Leg 1. Profile of this leg Comment. Mortimer Forest to We pitch you into this 100 with a climb to a high Aymestrey (SO 433 649) 1180ft 845ft summit and a long leg to the first CP that will This leg = 8.7 miles provide you with only a snack and a cold drink. Total so far = 8.7 miles Carry a drink and take an easy pace to avoid premature burn out. Ascent= 1275ft 330ft 420ft As A.E. Housman’s poetry is the theme of this 100 let Feb 11 him start it; “Say lads, have you things to do? Quick then, while your day’s at prime” 1.Leave assembly area(S0 497 720) as directed to go house (April’s) on Lt to reach Rd(at Waterloo up a wide path thru forest (Black Pool Loop) to Farm) and turn Lt to Rd Jnct and turn Rt to forest Rd where turn Rt for 50m to Trk Jnct and rejoin MT. 7.6Km: SO 475 682 turn Lt. 0.4Km; SO 495 721 7. After 50m turn Rt up private drive(MT) and when Here you join a major county route, the Mortimer it ends keep AH with shed on Rt up path to Rd Trail(MT), that you will follow for the next 25 miles where turn Rt and in 50m at Rd Jnct turn Lt to with its frequent and distinctive signage assisting reach house on Lt(Rise Hill) then after 60m your navigation. leave Rd by turning Rt up bank to cross St and 2.Continue ascent then at cross Trks keep AH and at start ascent thru fields of Lodge Farm. While fork of Trks keep Rt to enter open high common doing this: (Climbing Jack) then : Z Use hedge on Rt as guide Z At 1st fork of Trks turn Rt Z After 2nd field join Trk and continue ascent Z At 2rd fork turn Rt Z Pass farm on Lt then thru Gate into field Z In 30m (MT) at 3rd fork turn Lt up steep slope At top field corner turn Lt to Gate as directed by Finally reach summit(High Vinnalls) with derelict MT sign. 9.4Km; SO 462 677 fire tower. 2.6Km, SO 478 723 8. Continue AH with fence on Lt for 30m then turn Rt 3.Leave summit(panoramic views of the Marches) by onto grassy Trk between bushes to emerge onto keeping AH on forestry Rd that descends gently open turf of Bircher Common and keep AH(MT until T-Jnct where turn Lt for 5m then Rt(MT) signs) towards Croft Wood and go thru Gate at passing by barrier onto grassy Trk to reach Gate Whiteway Head. 10.0Km; SO 457 674 and exit forest onto open turf and wide views of 9.Keep AH along major forestry Trk and in 50m Hanway Common, 3.4Km, SO 477 715 keep Rt then in 700m at Trk bend to Lt turn Rt 4.Go gently downhill while keeping close to hedge on up clearing to go thru Gate and turn Lt along Rt as Common tapers to end at a Gate and go thru path passing under ramparts of Hill Fort(Croft onto enclosed Trk ending on Lane (Killhorse!) at Ambrey) to a display board(very fine vista). the Goggin and turn Lt. 5.3Km, SO 471 700 11.8Km; SO 441 669 5.In 200m turn Rt up Lane(Byway and MT signs) to 10. Keep along path for 900m with forest on Lt and a climb over summit to Rd Jnct and turn Lt then at steep hillside below on Rt(ignore double Gates next Rd Jnct on Lt turn Rt thru Gate(leaving Rd on Lt) to reach St across path and enter forest and MT) onto a clear bridle Trk. then keep AH to path Jnct and turn Lt for 50m to 6.6Km; SO 473 691 reach forestry Rd. 13.0Km; SO 437 659 6. Descend across hillside keeping AH at side Trk 11.Turn Rt and follow Rd along forest edge for 1.1Km then at valley bottom go thru Gate passing to reach CP1 (limited services) in open sided stable on Lt. 14.0Km; SO 433 649 Index on Lt = on your Left Rd = Road MT = Mortimer Trail (NNNo) = bearing(true N) on Rt= on your Right Jnct= Junction ODP = Offa’s Dyke Path (BNNN) = B class road St/s = Stile/s Thru = Through SWP = Shropshire Way Path (ANNN) = A class road Trk/s=Track/s AH = Ahead (along same line of travel) The theme of this 100 is A. E. Housman’s collection of poems called The Shropshire Lad. Let him be your mentor for success in this 100: “The world is round, so travellers tell And straight though is the track Trudge on, trudge on, all will be well, The way will guide one back” Leg 2. Profile of this leg Comment Aymestrey to Titley This is the longest leg and so we have included a 1070ft (SO 329 598) drinks station at Covenhope to sustain you and a clip This leg = 11.9miles 1000 point on Wapley Hill summit to keep you on track. Total so far = 20.6miles ft Trail signs and a defined route continue to guide you Ascent =1170ft 480ft 420 but note that the Mortimer Trail merges with the ft Feb 11 Herefordshire Trail on the approach to Titley. 