Golden light on Tolkien's Middle Earth

Sunrise casts a golden glow over the Wrekin, as autumn steals across the landscape.

Golden light on Tolkien's Middle Earth

This was my view as low cloud wreathed the summit of Shropshire's iconic hill, which dominates the landscape around Telford and Ironbridge.

The Wrekin is said to have been the inspiration behind Middle Earth in The Lord of the Rings.

Author JRR Tolkien lived in the West Midlands, and he made frequent visits to Shropshire.

I took this picture near Cressage and had this magical view all to myself - a great way to start the day.

Published by Shropshire and Beyond on (modified )

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2025
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A look back at our best images from 2024 Winter wonderland in sparkling Ludlow Winter snow arrives on Wenlock Edge Autumn colour in the Stretton Hills Reaching for the stars on Brown Clee Green and glorious along the borderlands Chance encounter up on the Long Mynd Supermoon lights up Shropshire skies Timeless scene at sunrise in Clun Valley Sunshine festival at the Whitchurch 'Arm' Field of gold in the shadow of Brown Clee A magical start to the day at Clun Castle A blaze of harvest colour at Bromfield Focusing on a different view of Ludlow Castle Majestic view from the top of Caer Caradoc At home in 'nearest place to paradise' Spectacular display over the Stiperstones The view that inspired Shropshire's Mary Webb Waiting for the sunshine on Cothercott Hill It's Shrewsbury - but with a different look Springtime arrives in the Thankful Village Blossom time at Clun in bright spring sunshine Magical landscape of snow, sun and mist Dramatic Snow Moon over Titterstone Clee Sunshine and shadow on Cothercott Hill Out on the trail of the Long Mynd ponies New Bishop's Castle jigsaw now on sale A step back into history along Grope Lane Light and shadows in the Stretton Hills Sunshine and frost at the start of a new year
2023
A look back at our best images from 2023 Striking colours on Llangollen Canal A pink and blue sunrise over the Wrekin Beautiful autumn colours in the Dingle Magical morning on top of Caer Caradoc Autumn shades along the Llangollen Canal Morning mist and sunshine over Ludlow Harvest Moon lights up the Wrekin mast Mystical sunrise in the lovely Onny Valley Walking in the steps of A E Housman New page in the story of A Shropshire Lad Fresh chapter opens for Housman classic In the footsteps of the past on Adstone Hill Ethereal morning in the misty Stretton Hills New chapter begins for A Shropshire Lad New perspective from the Newport Canal A golden evening in the Redlake Valley Stiperstones pathway into the unknown Sea of white beneath Titterstone Clee Magical sunrise in the Stretton Hills Glorious evening sunshine on Linley Hill Dramatic light as sun comes up over Wrekin Historic site set amid a sea of buttercups Blue heaven in the Shropshire sunshine Green and gold in the Shropshire Hills Steaming through time across Shropshire Field of gold at Moreton Corbet Castle Ancient witness across the ages Dawn breaks over beautiful Ludlow Drift of gold at Acton Burnell Castle Brand new chapter for A Shropshire Lad Blossom and snow at Old St Chad's Wind and wild ponies on Brown Clee Carpet of white at Acton Scott church Feeding time in the Corvedale sunshine Flight of fancy in the sky over Shropshire Winter wonderland in the Redlake Valley A walk on the wild side in the Stretton Hills
2022
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2021
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2020
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2019
End of an era at Ironbridge Sunset picture in national magazine

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