The shaley rocks of the Longmynd have been little used.  It is a poor building stone but has been quarried slightly at the entrances to most of the valleys for road metal and some random building work.  The largest of these quarries is Buxton Quarry at the entrance to the Batch in All Stretton, which as late as 1902 provided stone for All Stretton Church.

The nature of the valleys means the water of the stream was sometimes put to work in driving mills, the best known being the Carding Mill.  They have also been collected for drinking purposes, though the reservoirs in Town Brook Hollow and New Pool Hollow have now both been superseded by the much larger reservoirs in Wales.  Very few minerals dissolve out from the ancient rocks and the resulting softness and purity of the water was the basis of Church Stretton's efforts to establish itself as a minor spa town.

The Midland Gliding Club take advantage of the high flat land for their airstrip and thousands of visitors come each year to sample the delights of this large area of common land.