Simon Whaley
Author, writer and photographer
Simon Whaley is a Shropshire-based author, writer, and photographer. His illustrated travel and countryside features appear in many of the UK’s most popular magazines. He’s a member of the Outdoor Writers and Photographer Guild. In 2006, he received their Award of Excellence for his walking features in Country & Border Life magazine. Simon’s British landscape photos frequently feature in calendars and UK national newspapers. As a BBC WeatherWatcher (Snapper Simon), his images regularly showcase Shropshire’s varied weather in regional and national forecasts.
Recent articles by Simon Whaley
This fortified island off the coast of Wales was once home to monkeys and an alligator
Once home to a chapel, a fort, a luxury home and a zoo, this tiny tidal island beside the seaside town of Tenby is a true wonder of the Welsh coastline.
Britain's best Christmas markets 2024
Find the perfect Christmas present and enjoy an afternoon drinking mulled wine and eating delicious festive treats with our guide to the best Christmas markets to visit in the UK in 2024
5 famous writers' homes you can holiday in, from Roald Dahl's childhood holiday home to the Queen of Crime Agatha Christie's house
Fancy sleeping where your favourite writers lived, worked or holidayed? Explore Agatha Christie's Devon retreat and follow in the footsteps of Roald Dahl with our top five literary lodgings.
Kinver Edge walk, Staffordshire
This four-mile walk on the edge of Kinver takes in the Holy Austin Rock Houses before navigating stunning Kinver Edge to reach Nanny's Rock
Whinlatter Forest walk, Cumbria
Go Ape, Park Run, bike trails and miles of walking tracks - Whinlatter Forest has something for everyone. Experience a taste of the forest park with this 3.4-mile circular walk
Cannock Chase walk, Staffordshire
Explore the forest, heathland and wildlife of Cannock Chase on this 6.5-mile circular walk, starting and ending at Cannock Chase Visitor Centre
Haystacks walk, Lake District
Wander the shores of Buttermere then climb to the summit of Haystacks and the ethereal Innominate Tarn – where Alfred Wainwright's ashes were scattered – on this 7.4-mile route in the Lake District National Park
Ironbridge, Shropshire walk
From pioneering bridges and riverside trails to a host of magnificent museums, this 4.7-mile walk through Ironbridge Gorge has something for everyone
The Lawley, Shropshire walk
This small mount in the Stretton Hills makes for wonderful introduction to walking in Shropshire
Walk: Long Mynd, Shropshire
Shropshire’s charming Long Mynd deserves its ‘Little Switzerland’ nickname. But one man’s survival during a miraculous night in the snow shows how wild this landscape can be.
Walk: Rydal and Grasmere, Cumbria
On this six-mile walk in Wordsworth country, the Lake District's autumn hues rival those of New England
Llangorse Lake, Powys
Roam the shores of South Wales’ largest natural lake where birds gather in their thousands.
Best farm shops in the UK
Discover Britain's best local, home-grown produce with a trip to a farm shop near you.
Walk: Dinas Head, Pembrokeshire
Head to the west coast of Wales to discover Dinas Head’s cosy coves, romantic ruins and a wheelchair-friendly path.
British coronation sites to visit today
Discover seven sites where the coronations of British monarchs took place – each worthy of a royal walk
Walk: Holme Wood and Loweswater, Cumbria
Holme Wood lies not far from the Lake District National Park boundary and sits on the shores of one of its most idyllic lakes – explore this special corner of Britain with a four-mile walk.
Day out: Cors Dyfi, Powys
There is more to Cors Dyfi than ospreys – look too for vibrant bog flowers, sunbathing lizards and zipping dragonflies from the reserve’s wheelchair-friendly boardwalk
Walk: New Quay, Ceredigion
Dylan Thomas spent one of the most poignant years of his life in New Quay, from 1944–45. A little over 60 years later, his tale was told in film. Explore the romantic coastline where it was shot.
Day out: Afon Teifi, Pembrokeshire
Enjoy an autumn outing to the small Welsh village of Cenarth, where Afon Teifi plays host to an awe-inspiring natural event
Walk: Lower Fishguard, Pembrokeshire
Follow in the footsteps of film stars, French invaders and herring fishermen in the colourful coastal village of Lower Fishguard
Walk: Rockcliffe to Kippford, Dumfries and Galloway
Explore Dumfries and Galloway’s blooming Rough Firth, a Scottish inlet dotted with tidal islands, gorse-clad hills and woodlands brimming with the sweet scent of bluebells in this four-mile walk
Day out: Mortimer Forest, Herefordshire
Explore the mysterious marvels of the Welsh Marches’ fabled Mortimer Forest
Drive: Welsh Marches castle route
Turbulent for centuries, the Anglo-Welsh Border was heavily fortified. Today you can visit seven beautiful bastions on a splendid two-day tour through the Shropshire Hills
Walk: Acton Burnell, Shropshire
Step through a dark woodland in rural Shropshire and discover a hidden world of historic parliaments and a long-abandoned church on this six-mile circular walk.