My last evening on the Shropshire Hills and chose to hike up its most iconic hill, Caer Caradoc near Church Stretton.
Hiking up Caer Caradoc
For the hike up Caer Caradoc, the recommended parking spot is the pay and display car park near the Co op in Church Stretton. Its then about a 15 minute walk to get at the foot of the hill.
Another hot day on the Shropshire Hills. I was a little apprehensive about climbing up Caer Caradoc as its steeper than I am use to at 459m high. Its name derives from an English warlord who fought off the Romans for over 10 years. They named the hill after him out of respect, how is that for an immortality project.
Followed the main footpath around Caer Caradoc and then took one of the paths that scrambled to the top. Not to bad really. As I arrived, two others did also via an alternative path. They were wild camping. Actually this would be a better way to do the hill as would be in the right place at the right time for a sunrise. Maybe next time. Unfortunately they setup camp right in one of the best viewpoints east.
Looking east from Caer Caradoc
Great views 360 degrees from the top of Caer Caradoc, but the best compositions were looking east. There you could clearly see The Lawley and distinctive volcanic shape of the Wrekin in the distance.
Climbing up the hill I heard some distant thunder, there was some storm clouds in the skies and some distance rain. For a moment thought we might get it all, great light, storms, rainbows even lightning.
As the first time on the hill was rushing around trying to find the best composition and catch the light. Wanted to include foreground rocks, the background hills of the lawley and the Wrekin and the dramatic sky.
Caer Caradoc Sunset
I tried to find a good composition looking more south west over Church Stretton with the Long Mynd in the distance, the sky here though was featureless.
North west the clouds were quite thick, but there was a gap on the horizon. Now I just had to wait for the sun to set and hopefully light up the hills.
For mid July the sun was not setting in the most dramatic part of the skyline in the Shropshire hills. Sunrise would be a lot better this time of year. Once the sunset, there was no afterglow so took the long hike back down. Really should have brought my camping gear and stayed for sunrise.