This weekends hike didn’t go exactly to plan, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t a great experience.
Where did I start?
A lovely car park, by the Snailbeach Village Hall. Looked after by volunteers all they ask for is a two pound donation through text. I arrived early doors before 8am and it was quiet then. By lunchtime it was packed, so I would advise on getting there early if you want to park here.
Starting with an uphill trek
I went slightly off track from my planned root from the very beginning. Taking a route that would have been an amazing down hill on a mountain bike. It was a pretty challenging uphill track, especially for first thing on a Sunday.
It didn’t weaken my spirits though, as it lead through a track definitely less trodden. This was one of the first hikes I’ve ever been on that I didn’t encounter another soul (apart from in the car park ).
These uphill climbs took me through some beautiful forestry, and I was even able to take a quick pitstop to enjoy a coffee from my thermos in a nice little shelter. It was a dry and sunny day but I couldn’t just walk to past the shelter and not use it!
Eastridge Woods
Once I had circumnavigated the Eastridge woods, the paths became slightly confusing with no clear definition where they began or ended. I followed a bridleway that lead through the fields of livestocks. It was this path which lead to my first double back of the day. I was happily trekking through a couple of fields of lambs before I made the choice not to cross a field with, I counted 8, bulls roaming. Getting skewered by a angry bull seemed like a sure fire way to spoil a Sunday morning!
It lead me back through the woods, but on the edge of this wildness I was still able to capture some great views of the surrounding landscape.
Once I had rejoined my original path, and found a route that would lead me back to the base of the quarry climb, I took a path towards the Stiperstones themselves.
The old engine shaft
It was on this path where out of nowhere a collection of ruins of brick building came into view through the trees. To be honest I couldn’t quite believe my luck and I started to shoot a sort video exploring the half standing buildings. Unfortunately my excitement got the better of me and the language I used may not have been very PG. Maybe once I’ve had a chance to edit this I might add it to my Instagram account.
This was an unexpected blessing and I could straightaway see how this little detour would be great inspiration in my book. It was eerily similar to an event I have only just written.
I will be very vague when I mention my book in these blog posts, it is my main inspiration on why I have started to document my little adventures. It would be great if one day someone might read my books and be able to look back and see the locations that inspired some of the events in my story.
A path to a view
I had noticed I was yet again climbing up hill and soon I left the woods and found myself atop of a hill that gave me a view miles into the distance. I just wished that the picture below could capture the majesty that my eyes could at this point.
It was just after this point that I took my last little rest stop of the day and finished off the coffee in my flask. Watching the sheep and cows graze in the fields. I was hit by a sound I don’t believe I have heard in life before.
High above me to birds were surveying the lands from the skies. I could hear the flap of their wings even as the fly further and further away from me. I felt the isolation, I felt safe in the solitude that nature was all that surrounded me. There was no buzz of cars in the distance, the air was still and the animals silent. It was just be accompanied by the beat of their wings.
I took this opportunity to study the paths that laid before me. It looked like a muddy trail that lead into the valley was my best option. About five minutes down this narrow path, when it came to an abrupt end, the path had collapsed. I could only see a small indication of where is continued about 3 meters across from this crater.
Heading back down a similar track
I checked the time and the distance I had to trek back to my starting point and decided that I had had a thoroughly enjoyable and challenging hike. There is no shame in back tracking for a short while. Not when the path seems like a rather risky gamble. I had more than achieved my goal for the day and had encountered some pleasant surprises along the way.
A sharp downhill path lead me back to car where I finished my sandwich before setting off home, trully inspired for the next chapter in my novel. I turned on some chili peppers and hit “Sport Mode” on the Juke to make the most of the winding roads that lead me back to Staffordshire.
Gallery
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Please respect our countryside and make sure to leave it in the same state that you found it.