Mid-Wales – the road from Welshpool to the coast passes through the village of Llanerfyl, from where a mountain road leads to Talerddig. A mile or so along this road, a narrow dead-end road leads up to some very quiet hill country, marshy grassland decorated with a number of small lakes – tarns, perhaps – the Scots would calls them lochans. Not sure there’s a Welsh equivalent – they’re all llynau, whatever size… Here are a few snaps taken on Mynydd Waun Fawr, on a beautifully sunny but cold afternoon.

High above Oswestry, right on the Welsh border, the remains of the old racecourse provide an airy route for a walk on a cold winter’s afternoon

Yet more snow for Shropshire (and more still to come, if the forecast is to be believed). As my grandfather would have described it, “it snew and snew and snew”

The sun came out this afternoon, and the local snow soon melted, but there was still a covering in the shadier corners of Shropshire’s hill country – just right for a walk around Heath Mynd, a quiet corner of moorland, with fine views and, on this occasion, a red kite. I’ve seen several in the county over the last two or three years – this was the first I’ve been able to photograph.

Sunshine? What’s that? Had hoped for a sunny afternoon on Beacon Hill, near Knighton, Powys, on Sunday – the forecast suggested fairly clear skies. The views up there are extensive – looking perhaps 40 miles to the south, there seemed to be fairly clear skies… The gloom on Beacon Hill worsened in the short time we were there (it was very cold too) – I suppose it didn’t snow much…

It’s been a little while since I updated the “Walks with a Camera“. It’s not that we haven’t been out and about – far from it. However, most expeditions in the last 12 months or so have been fairly short local wanders, which hardly seemed to deserve a page (perhaps, before too long, some “Shropshire Shorties”?)
Anyway, here’s an account of a reasonable-length ramble to the top of Shropshire’s highest hill – at 1772′, surely it deserves a page of its own? Visit “Brown Clee and the Boyne” for the usual illustrated account.

It’s almost the end of May, and a pretty poor week it’s been, weatherwise. But the forecast for Thursday was good – time for a walk, in the south Shropshire hills. We’ve walked up the Long Mynd’s eastern valleys many times – today we would walk from the west, exploring some very quiet country (and finishing with a fine pint at the Horseshoe Inn). Visit “Back of the Mynd” on “Walks with a Camera”

Kerry Hill sunbeams

Originally uploaded by geoffspages

Friday 8th Feb: The weather in Shropshire was sunny – Kerry Hill wasn’t, though the sun tried (and failed) to break through from time to time. Visit “Kerry Hill” on “Walks with a Camera” for a full account of our explorations in the Welsh border country

 No, not our third attempt at the fearsome north face of Moel Fferna – but a third fine, clear, sunny day out in the wettest July ever! 12 months ago we were struggling to get a walk or two in the hottest July ever…

A 2000′ summit in the northern Berwyns, and a derelict slate mine, once served by Britain’s last wooden railway – visit “Moel Fferna” on “Walks with a Camera”

It’s pouring with rain again, and the south Midlands are suffering from severe flooding – but a couple of days ago, we carped the diem, so to speak, and took to the hills, this time to follow the route of the famous mass trespass of 1932 up to the Kinder Scout plateau. We would then follow the edge, with its wonderful gritstone formations. past Kinder Downfall, before (almost literally) squaring the circle via Kinderlow End.

Visit “The Trespass” on “Walks with a Camera”

As I write, the rain is teeming down – another wet day in this soggy summer. But a couple of days ago, we had an excellent 10-mile stroll on little-known hills in mid-Wales. Perfect walking conditions – pleasantly warm, a light breeze, red kites, mud…

Visit “Llandegley Rocks” on “Walks with a Camera”