Six word Saturday

Dilly dally in the Welsh Borders

Heading home from Shropshire, we had a little time to kill before Stokesay Castle opened for the day.  What else to do but dilly dally?  I’m not entirely certain where the Welsh borders begin and end, but heading west from Church Stretton we can’t have been far away.  I was delighted with colourful and quirky Bishop’s Castle, a centre for arts and crafts, and just one and a half miles from the border.  I did go looking for the castle, built in 1087, but discovered afterwards that when it deteriorated in the 1700s it was flattened to make a bowling green!

I was luckier in tiny Clun where the ruins of a Norman castle still linger soulfully on a hill, only disturbed from slumber when the May fair comes to town.  Clun was on the site of the historic drove road, where flocks and herds were driven from Wales to the markets of the Midlands and London. It amused me to find that at the time of the Norman Conquest, Clun formed part of the lands of Eadric the Wild.  His wildness did him no good because his lands were confiscated when he led a revolt against King William 1.

To reach the castle we crossed over the 14th century packhorse bridge, and then on to lovely Stokesay.  The ochre-coloured buildings are joyful, aren’t they?  I hope you have a happy weekend, full of warmth and colour, but first, steer clear of troubled waters with Debbie.  Share six words?

79 comments

  1. More delightful photos Jo – you always find such interesting places to visit! I looked it up on the map – it’s a bit further south than where my family came from. They were up in Malpas and the Whitchurch area of Shropshire. The Welsh lot lived round Wrexham and Ruthin (Denbighshire). Looks such lovely countryside and quaint old buildings – perfect place for “dilly dallying”. Hope you’re enjoying a restful weekend 🙂

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    1. It feels properly ‘Old England’, Rosemay, with all those timbered buildings. Sleepy and yet full of life in its own way. I liked it very much., and would have liked a bit more time. Always! 🙂 🙂 I’m at the wrong end of the country for nice weather this Bank Hol. Nothing new there. I’ll have no excuse not to get my walk written. 🙂 Have a lovely weekend, hon!

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      1. Always love the timbered building look Jo! Oh dear I thought the weather was going to be lovely for the Bank Holiday – heard there were winds blowing up from the Mediterranean. Sounds like they’ve run out of steam half way up the country then! Hope you still enjoy the long weekend though. If it’s any consolation we have rain on the way from tomorrow – have got masses of washing out on the line this morning! Will be along later for the Monday Walk take care 🙂

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  5. My favorite image is the houses taken through the arched stone window. I love how the stones of the past frame the view of the present. Well done, Jo! Out my way, the forecast for warmth is 102 (39) and 104 (40) for the weekend. Enjoying the cool morning while it lasts. ☺️

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  6. You really do have the best adventures, Jo, and I always feel so happy and inspired when I see your photos! Every post of yours encourages me to stay the course and keep reaching for the dream I have to travel. Thank you!

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    1. You don’t always have to travel far to achieve it. I’ve been on a couple of coach trips, just for the day, this week because my husband was too busy to come out to play. 🙂 🙂

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    1. Out of 3 days, we had one greyish and damp, one of glorious sunshine and then this one, which was a bit of a mix. Typical England, right now, Susan. 🙂 🙂 I love colourful houses, like these. Gives such a lift!

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  9. I’d dilly dally with you any day if you show me quaint finds such as this Jo. You are the master of meandering and finding historical treasures. I love that bridge photo especially.

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  14. What beautiful photos!!! I really loved the ones shot thru the rock windows-stunning, Jo! Gosh, I would love to stroll with ya and see all the vibrant colors and beauty there! When I think about fairy tale settings this is what I visualize in my mind.

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  15. J & D > Although the modern-day border is extremely close (for a short way, the road from Shrewsbury via Minterley has the border running along the centreline for about half a mile), I’d consider BC (as it is referred to locally) one of the easternmost settlements of the Welsh Borders. To the east, the Welsh elements in placenames disappears very quickly, but to the west they are intermingled with English. Before moving to the Outer Hebrides, BC was our nearest town: we loved it there!

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    1. We only spent 40 minutes or so there. Just enough for a quick flavour, but I did like the taste. 🙂 🙂 Tish, whom I met up with while I was in Shropshire, said it was one of her favourite places. I’d like to have made it to Powys Castle too, but I can only test my husband’s patience so far. 🙂 🙂

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