Sunrise and silence in the Shropshire Hills

Here's the iconic Wrekin at sunrise, seen beneath a dramatic orange-coloured sky.

Sunrise and silence in the Shropshire Hills

I was standing on the slopes of the Lawley, more than 10 miles away as the crow flies, and I was surrounded by total silence.

My early starts are usually accompanied by the dawn chorus, but on this occasion there was no sound to be heard, not a rustle of wind nor the bleat of a sheep.

Not for the first time, it felt like a real privilege to have this wonderful view all to myself.

Both the Wrekin and the Lawley are part of the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which covers almost a quarter of the county.

It was designated in 1958 and covers an area of 802 square kilometres, extending from the Wrekin to the Clun Forest and from the Stiperstones across to the Clee Hills.

See more of this much-loved landscape - recognised as one of the finest in Britain - in our Shropshire Hills 2022 Calendar, on sale here.

Published by Shropshire and Beyond on

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