History amid the buttercups at Clun

A study in yellow - sunlight picks out buttercups swaying in the breeze at Clun Castle.

History amid the buttercups at Clun

This romantic ruin is thought to have been the inspiration for Garde Doleureuse in Sir Walter Scott’s novel The Betrothed.

It is believed that Sir Walter worked on the book while he was staying at the Buffalo Inn in the Square.

The castle sits high on a rocky mound at the edge of Clun, and is dominated by its great tower,

It was founded shortly after the Norman Conquest and suffered a number of attacks from across the Welsh border.

During the 14th century it was used as a hunting lodge but it became increasingly neglected, and by 1539 it was reported as ruinous.

I visited on a beautiful, peaceful evening, when it was easy to understand why A E Housman describes Clun as one of the ‘quietest places under the sun’ in A Shropshire Lad.

Published by Shropshire and Beyond on

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2024
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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
A look back at our best images from 2022 A winter's afternoon in snowy Ironbridge Harvest time in the Stretton Hills Full moon over Ludlow and St Laurence's One foot in the past in misty Clun Valley Autumn glory as sun rises over Ludlow Misty sunrise over beautiful Corvedale Rocks and gnarled trees in 'wild' Shropshire Veteran yew beneath slopes of Brown Clee A different view of the Shropshire landscape Early-morning reflection at Ironbridge Sunset on ancient oak known as Ronsak Harvest time beneath the Long Mynd Quiet reflection on the Severn at Ironbridge A magical morning on the Stiperstones A stroll into the history of Shrewsbury Peace and quiet on Nordy Bank hill fort Brilliant blaze of red near Much Wenlock Call of the cuckoo in lovely Ashes Hollow Golden glow on church and Titterstone Clee History amid the buttercups at Clun Timeless scene on historic Wyle Cop Out and about on Wenlock Edge A rhapsody in blue across the county Dramatic skies in the Stretton Hills Blossom and blue sky in an English heaven Mist and birdsong in the Clun Valley Storm clouds over the Devil's Chair A walk into history down Grope Lane Springtime in the Thankful Village Tragic tale of the 'hurricane' family Power and glory of two Shropshire castles Carpet of spring flowers at Shipton A landscape of white beneath the Wrekin Glorious morning over north Shropshire Misty sunrise over the Onny valley Snow and ice on the summit of Brown Clee
2021
A look back at our best images from 2021 Sea of white as sun rises over Bridgnorth My home from home in the Clun Valley Autumn reflections in the Llangollen Canal Flash of colour over Titterstone Clee Harvest time in the shadow of the Wrekin Sunshine and rain at Stokesay Castle Magical view as sun rises over Shropshire Landscape that inspired novelist Mary Webb A step back in time along Offa's Dyke Village that may have inspired Conan Doyle Sunrise and silence in the Shropshire Hills A bird's-eye view of Shropshire Spectacular sunrise over Ludlow Patchwork of green beneath Moyledd Hill Evening sunlight on Titterstone Clee Hailstorms, wind and rain on Caer Caradoc Spectacular blossom across Shropshire Light and shadows on the Stiperstones A frosty morning on Whitcliffe Common Spring blossoms into life in beautiful Clun A view of Bridgnorth with a difference Brief encounter on Hopesay Common Sunshine and snow on Caer Caradoc Dark shadow of a Civil War massacre Pink glow of moonrise over the Wrekin
2020
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2019
End of an era at Ironbridge Sunset picture in national magazine

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