I live in the UK

I live in a place called Malvern in Worcestershire. Most people dont know about my home but when i say Schweppes tonic water and coca cola. they know the drink. I live by the Malvern hills and spend as much time as i can walking and taking in the stunning views.

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ArishMell · 70-79, M

It is an area I keep promising myself to visit.

I live in Dorset but have friends in the North, and sometimes return home from them via the Border Counties, including through the hills around Church Stretton.

A longer and slower route than via the M6 and M5 but more relaxing and far lovelier scenery. Actually the Cheshire countryside is attractive in a quieter way, though you can't of course admire it except in peripheral vision when driving at over 60mph in heavy motorway traffic! I could do without all those ugly, roadside advertising hoardings on old lorry trailers though.

jackcros · 70-79, M

@ArishMell i agree with your choice of routes and about the hoardings.

ArishMell · 70-79, M

@jackcros Thank you.

Something I have never understood is why after some decades of the huge industrial area the M5 passes through near Birmingham doing its best to smarten itself up, someone allowed those giant, illuminated advertising signs on poles above the motorway. Not only distracting, but at night some of them partially disguise the genuine road-signs.

Then in Gloucestershire they built a gigantic waste-processing plant right by the M5, in what had been an open rural area in front of the Cotswolds, Surely they could have found an industrial estate or similar for it?

I remember a holiday in Shropshire years ago, with my girlfriend of the time. We stayed for a week in Wem, and I think we did visit the Church Stretton area one day, and walked up one of the nearby hills. As well as Bridgenorth - cliff-railway and all - and Ironbridge.

jackcros · 70-79, M

@ArishMell the ways of local authorities are very strange.

Ironbridge is one place I haven’t visited, but it is on my (iron) bucket list.

ArishMell · 70-79, M

@jackcros They are indeed. I don't know was responsible there though - the local or county council, or the Dept. of Transport. I'd have thought the latter would have objected in no uncertain terms.