Hello, thank you for popping in, it's always lovely to see you here. The weather here is still overwhelmingly grey but the sun has tried to peep out a few times and on one of those days, the first Sunday of this month, the Best Beloved and I headed out on a little jaunt to stretch our legs and breathe in deep lungsfulsof cold, crisp air. I have five photographs to show you, so I am linking with Amy at Love Made My Home for Five on Friday - even though it's now Saturday. I know. The time just got away from me yesterday.
We went to The Stiperstones, the second highest place in Shropshire, a ridge crowned with rocky outcrops which are some of the oldest visible stones in the world, formed about 480 million years ago. As with all ancient places, there are myths and legends which tell of their creation and you can read some of them here. It is a lovely place to visit on a sunny day at any time of the year.
We parked the car, went through the gate and set off up the path towards Cranberry Rock.
In a dream, Merlin, the great enchanter, saw two dragons fighting in the air. They were evenly matched, neither one could overcome the other and eventually, worn out, they fell to their deaths, locked in an embrace, neither willing to cede to the other even as the life drained out of them. Where they fell, one became the Long Mynd and the other The Stiperstones, the valley between them being Hell's Gutter.
From The Stiperstones, we looked across to the other dragon, the Long Mynd.
We were surprised to see snow on the ground in the shaded places as we hadn't had any snow at home.
In the summer, the heather flowers and the bilberries are abundant.
The temperature at the top is noticeably lower than it is at the bottom but the views are spectacular.
The sun is shining again today and as it's half term week here, I am hoping that augurs well. We are off on another jaunt tomorrow, a few days by the sea. If you have time, please pop over to Love Made My Home and see what everyone else is sharing this week.
See you soon.
Love, Mrs Tiggywinkle x
Enjoy your jaunt and time by the sea. I'd like to be walking in England! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Ellen. x
DeleteI think we did a walk there a number of years ago so I really enjoyed your photos. It always feels good to get out and about.
ReplyDeleteIt certainly does, Janet, especially somewhere high on a clear day, when you can see for miles. It really blows my cobwebs away. x
DeleteThis is nice place to visit...
ReplyDeletePlease visit: http://from-a-girls-mind.blogspot.com
Thanks Krishna. It's nice to see you here. x
DeleteLovely landscapes in your post. I do love a good tale and that area seems to fill the need. After reading your about me, I am happy to know someone else likes doing laundry. I miss the old washers where I could lift the top and watch the washer in action!
ReplyDeleteThanks Sugar. I like lots of things about laundry - seeing it blowing on the line on a breezy day, seeing a lovely pile of folded, ironed fabric at the end of the ironing... x
DeleteSuch a beautiful part of the country. The views are wonderful. Bet that certainly blew your cobwebs away. I look forward to hearing about your seaside jaunt. Don't forget those gorgeous seaside socks. B x
ReplyDeleteI most certainly didn't forget the socks, Barbara. x
DeleteSuch beauty you have for walking. I enjoyed the photos. I hope you have a good get away!
ReplyDeleteWe do feel blessed that we live in such a beautiful part of the world. x
DeleteSuch a wild and wonderful place! Hope you have a great time by the sea:)
ReplyDeleteIt certainly is wonderful, Rosie, and there are lots of wild tales about it. Apparently, Old Nick sits there during the night of the summer solstice and summons all the ghosts of the county. All sorts of spooky stories abound! I, of course, only visit in daylight in clear, fine weather! x
DeleteLooks like a wonderful place for a hike. :)
ReplyDeleteIt's fabulous Tammy. I just love it. And now there is an all-access trail so that disabled people can enjoy it, too. x
DeleteWhat a great walk. I haven't visited the Stiperstones but have been to the Long Mynd. Always a treat to have a smashing view at the top. x
ReplyDeleteYes, always a treat, Karen. The Long Mynd is a plateau and The Stiperstones is a ridge, apparently, and one of the best things about The Stiperstones is its view of the Mynd! x
DeleteI do not know Shropshire so it is fascinating to see the landscape and find out about the traditional tales attached to it.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you enjoyed it, Annie. It's lovely to see you here. x
DeleteI love the legends around mountains - Finn McCool was responsible for nearly every mountain or rock over here and with you Merlin probably had as much work cut out for him :) Beautiful part of the world you live in.
ReplyDeleteI think you are right about Merlin - he and Arthur certainly seem to have got around a bit! x
DeleteYou live in a very beautiful county ! I have seen a bit watching "Escape to the country" I love these series not so for the houses but for the beautiful landscapes and lately they have shown the Stiperstones. Very interesting. We have the same weather in Belgium as you, maybe even a bit more rain _
ReplyDeleteI am sorry about your rain! And yes, we think we live in a very beautiful county, too. x
DeleteSuch a joy to visit, beautiful rugged landscape. Hope you have a good time by the sea.
ReplyDeleteThank you! x
DeleteI have such lovely memories of a week spent within view of the Stiperstones, at Snailbeach. I am sure that I left a part of my heart in that landscape.
ReplyDeleteI am SO glad you are blogging again, I've missed you! The Best Beloved taught at the little school at Snailbeach when he was training, a tiny class of 15 children aged 4-7 years old. It's a lovely place but tricky in the winter! x
DeleteLovely scenery. Enjoy your days by the sea. Marie x
ReplyDeleteFun picks! We better get shopping for summer now right ;
ReplyDelete