Day 37: Church Stretton to Coalport

If you’re wondering where the hell Coalport is, it’s right next to Ironbridge, you know, that place famous for its iron bridge. It was another day of walking on hard surfaces, so the feet were sore again at the end of the day.

• Date: 26 April 2024
• Start: Church Stretton
• End: Coalport
• Miles: 18.0
• Total miles: 457.7
• Accommodation: YHA Ironbridge Coalport

It was a very rough night in the tent. I fell asleep pretty early, about 9pm, but was rudely awoken by a helicopter at half 10. Ten minutes later and the helicopter was still hovering above, right above the campsite. It was an hour before it left, and I couldn’t sleep until it had gone. As I drifted off, it came back! I was now concerned that someone was on the run and might try and hide in my tent. Good luck to them fitting in with me and my stuff. It eventually left about midnight. 

Next, it was the coldest night I’ve had so far. While I was toasty in my sleeping back, my head wasn’t particularly warm, so I had to put my hat on. It didn’t really stop me waking up every so often and tucking myself deeper into the sleeping bag. 

I woke up to my alarm at 7am, something that hasn’t happened for a while. I’m usually awake when it gets light. To my surprise, the fisherman near my tent was still there! When I got into my tent at 8pm he was there, and already there by 7am. I hope he didn’t sleep outside. 

I started the day by walking up back to the woods that I left off from yesterday. This was generally easy walking but on mostly hard surfaces. I was following the Shropshire Way today, which made navigating easy. 

I made it into Much Wenlock, where I picked up supplies. I’ve driven through this town many times, but never actually explored it. This didn’t take long. 

Onto the final stretch, through another wood to Ironbridge, where I walked across the bridge and that was it. 

I walked the final mile to the hostel along a cycle track that used to be a railway line, and stopped at a very old pub next door as I was too early to check in. 

I’m staying in a hostel tonight for two reasons: one it’s bloody freezing at night; two it was only £16. When I checked in, I was told I had the dorm to myself, again. With this information, I made a bomb site of the room with all my stuff and then had a shower. 

For dinner, I had some lovely chilli con carne out of a tin and microwaveable rice. I then chilled in the hostel for the rest of the evening.