Carding Mill Valley

Carding Mill Valley cuts into the Long Mynd above Church Stretton, a heather-covered plateau in the Shropshire Hills that rises to Pole Bank with views to the Welsh hills, and takes its name from the 19th-century mill that carded wool here. Waymarked walks start from the tea room at the valley head, from a gentle stream-side stroll to the reservoir, through the popular Lightspout Waterfall route, to the steady climb up the Burway to the summit ridge. Reviewers rate it highly for families: the stream is clean and shallow enough for paddling on a hot day, and red kites are often seen overhead. Dogs are welcome on leads because of grazing ponies, sheep and ground-nesting birds. Tips from visitors: the walks marked moderate involve rocky scrambling in places and are not suited to wheels beyond the valley floor, so wear shoes with grip, and the car park fills by late morning on weekends and school holidays, with overflow parking off-site. Fires and barbecues are banned across the Long Mynd.