Half Mammothon

Half Mammothon route summary, 21km, 6-hour time limit.

An off-road half marathon with 650m of elevation, this challenge should not be taken lightly. With a generous time-limit though, it should be suitable for all experienced runners and walkers. It’s tough going at times with some stiff climbs but rewarding too. We promise incredible scenery, great food and drink and a friendly Shropshire welcome at our checkpoints. Please note the course is not marked, so you will need to be able to read a map. We provide a written route description, and you may use gpx files.

The route is a figure of eight, with the Discovery Centre forming the start, finish and mid-point of the route.

The route begins by heading out across the river Onny into the hamlet of Whettleton, scene of a bloody skirmish in the English civil war, when the Parliamentarians defeated Royalist troops in a fierce battle. The route climbs steeply through the woods, before emerging to reveal a huge vista over the Clee Hills, and Shropshire’s highest summit of Abdon Burf. Don’t worry though, you don’t need to climb this one today, it’s just for looking at!

There is a descent to the hamlet of Norton, and then a climb to the Iron-Age hillfort of Norton Camp, passing through the beautiful coppice woodland along Rotting Lane, before returning to the Centre along the banks of the river Onny.

The second section will soon get your heart beating as you climb to Halford wood, and onwards through the hamlet of Lower Dinchope and up again to the tower known as Flounders’ Folly, built by the eponymous Victorian shipping magnate who claimed to be able to see his ships entering the Manchester ship canal from here! At over 300metres above sea level, this is the highest point on the route.

From here you enjoy a descent to Wenlock Edge, an ancient limestone escarpment, and on to the village of Strefford before following the River Onny back to the Centre and the finish.

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