Last night’s light snowfall has melted where the morning’s sun has shone, but in the shade it’s still freezing. We’ll walk out to Benthall and back, through the quieter backwaters of Broseley – a fine little outing for this cold but bright afternoon.

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Once again, we need to walk for a while before we’re warm enough to stop and take in the views. There are few distant horizons on this fairly sheltered route, but the local landscape is pleasant enough. Like yesterday, snowflakes (just a few) are drifting downwards for the first mile or so, then the sky clears for a while and there’s some pleasant sunshine.

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I’m not sure ‘flakes’ is the best description. The tiny soft balls of snow blow around on the road, rolling off us as we set out just in time to catch one of the afternoon’s several showers. Once again an icy wind is blowing from the east, but between the showers, the air is clear and the sunshine is bright, and when we’re up amongst the trees the day feels more comfortable. The necessarily brisk walk has warmed us up. To the south the Clee hills have a covering of snow; above them the sky is dramatic. Soon we’re at the chocolate stop, then retracing our steps and revisiting the views. As we leave the woodland, the snow starts again. We didn’t think we would get a walk today – in the event our outing was enjoyable – exhilarating!

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Saturday: just for an hour or so, towards the end of the afternoon, the cloud clears and the sun breaks through – what a difference it makes! We’re wandering around familiar lanes, between Willey and the Smithies.

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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.

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… 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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