THE STRETTON HILLS
The Stretton Hills lie across the Stretton Valley from the Long Mynd on the other side of the well known Church Stretton Fault. This fault lies roughly along the tree line at the base of the Stretton Hills, and separates the sedimentary rocks of the Long Mynd to the west from the volcanic rocks of the Stretton Hills and The Wrekin to the East. Two tectonic plates clashed along this line millions of years ago, and it was once the scene of furious volcanic activity. Today it lies dormant, but a mini earthquake every ten years or so - enough to rattle the plates on kitchen shelves - reminds us of its origins.
The Stretton Hills stretch from The Ragleth in the south to The Lawley in the north. They are quite different in character from the Long Mynd, being long, narrow and steep-sided, and without heather cover. The volcanic rock from which they were formed lies close to the surface, and if you pick up a stone on the summit you will more than likely find that it is full of tiny holes – left when the lava cooled. Caer Caradoc, the highest of the Stretton Hills, is crowned by a fine Iron Age hill fort.
The Stretton Hills stretch from The Ragleth in the south to The Lawley in the north. They are quite different in character from the Long Mynd, being long, narrow and steep-sided, and without heather cover. The volcanic rock from which they were formed lies close to the surface, and if you pick up a stone on the summit you will more than likely find that it is full of tiny holes – left when the lava cooled. Caer Caradoc, the highest of the Stretton Hills, is crowned by a fine Iron Age hill fort.