We've walked up the Mynd from the eastern side many times - the deep-set valleys are an attractive prospect, though they can feel rather closed in. Here's a walk in a different vein, from the western side.

The Horseshoe Inn at Bridges is a great place to start - and an even better place to finish... A narrow and very quiet road leads to the farm at Coates - from where a rough track leads more-or-less due east to the Shooting Box. The lane rises gently, and the views on this morning of big skies improve all the way, especially when the need arises to pause and look back.

The road over the Long Mynd passes Shooting Box, and here we began to meet other people, strolling along the very easily graded path. Lunchtime had arrived by the time we arrived at the summit at Pole Bank - but so had lots of others, so we walked on down to Pole Cottage (just a square of trees on the otherwise featureless moorland) and found a perfect spot beside the pools to the west.

Lunch disposed of, we set off down the hillside to Medlicott, at first along a narrow path through the heather, then down the lane from Medlicott Cottage. A narrow farm track connects the hamlet to an even smaller settlement at Adstone. Here, a long low hill runs northwards - back to the Horseshoe Inn, where a quiet pint beside the river East Onny was well deserved. A very pleasant stroll - and some sunshine in a week of rain and dull grey skies.

Books and Maps:- The walk illustrated is shown in its entirety on both maps -

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