13/12/14 - Wonderstuff

Distance - 6 Miles
Geocaches - 0 (ironic, as the only other time here was on a massive Cache trail)
Walk Inspiration - Les Lumsdon's Best Shropshire Walks

Walking Inspiration comes from many places. Next Thursday, we are heading off to see the Wonderstuff play in Birmingham, so how about completing a walk from the lead singer's local?  I've read about it in interviews - the Crown Inn in the Wentnor, deep in the Shropshire wilds.

It also ticks Sonia's box of "not going walking in woods, I want a view".  And on a beautiful Winter's day, we are rewarded with plenty.

Having established where to walk, the next question is whether to take the dog.  Distance is doable for an 11 year old Labradoodle.  Stiles are unknown.  According to TripAdvisor - the pub is "dog friendly".

Pooch, you are coming.

Head off for the 1hr drive.  We would have done it in 50 minutes if it wasn't for getting stuck by BT engineers blocking the road to remove a wonky telecom post.  Still, rather entertaining, taking bets on whether they were going to pull down the new telephone line.  Disappointingly, they were experts.

Park at the pub for the 2nd disappointment.

Nice Cask Marque Sign.  Nice Wreath.  No Dogs at the Inn.

Sonia sparks up the iPhone in indignation, but alas, we are far away from 3G in these parts.

Head off down some slippery roads.  The Labradoodle might not get to warm herself by a roaring fire but she does get a new friend to share her woes with.

Honestly, I should report them for Dogism.

Continue on lanes for rather too long.  This leads us through Norbury.  The OS Map indicates that there is a pub here to challenge the Crown but its now a B&B.

Norbury Church.  There is a Light.

After a steep climb up to Norbury Hill, we leave the lanes behind and get some wonderful tracks.  We take in a small part of the Shropshire Way and have stunning views over Long Mynd.  From this angle, we understand the "Long" bit and debate what the "Mynd" bit means.

Not much to say, apart from stunning views.  The only people we see are on some sort of strange Shropshire Safari.  The animals are mainly sheep.  Pictures can do the talking.

Sonia with a Festive Bush

Views like this are what I live for

When will that Doodle learn to Pose?

Shropshire Safari - "When do we get to see the Lions?"

After dropping down off the hill, informing the farmer that one of his sheep is entangled with barbed wire and walking through a caravan park, we arrive at our ultimate destination.

I'm checking out the Pie, even if I have to sit outside

Deboot and Degaiter and head in through the back entrance.  Guess what the first thing I see is.  A Dog.  Its the house dog, asleep in his bed.

Have a chat with the landlord and the "No Dog" sign has been there for years.  They are happy to accommodate weary canine loving hikers.  But, to be fair, she is too dirty to inflict on their carpeted lounge.

So we drink and eat outside.  The car's heated seats prove their worth on the way home.

50 Shades of Three Tuns