A tree has come down across the stream at the crossing below Windy Harbour. Some riders have created another route round the tree, but it is very slippery and awkward. I rode the route last friday and cleared some branches by hand and the original route is now usable but includes a step over some fallen branches. Will need some tidying in the near future. The situation may have changed since all the rain on Friday evening.
Author: clare ratcliff
This route runs from the Detton / Prescott bridleway, past Factory Farm and up Factory Lane to Oreton. It includes a very muddy stretch past Factory Farm, followed by a river crossing through the River Rea. After that there is a short stretch by the river bank which is quite narrow and there are usually several donkeys grazing in small paddocks immediately adjacent to the path. Care needs to be taken going up the metalled road ( Factory Lane ) as it is very slippery.
Great new catch on the gate at the top of Cramer Gutter, really appreciated when we rode through yesterday.
Lovely ride March 18th
Rode this route in the spring sunshine. Good underfoot. Minor problem at the northern end. There is an electric sheep fence across the track that I have always ridden, down the side of the first field. The route is only accessible through the small woodland on the right, which involves opening 2 gates.
Government epetition on bridleways
Follow this link to sign the petition for more bridleways.
Good going in Summer
Rode this and it is good.
Letter To Rights Of way Office
I sent this to Phil Betts today (phil.betts@shropshire.gov.uk), perhaps someone else might like to reiterate the message
Hi Phil,
I am writing to you as I am a horse rider in the Cleobury Mortimer/ Clee Hill area.
I have been riding regularly in the area for 30 years.
Firstly I wanted to thank you for covering the wood planks on Titford Bridge. It is now much better and safe in all weathers.
However the situation on the length of The Jack Mytton Way that I rode this week is not so good.
I am referring to the bottom end of Cramer Gutter in Oreton, between points 10 and 11 on your map of the Jack Mytton Way Route 8.
I know that you are aware that this area can be boggy ( I notice that you mention it in the leaflet). However in the last few weeks it has become treacherous and I honestly believe that it is very possible that someone could have a bad accident at the gate because it is so boggy.
It is as bad as I have ever known it to be now, despite the dry conditions everywhere else.
I know the Jack Mytton Way is a flagship path for Shropshire, but it is badly let down at this point, and if I was a visitor riding the path it would make me think twice about riding any other part of the route.
A local resident is of the opinion it is only a question of clearing the drainage channels that run next to the path, as the area always used to be much drier when the drains were running.
Perhaps you are in a position to do something, particularly as it is a long standing problem that could be easily fixed?
I look forward to hearing from you
Regards
Clare Ratcliff
And this is the reply I got on the same day!
Dear Ms Ratcliff
Thank you for raising this issue with Phil. As Access Maintenance Team
Leader it is more appropriate for me to respond to your concerns which is
why Phil has passed this to me. We share your concerns and specified what
work was needed here this winter with a local contractor who knows how the
drainage of this area works and how it can be fixed. Our advice is that it
is more complicated than clearing a few drains and some more extensive
works are needed. Ideally we would have started this work in this recent
dry period, but unfortunately our funding for this type of project was
removed due to the recent spending cuts. This is not to say that this will
not happen this year, but we are undergoing a team restructure of staff and
budgets, and until this is done I have no defined funds to carry out this
work. I am hoping that this situation will become more clear during June
and I will then know what funds we have available for this and similar
types of work.
In essence, we know what needs doing here and we know that it must be done
in the driest period of the year. We now just need the funds to continue.
I trust this information is of help and fingers crossed that we get some
funds to carry out the necessary work.
Regards
Richard Knight