A walk along the towpath of the Shropshire Union canal from Norbury Junction. Norbury is not far from Newport, Shropshire – but the walk is entirely in Staffordshire. It’s easy going along the canal bank, though it’s muddy in places. We left the canal at the second bridge, whence a public footpath connects with a very quiet lane (I suspect it would have been easier to walk a few yards further and leave the canal at the old railway bridge. Perhaps another time). For the last mile or so, we followed a track around the north side of Shelmore Wood – it’s even quieter here . The best walks end where refreshments are available…

“Roses Pop-up Vintage Tea Room”, to be precise. What a wonderful idea! (excellent cheese scones, with cream cheese and onion marmalade). We’ve been to Mortimer Forest many times, and walked the High Vinnals circuit more than once before, but always in winter – when there had been far fewer visitors and no sign of tea rooms, pop-up or otherwise. It’s a pleasant walk, about 3 miles, with great views from the higher parts of the route. Where the trees limit the views, the insect life and the ripe blackberries provide more local interest.

We did a very similar walk to this one almost exactly a year ago (Around Batch Valley) – today we walked anti-clockwise, attaining the plateau via Jonathan’s Hollow, returning past the golf course. At first cloudier than we’d expected, the weather brightened, but it was never particularly warm.

A stroll along the bank of the Montgomery canal, a formerly dry section that has only relatively recently been restored. It’s connected to the national network at Frankton Junction, and is in water as far as Redwith Bridge, on the Knockin to Llynclys road. It’s navigable as far as Gronwen Wharf; the next stretch to Redwith Bridge is clearly appreciated by the numerous moorhens, ducks, swans and others. Beyond, work is in progress to extend the navigable waters, though it looks to be a slow job.

Canal Central is a good place to start the walk – it’s an even better place to end…

A short walk on the southern part of the Long Mynd, along the cutely-named Starboard Way past the gliding field. The paragliders (is that what they’re called?) are in the ascendancy (so to speak) these days – dozens of them wheeling above the steep western slope, and just two or three hang gliders. The conventional gliders were being winched up at regular intervals too. The large white butterfly behaved itself for a photo, but none of the many peacocks were cooperative, so no photos. Then, by the pool, we startled a dragonfly, which, when it landed again, got on with the business of laying its eggs (we think…).

Flying things notwithstanding, it was a good afternoon for a wander on the Shropshire hills – the air was clear, with views extending to Cadair Idris, some 45 miles distant on the western horizon.

A walk from Llwyngwril to Barmouth

“Day return to Barmouth, please” – but we’ll leave the train, on the outward journey, at Llwyngwril, a request stop a little way down the coast. The one-year-old Wales Coastal Path takes us over hill lanes where a red kite quarters the ground. Standing stones and other antiquities suggest it’s an ancient route. We drop down to Morfa Mawddach, where a triangular railway junction once connected the Cambrian coast line to the long-gone line to Dolgellau and, ultimately, Llangollen and Ruabon. The Coastal Path descends to Fairbourne before skirting the estuary to the Bridge – but the path is closed where coastal defence work is ongoing, and my companion suggests a route that follows the disused railway for a little way inland, before cutting across the marshes (the path is dry) to the unlikely row of houses at Mawddach Terrace.

The long wooden trestle that is Barmouth Bridge carries the railway and, alongside, a footpath and cycleway with extensive views inland. Once over, all we need is a little refreshment before joining the train for the long but scenic journey home.

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=259905&Y=285170&A=Y&Z=126