Mercia Fell Runners Gill Harris Long Mynd Tops Challenge
On the 25th anniversary of Mercia Fell Runners inception and as we approach the anniversary of the Long Mynd Valleys race, Nick Kingston, one of the clubs founders thought it fitting to devise a new fell running/walking challenge on the Long Mynd. Hence the Long Mynd Tops in tribute to our colleague Gill, who loved these hill.
It is designed to take in the 22 principal named tops in the National Trust open access area on the Mynd (Knolls is just outside, but with a concessionary path to it) and as the other trig point on the Mynd cannot be omitted, it also felt appropriate to include Gill's finger post on High Park.
The start and finish point is in the centre square of Church Stretton (a la Bob Graham). In fact, it is meant to be a Shropshire mini-version of the great Lakeland Classic Challenge. The 'Tops' to be visited in any order are are listed below. Most are distinct to an experienced hill person(!) though one or two (eg Wild More, Long Synalds) requires you to choose the tallest bit of heather - trust, honesty and integrity (which all true fell runners have in abundance!) mean of course you will leave the nearby path to do this.
There are numerous, interesting route choices, eg how much to use the portway spine of the Mynd, adding distance but reducing big climbs. Nick's rough estimate is about 20 miles and 5300' of climb,
We would welcome your views on route choice, and time limits, and want to keep a record of all those who complete the round, please Email club.secretary@merciafr.club
For a list of completed rounds Click Here
| Ashlet | 440 931 |
| Bodbury Ring | 445 949 |
| Burway Hill | 444 940 |
| Calf Ridge | 429 954 |
| Callow | 431 919 |
| Castle Hill | 460 959 |
| GH Finger Post | 440 967 |
| Grindle | 430 926 |
| Haddon Hill | 436 956 |
| Knolls | 403 901 |
| Long Synalds | 425 943 |
| Minton Hill | 415 919 |
| Nills | 432 925 |
| Novers Hill | 452 951 |
| Packetstone Hill | 421 915 |
| Plush Hill | 452 962 |
| Pole Bank | 415 944 |
| Round Hill | 416 929 |
| Shooters Knoll |
424 906 |
| Shooting Box | 421 953 |
| Stanyeld | 449 944 |
| The Square | 452 937 |
| Wildmoor | 418 958 |
| Yearlet | 436 935 |