Friday 23 April 2010

A Shropshire lass in her element.

We had a short outing over my favourite bit of countryside today. As a child, I always loved a trip up to The Bog and over the Stiperstones. The area was once the centre for lead mining in the 18th & 19th centuries and several of my family were involved in mining and farming around there. Today the sun was shining, the air was fresh and invigorating and the views were perfect.

We walked up to the Nipstone Rock and looked across the hills to the Stiperstones. The "Devil's Chair" was the first rock outcrop we reached, when Dad used to take us for a Sunday morning walk. I was quite young so it was a good walk for little legs!
I had never climbed up to the Nipstone Rock which is on the left of my photo above. Today, I scrambled to the top to look at the panoramic views. However, if I just stepped down the hill to the left of that rock and looked back, this is what I saw.....


The Quartzite rock has been weathered into a massive head facing towards the East.
Well spotted by G. - I had climbed up past it, without noticing it! I guess I was concentrating on my footwork amongst the heather and short, sheep-chewed grass.



The view in the opposite direction showed Corndon in all its splendour. Our house is on the far side of this hill.


We returned to the car and drove over the hills and down into the valley to the Horshoe Inn at Ratlinghope. We sat beside the tiny River Onny and had lunch. Thankfully, I had put my binoculars in my bag. Overhead soared two, beautiful, red kites and across the field a cry went up and a curlew with its long, curved beak flapped away up the hill. Swallows were twittering around the buildings and in the trees opposite, I spotted a pied flycatcher. As we went back to the car a robin flew up into the hedgerow and along the stream I could see a dipper, hopping across the pebbles. All of this in about half an hour!!!!
I drove back with top down - (the car - not mine!!)
So, now you know what I like to do when I am not crafting!!


9 comments:

Annie said...

What a fab set of photos sis. Thanks for sharing them because alas I doubt I shall never walk that way again.
A x

Twiglet said...

Oh Wipso - Nipstone rock is only a short walk from the car park but you would need your 2 sticks and I wish I had taken mine as the short grass was a bit slidy.

mountainear said...

great photos Twiglet - and what a beautiful day to be out in such stunning scenery.

Unknown said...

Oh T - these photos are stunning - thanks for sharing them... lovely that it brought back memories...

Guess what - I saw a robin on the way to Bakewell - I noticed it on the grass at the side of the hedgerows on the way there - and I immediately thought of you, W - and of course my Dad.... Spooky.

What a lovely day to have enjoyed.

I went to Bakewell today - and had lunch by the river Wye. I took some pics of the beautiful Bakewell Bridge. I was going to blog them and you have just inspired me to do so.

Paula x x x

Friko said...

I must go over to the Stiperstones again, after all, I am almost on their doorstep. we really do live in the most wonderful area, I never get enough of looking and marvelling.

Tina Gilmore said...

Hi, re shop in Montgomery. It's not open yet, as we've only just got "conditional" planning permission...yaaaaay. But, if you're planning to be in Montgomery any time before we open please knock and come and have a coffee, it'll be lovely to meet fellow artist(s). I'm in the Armoury in Kerry Street. We're planning to open on the 21st May, if we work hard we may just do it. You're very welcome to come and have a look anyway, i'll be the one covered in paint (not unusual for me!)
Hugs
xxx

BumbleVee said...

What wonderful scenery for a day out!

mckinkle said...

Thanks for sharing your great day out, the photos were great but the narrative was amazing! The birds you spied sounded great. And the you topped it off by going topless on the drive home! LOl! What a day you had, I do hope you had your sunscreen on!!

Keryn x

bayou said...

Just divine! Thank you for the photos and explanation of such a nice day out! SBS showed me all that and is part of that bog community. The devil was not in, when we passed ;-).
Great!
P.S. You know that there is an Austin rose called Shropshire Lad? We have one, it is a very vigorous rose with perpetuel beautiful flowers. We have also the Shropshire Lass but I am not sure if it is also an Austin rose.