The bit in between

Hmm yes, the Limestone Way, Staffordshire Way and Shropshire Way - into each hike some rain must fall, and most of it has fallen since we left the Alternative Pennine Way and struck out across the lowlands on these trails, towards Offa's Dyke on the Welsh border.

There's been a lot of fields of crops to walk through and round, overgrown footpaths, ploughed up footpaths, missing stiles, mud and torrential rain, but it's not been all bad.

And now we're at Ironbridge Gorge, the so-called birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, and looking forward to an interesting day of industrial archaeology before a short walk along the trail to Much Wenlock this evening.

But today we're in civilised society, a world of visitor attractions, teashops and toilets - so we'll try to behave properly and not drop too much mud on the floor!