little Switzerland’, has more excellent rambling amid the Hills’ most dramatic summits and valleys. Indeed, the town has an annual walking festival, this INFORMATION year taking place from 2-5 June. SITES Many people take the easy option, the Full details of Presthope Caravan Club Site can be found on p181 of the National Trust’s Carding Mill Valley, Sites Directory & Handbook 2011/12. To book call 01746 785234 or see popular since Victorian times, which in caravanclub.co.uk/searchandbook high summer fills with cars. But beyond CONTACTS the car parks, the path steepens, quickly ■ Mill Farm Riding Centre – call 01746 785645 or see millfarmridingcentre.co.uk elevating more serious walkers to the ■ Midland Gliding Club – call 01588 650206 or see longmynd.com wonderful views on the heather-covered ■ Other activity options – paragliding with Beyond Extreme, Melverley (call 01691 heights of the , leaving the 682640 or see beyondextreme.co.uk); mountain biking (courses and bike rental) hordes below to their picnics or the Chalet with Shropshire Hills Mountain Bike Centre, Marshbrook, nr Church Stretton Pavilion tea room. At the top you can join (call 01694 781515 or see mtb-shropshire.co.uk) an ancient track, the Port Way, which shares its course with both the and Jack Mytton Way. National Trust members park free at Main: Midland Carding Mill, otherwise it costs £2 for up to Gliding Club takes two hours or £4.20 all day. Using the to the skies daily Shropshire Hills Shuttle minibus, which Below: walking along runs seven times daily at weekends and on the banks of the FROM LITTLE bank holiday Mondays between mid April Severn at Ironbridge ACORNS...... do big oaks grow! Don Jolly visits a small Shropshire town that played a significant role in the development of the world’s best-known sporting extravaganza

ID YOU know that Much Edge, and you can try your hand at several The Shropshire Hills – riding heaven The Lawley and Caer Caradoc. ‘Mad’ and The Royal Oak at Cardington. Pub and late September (timetable from tourist Wenlock – a prepossessing little activities. Below the Edge at Hughley, Jack Mytton, incidentally, was a rides cost £50, while an hour’s hack or information centres), enables you to DShropshire Hills town – was the 11/2 miles from the site, Shropshire lad, or, more precisely, a lesson is £25 (£30 for private instruction), wander farther afield. There are designated birthplace of the modern Olympics? Perk Bosworth Shropshire Jack the lad who was infamous and a two-hour hack is £45. Shorter stops, but you can also hail the bus. There’s even a clue to its claim to fame in and Chia for his hare-brained exploits. One rides and lessons for children cost £20, On a clear day, the Long Mynd presents the name of one of next year’s London Richardson run involved encouraging the horse hauling his but watch for occasional ‘pony days’, some very big skies, and you can be an ❖ Games mascots – Wenlock. the Mill Farm gig to hurdle a gate. The horse cleared it, when children can enjoy a four-hour integral part of them. Based on its ridge is The Wenlock Olympian Games were Riding Centre, but the gig and Mytton didn’t! (with lunch break) equine experience, one of the country’s oldest gliding clubs, founded in 1850 by William Penny offering lessons on On another occasion Mytton rode his including mucking out. Cost is £35 and the Midland Gliding Club, which made its Ordnance Survey Landranger Map 138 Brookes, a local doctor, who wanted to site and hacks along horse into a hotel, up the grand staircase booking is essential. first flight in 1934 and still flies daily, revive ancient Greece’s Olympian ideals. quiet local lanes and and then leapt from the balcony. He Similarly, walkers will find plenty to weather permitting. Baron Pierre de Coubertin visited the event bridleways for both later became a Member of Parliament, smile about. The Shropshire Way, across Fancy a go? Well, you can by taking a in 1889 and was so impressed he organised beginners and but wasted his huge inheritance on the road from Presthope and meandering trial lesson. The club offers various options the first modern Olympics in Athens in experienced riders. gambling and drink, ending his days in a around the county for 139 miles, could be and you’ll be taken up by a professional 1896, a year after Penny Brookes’ death. One route close to debtors’ prison in 1834, aged 37, ‘worn used to stride into Much Wenlock. Or if instructor for a 20- or 40-minute flight. The Wenlock Olympian Games the centre, the Jack out by too much foolishness and too much you want more of a blow, you could The instructor carries out the launch (by continue annually in and around Much Mytton Way, is a brandy’. Ironic, then, that he is linked to continue beyond Wenlock Priory for winch or aerotow) and landing, but once in Wenlock – this year they are scheduled for 93-mile bridleway healthy activities like horse-riding, another 4½ miles to Ironbridge Gorge the air you’ll be encouraged to take the 3-11 July. You can follow in Penny Brookes’ accessing the most mountain biking and hiking. World Heritage Site, where the Industrial controls yourself. DID YOU KNOW? footsteps by tracing the Olympian Trail scenic landscapes, Mill Farm also organises three-hour Revolution gathered steam 250 years ago. Trial lessons, which must be booked in This year’s staging of which highlights the town’s sights. providing panoramas rides to nearby hostelries such as The site’s 10 museums detail various advance, start at £95 but, if the bug bites, the Much Wenlock Stay at the Club’s Presthope site, three of prominent summits Wenlock Edge Inn above Hughley, aspects of early industry, but the most longer courses are available, ranging from Olympianbe the Games 125th will miles south of Much Wenlock on Wenlock such as , The Gaskell Arms in Much Wenlock recognisable symbol of the era is the Iron two days for £245 to five days for £545. n

40 The Caravan Club Magazine June 2011 The Caravan Club Magazine 41