Finally some time to catch up and look back on a great three days in mid-Wales with John Davies the week before last, based near Knighton in the wonderful Milebrook House Hotel. Lots of interesting stuff round and about, not least the hotel itself, once home to the Thesiger clan and visited by Haile Selassie no less. Chintz, log fires, great staff and stupendous food, it's all going on at the MHH. We arrived there (to tea and crumpets) after driving through great scenery on the way across from Norfolk, most notably at Mitchell's Fold Stone Circle. A real discovery this place, still in Shropshire but as remote as anywhere in the county and with amazing views. Dating back to the Bronze Age, there were once thirty (dolerite) stones ranged in a rough circle here; just fifteen left today, including one of a pair that once marked a doorway into the ring. A sobering and slightly eerie atmosphere pervaded, rather reinforced by the withered bunch of freesia we spotted tucked under one of the stones.... Not very clear who Mitchell was, however.
From there we motored to Bishop's Castle - my first visit for at least a decade and yet the charm is all still there, with shabby chic shops, a whiff of rainbow alternativism in the air, cafes bursting out with local produce (cakes from Mr Bunn the Baker, yes really) and friendly emigres from Manchester and a sense that everywhere is just so far away... Just how we like it.
Thence to Clun, with its stonking castle and THAT bridge... Top highlight is the green for the Clun Bowls Club, in the castle precinct and with a cracking view. If ever there were a reason to take up bowling, that would be it.
