When I moved to Shropshire from Yorkshire at the beginning of 2023, I took the decision to properly retire from running my urban regeneration practise. This is still feeling like a novelty with work and raising my children having taken up the past forty-five years or so. Now, I have plenty of time to explore the English / Welsh borders and further afield, indulging my love for walking and cycling.

Over the past year, I’ve got to know my local area again, and having more time to really absorb it still feels like a massive luxury. A short cycle ride to the end of the valley I live in leads me up to the top of the hills and into Wales, where the panoramic views take in the Shropshire and Cheshire plains, Ceriog Valley and west into the heart of Wales. It has to be one of the most diverse landscapes in the UK, and it’s right on my doorstep!

I’ll be blogging about my trips locally and around Wales and Shropshire on this site – just head over to the blog page for updates and hints and tips of good places to visit.