A little sunlight is all that’s needed, to illuminate the various views from Shirlett. We can see the Wrekin, Wenlock Edge and Brown Clee, though the haze means we won’t see much beyond them. There are portents of a spring still some way off – daffodils are coming up, and new leaves on honeysuckle bear raindrops which catch the eye and capture the landscape in miniature.

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There’s no shortage of it today – it’s misty when we set out, though it clears a little as we walk. For a while it seems the sun might break through, but it doesn’t. The clouds never quite lift from the Shirlett woodlands.

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First of February and it’s a beautiful afternoon – blue sky, barely a breath of wind, warm sunshine but cold air. We’ll take in one or two of the more interesting corners of Broseley on the way to  Benthall Edge. Here, through a gap in the trees, we can look down on the dwindling remains of the power station. Returning by a different route, there’s more of interest as the sun begins to sink.

Crunch! What was that? A minute later, we’re passing a flooded field corner. The water is draining away from under a thin sheet of ice. Crack! Another piece has broken. Other than ice breaking, it’s pretty quiet up here. There are one or two others about, but there’s plenty of room, and once we’ve been walking for a few minutes, we’ve forgotten how cold it was when we set out – just 1°C and a cold east wind.

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=365660&Y=298545&A=Y&Z=120

… and down to Willey. It’s a simple out-and-back walk, the only hazards being the short roadside stretch to the little toll cottage, and the mud beyond. Despite the mud, the sunken lane is a delight as we ascend to the top of the ridge; beyond, it’s downhill beside the parkland to Willey village. The old hall stands guard in a scene that, without parked cars, would be medieval. The pool behind the estate offices marks our turning point – after chocolate rations, we’re homeward bound.

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Quite a drop of rain overnight – streamlets flow along the road, and everywhere there’s the sound of running water. We were last here eleven days ago: since then, hundreds, maybe thousands of snowdrops have popped up, and (look closely) there are buds on hawthorn and hazel, signs of the spring to come in another month or so.

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Wednesday 27 January: It’s much warmer today (that’s a relative description: we’re still well-wrapped); there’s barely a breeze and it’s rather grey. The snow of two days ago has almost all gone, just a few spots remaining here and there. We’ll walk up Shirlett Lane to the gate near the top of Ned’s Lane, partake of chocolate, then retrace our steps. The distant views are hazy at best, so we’ll focus on what’s close at hand (or close to our feet).

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=365660&Y=298545&A=Y&Z=120