Starting with a walk on the wild side (the east bank of the Severn): I’m getting a lift to Sutton Maddock – I can walk back on mostly good farm tracks – just a tiny stretch of tarmac over the river at Coalport. Wild maybe; it’s not very exciting on the far side, until I start to descend to the riverbank, on a path that’s made walkable (just) by wooden boardwalks and steps. Serious mud in these parts! Once over the river, I’m on safer ground, though there’s little daylight left – the sun’s set by the time I’m home.

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Monday 11 December: we’re walking roads less travelled (by us), just a little further west. We realise why, after the first mile or so. The country around here, a mile or so east of the A49 south of Shrewsbury, is somewhat flatter than our usual stamping ground, and the lanes, narrow though they are, are much busier. Nevertheless, there’s much of interest – especially the iron bridge at Cantlop, over 200 years old. According to English Heritage, it’s the only Telford-approved cast-iron bridge remaining in situ in Shropshire. It’s been bypassed for 50 years or so, by the new road bridge beside it. We can walk over it though.

After using the footbridge at Boreton ford (looks rather deep at present) we come to Condover. At the impressive gateway to Condover Hall, a sign says ‘Alternate Entrance’. I wonder what that means? A little way beyond the hall, I enjoy an impromptu poetry recital from my wife, who surprises me now and then:

Be nice to yu turkeys dis christmas
Cos’ turkeys just wanna hav fun 

(Benjamin Zephaniah RIP)
(https://benjaminzephaniah.com/books/talking-turkeys/

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It was rainy during the night – the sound of running water accompanies us throughout our wander around the Willey lanes. It’s not quite as quiet as usual – the wind is whooshing through the bare trees, buffeting us in the more exposed stretches (and blowing away the cobwebs!). The sunshine is bright and warm on our backs – it’s good to be out.

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Although the frost’s gone, there’s still a little ice here and there (my fingers are frozen…), and a couple of tiny patches remain from Sunday’s snow. Picking my way through the mud in Ned’s Lane warms me up (my digits have defrosted!). There’s precious little light, but there’s no wind and it’s very pleasant wandering in these quiet ways.

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It’s frost – hoar frost, quite thick in places, especially where the sun hasn’t shone. We’ve had no snow here – yet – but the frost resembles snow here and there. The air is certainly very cold, but there’s only the lightest of breezes, and the sunshine, from a clear blue sky, is warm. It’s a great afternoon for these quiet hills (I only met one other person. Where were they all?)

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No shortage of trees around here! The leaves are mostly shed now; their former hosts are in (photogenic) winter silhouette mode, great on this fine afternoon.

No shortage of mud around here! We’ve had a drop of rain over the past few weeks – we could do with some dry weather, or some hard frosts to freeze it…

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It’s a sunny start, but cloud is pushing in from the west, producing some spectacular skyscapes around Aldenham, and remarkable reflections in Shore Pool. By the time we’re heading back, the shadows are lengthening and the afternoon is almost over. The days are short now, but the solstice is not far away.

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It’s very nearly a perfect day for a walk on the Wenlock Edge near Aston Munslow – cold (and getting colder), clear and sunny. There’s a red kite wheeling above the sheepy field, and in the woods are deer – one, two, then three. They’ve seen us, of course, and aren’t sure of our motives. Soon they’re away, down the steep slope to the west. The sun’s almost gone by the time we’re back to the start.

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