The Saturday jaunt to visit my Aunt went well and as you can see we were treated to some fantastic scenes on our outward journey. The SatNav took us on the route that skims past Jodrell Bank which is normally a spectacular sight. Today, however the radio telescope was shrouded by fog and invisible (or beamed up by aliens…).

On arrival at my aunt’s we exchanged Christmas presents then chatted for a while before heading off for a carvery lunch at The Sheldon Arms. After lunch we returned to my Aunt’s house and chatted some more before preparing tea, which after yesterday’s dramas was well received.

Yesterday we undertook a day trip to visit my Aunt who lives in Manchester. There was a time when we always used the same tried and tested route to her house. That was until I purchased a new SatNav last year and tested it out on a visit to my Aunt. The SatNav took us on a completely different, but very enjoyable route past Jodrell Bank and the Manchester City Stadium and as we neared her house it bypassed all the narrow Coronation Street type roads that we were used to travelling along.

At the point of choosing a destination the new SatNav always picks the best route to fit your selected criteria. This means that the routes are subject to change. Yesterday was no different… As we were driving along the Live Traffic feature identified a route that was three minutes quicker and asked if we wanted to choose it. We chose the new route, which took us down a tree lined lane which was especially  beautiful with the sun shining through the leaves and branches. As we turned a corner in the lane we came across a flock of sheep being herded down the lane. The SatNav works well with Live Traffic information but not so well with predicting a mobile sheep block

On the way home we were expecting the SatNav to take us through the Cheshire countryside past Jodrell bank which would have been delightful in the evening sunshine. But no the SatNav had other ideas and took us back by our own tried and tested route…

Today was a perfect spring day so after lunch we set off into the Shropshire countryside in order to drive up the steeps slopes to the top of the Long Mynd. As we drove along the country lanes the scenery was outstanding in the spring sunshine and we were provided with clear views from the summit of the hill.  We took the longer route back down from the summit and a different countryside route home. This route took us towards Clun, along a road where we followed not one but two Morgans, one black and one silver, both gleaming in the sunshine.

The Long Mynd is one of two prominent hills in this part of the Shropshire landscape, the other being the Stiperstones ridge:

Visually, these two ‘hills’ are very different – the Long Mynd is a large and long plateau, while the rugged outline of the Stiperstones ridge is unmistakable. Together, they make up the largest area of heathland in the Shropshire Hills. Come late summer these hilltops are a sea of purple and not to be missed. Along with the heather a variety of other plants flourish here including bilberry (known locally as whinberry), and this in turn attracts many insects and birds – look out for a green hairstreak butterfly or stonechat on the gorse.

As well as a wealth of wildlife, the area is steeped in history and folklore. Shooting Box is one of sixteen Bronze Age burial mounds found on the Mynd and the 5,000 year old ridge-way, the Portway, once carried Neolithic traders high and dry above the wet and wooded valleys.

Sallust (c. 86-34 B.C.)

I have more than one favourite place. I have managed to incorporate several of them in this photo. Gardens, countryside, Cragside and Northumberland.

More favourite places can be found here.

This photo follows on from last weeks 52 Photos Challenge photo.

More ‘Wide Open Spaces’ can be found in the gallery.

This is the view from the Lady Chapel at Wenlock Priory, it gives you and idea how peaceful the place is.