1.Leave CP1 by going thru Gate onto tarmac Rd at the start of the ascent of Wapley Hill. then in 300m turn Rt(MT) along short Trk to Gate 12.7Km; SO 369 629 and thru to turn Rt along fence on Rt to cross 10.Climb with fence on Lt to traverse slight dip then double Sts then turn slightly Lt(290°) on well trod when ascent resumes cross St into field and move path across 2 fields to reach St and cross into towards fence on Rt and cross St to follow path wood. 0.5Km; SO 430 649 between fence and wooded hill side to enter 2.Descend steep forested bank(MT) then follow forest. 14.0Km; SO 356 625 waymarks thru cleared hillside to reach meadows 11.Pass clearing on Lt then at Jnct of path with Trk and turn Rt on enclosed path then enter parkland turn Lt for 60m to major forestry Trk and turn Rt to tend leftwards on path signed with Sts(315°) to to go between tall firs for 800m then at bench on reach Rd by lodge (Yatton Court). Rt leave Trk by turning Rt onto path thru 1.0Km; SO 425 655 wood(Wapley Hill signs) to reach display board (Wapley Hill Fort; Self Clip). 3.Cross major Rd(A4110;CARE) into a minor Rd 15.0Km; SO 348 624 opposite(signed Lingen;Lye) and follow it for 1.5 The Trail now becomes a hybrid of the Hereford Km with R.Lugg on Lt to reach brick cottage on Rt and Mortimer Trails with the signage of both. there leaving Rd by turning Lt thru Gate &St with MT signage. 3.2Km; SO 414 664 12.Turn Lt on Trk and at crossing Trk go AH(MT) still descending thru forest while keeping AH over 2 4.Take Trk across field to leftmost Gate(MT) under further Trks then at exit from forest go AH down wooded hill, thru and follow Trk with R.Lugg on Lt to reach Rd at Lye Bridge and turn Lt over bridge field on path heading (160°) towards roof of a big (R.Lugg). 5.4Km; SO 398 654 house and reach St. 16.1Km; SO 349 614 nd 5.After 300m as Rd bends to Lt keep AH up hillside 13.Cross into paddock where keep AH to 2 St onto on enclosed path into forest and at forestry Trk Rd and keep AH down to Jnct. (Stansbatch) turn Lt then in 1.2Km reach house below on Lt 16.3Km; SO 349 613 (Covenhope; drinks station) and turn Rt up 14.Turn Rt on Rd then in 100m at side Rd Jnct turn major forestry Trk into Shobdon Wood. Lt down lane before garden centre to pass by a 7.0Km; SO 406 643. chapel then going under dismantled railway bridge 6. At Trk Jnct keep AH on lesser Trk and ascend until at house on Lt the tarmac ends. hill (Shobdon) to a 2nd Jnct where keep Lt(MT) to 17.0Km; SO 346 607 take a 3Km ridge walk along hill crest( fine views 15.Keep AH on Trk to Gate into field then on a and many benches to sit on!) finishing with a bearing(230°) ascend to obvious St and keeping gentle descent to T-Jnct of Trks. on same bearing cross field to far corner with St 9.9Km; SO 380 640 onto Rd and turn Rt to pass farm house on 7.Turn Rt along lesser Trk(MT) for 400m then turn Rt(Lower Mowley).17.7Km; SO 341 602 Lt (MT) onto path with fence on Lt and contour 16.Immediately turn Lt over St(MT) now to bear Rt across hillside finishing with a steep descent to a (240°) to go thru Gates across Trk then keep AH path Jnct(MT) and turn Rt(signed Kington) to Gate and thru onto enclosed path that downhill to go thru Gate onto Trk(note sign). becomes a Trk then in 800m pass house on Lt to 11.2Km; SO 372 638 immediately turn Lt over St with steps down to Rd 8.Go AH by a cottage on Rt then immediately climb and turn Rt to Rd Jnct.18.5Km; SO 333 602 steps up bank to cross St and turn slightly left over 17.Cross Rd(B4355 CARE) then turn Lt to reach field to Gate into Rd and turn Rt along Rd then pavement (note outward route) and follow into after passing Church on Rt reach Rd Jnct(Byton) Titley passing church on Rt and at Rd Jnct(War where turn Lt in 1.3Km reaching Rd(B4362).