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.

Albert Einstein

Mahatma Gandhi

This weeks prompt was:

Harmony :: Symmetry :: Flow

When objects or events come together,
ebbing rhythmically.
Harmony makes sense.
It feels right.
The pieces balance each other.
Like peas and carrots,
coffee & cream,
black & white.

The Harmony gallery can be found here.

I have to confess I am not a very good passenger whilst travelling down this road, due to the sheer drop. It is two way traffic but only room for one car on the road.

Jerry Spinelli (B 1941)

Plotinus (205 – 270)

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

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