Sunday 31 July 2011

the shropshire hills

"What's that over there?"

"That's the Shropshire Hills..."

"Any climbing?"*

"Naw, don't think so..."

"What time will we get to the Vanyol Arms?"

"Before it closes, I hope..."

On many occasions I have been party to similar conversations. The Shropshire Hills suffer the same fate as that of Northumberland, people drive past on the way to some where else.

More fool them. Whilst I try and visit Northumberland every couple of years, I'm ashamed to say that it took until this week for me to rectify the situation, Shropshire-wise. So last Monday armed with the knowledge of a campsite perched on Wenlock Edge, a box of full of food, and a car boot equally full of kit, we whizzed up the M40 in search of England's other forgotten county...

*There is climbing in Shropshire, apparently.

5 comments:

Martin Rye said...

Always liked Andy Howells photos and post of the Shropshire hills. So do we get photos and a trip report of your trip?

baz carter said...

Hold your horses Martin :) I'm busy typing the next bit!

The bike shed said...

Much under rated county is Shropshire - very good for cycling too. And poetry for that matter - AE Housman lived there, he of the 'blue remembered hills'. Passed though recently on my coast to coast cycle ride.

baz carter said...

Very under rated, and yes, I am told, very good biking. In my time I've skirttled along many such lanes in far more familiar counties. And the ones I traveled I'd peddle along.V W aite has something to say on AE Housman's A Shropshire Lad, he admitted that he'd not been there... he was living in Worcestershire at the time he wrote the prose.

Andy Round said...

Lucky enough to live there and hoping the area stays secret a little longer ;-) but seriously its a great place but wild campers beware - the NT will be watching you!
so pick your spot with care...