On the other side

On 06 May 202606 May 2026 By geoffspagesIn Dunbar, Photography, WalksLeave a comment

The clifftop paths to the west of Dunbar are the most spectacular, without a doubt, but to the east there’s a quiet and pleasant shoreline way, lined on one side by Dunbar golf course, and the other by ragged rocks and the North Sea. It’s another fine, dry and sunny day, but there’s a biting east wind. We’ll find a sheltered spot amid the rocks, to sit in the sunshine for a while, before retracing our steps to the baker’s shop for goodies to go with our afternoon tea.

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=368945&Y=678485&A=Y&Z=115

Tyneside: the hidden toun

On 05 May 202605 May 2026 By geoffspagesIn Dunbar, Photography, WalksLeave a comment

No, not that Tyne! This Tyne rises at Tynehead in Midlothian, not far south of Edinburgh, and flows into the North Sea near Dunbar, at the mouth of the Firth of Forth. We’re at Haddington (apparently known as the ‘hidden toun’, it doesn’t seem hidden to me!) for a light lunch and a short stroll. It’s a cold day, so we’re not hanging around, but it could be worth a return visit. (The cakes at the cafe looked wonderful, but I don’t think we’d have done justice to them after our lunch – another good reason to revisit Haddington…)

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=351485&Y=673505&A=Y&Z=120

A sunny Dunny dawdle

On 04 May 202604 May 2026 By geoffspagesIn Dunbar, Photography, Uncategorized, WalksLeave a comment

A leisurely wander along the shoreline at Dunbar, from the western cliffs to the harbour. It’s a fine sunny afternoon, with the waters of the Firth of Forth reflecting the blue sky. It’s great to be out and about.

It's breezy too... A view to the Bass Rock

View OS map on Streeetmap http://streetmap.co.uk/map?X=367500&Y=678500&A=Y&Z=120

Yellow fields and a blue sky

On 21 Apr 202621 Apr 2026 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

Oilseed rape – looks like the sun’s shining, even when it isn’t. It’s shining this evening – can’t help it, there’s not a cloud in the sky, but with a stiff breeze from the east, it’s not warm. Keep moving!

Shirlett - the seat and the notice board

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=364800&Y=299250&A=Y&Z=120

High Vinnals

On 19 Apr 202619 Apr 2026 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, Walks1 Comment

No great height (375m, 1,235ft), but a great viewpoint. For now, that is – the trees are doing their best to obscure the views… From the summit the mass of Radnor Forest predominates in a wonderful panorama of borderland lands. On the approach, over Climbing Jack Common, the Shropshire heights are at their best. Descending again, the Black Mountains fill the horizon, but it’s the spiky little peak of Skirrid Fawr that catches the eye.
Descending through the forest, there are few long views. We’ll concentrate on things close at hand, starting with a small herd of roe deer trotting through the trees. Mostly gone by the time the camera was raised and zoomed, the last two paused conveniently (and very briefly) for a grab shot.
It had seemed busy near the Black Pool car park, but as ever, the numbers thinned rapidly as we drew further away from the start. Other than the deer and a lone cyclist, we had the woodland return to ourselves

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=348595&Y=272011&A=Y&Z=120

Spring comes to Shirlett

On 18 Apr 202618 Apr 2026 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

Inevitably… It’s been a week or two since we were last along here – what a change. It may look idyllic (it does!) but looks are deceptive. This mornings peace is shattered by the unbelievable racket of a clay pigeon shoot. Are the “sportsmen” unspeakable? They’re certainly in pursuit of the uneatable…

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=365790&Y=298180&A=Y&Z=120

Spuds

On 18 Apr 202618 Apr 2026 By geoffspagesIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Friday 17 April: an evening out. That’s ‘out’ in the sense of ‘fresh air’ – it’s fine and sunny, and the first opportunity this year for a post-6pm stroll. We won’t go far – just a wander past the Boldings pools and back along the lane. The farmer’s been planting potatoes – the fields are deeply furrowed, and as the sun nears the horizon, the red soil glows in the evening light.

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=371155&Y=296878&A=Y&Z=115

Spring greens and bluebells

On 16 Apr 202616 Apr 2026 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

Spring is well under way – everywhere looks green now. It’s hardly monotonous though. The bluebells are coming to the fore in the woods and the verges, while in Britons Lane there’s a spike of unwholesome pink – toothwort, almost hidden by the rapidly rising green tide.

We won't need our umbellifers this morning

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=367465&Y=298391&A=Y&Z=120

A cold morning

On 13 Apr 202613 Apr 2026 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

Sunny though, and the sunshine’s warm. There’s sunshine in the fields too – oilseed rape, not quite fully in bloom, but eye-catching in the landscape. We’re out fairly early (after a surprise overnight frost) – the clouds will build and there will be showers later.

We’ve been playing with AI recently, mainly to try (with some success) to revive some seriously faded old slides (dare I mention Agfa CT18 and Perutz?). It can also paint! “Please create a watercolour painting from this photo” – here’s the result, another way of looking at this morning’s outing

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=366750&Y=296360&A=Y&Z=120

A Shirlett Round

On 02 Apr 202602 Apr 2026 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, Walks1 Comment

More a wonky egg-shape perhaps…
…which begins up Round Hill, then along Shirlett Lane, cuts across the fields and join the lane past Hannigan’s Farm and the Hurst Farm pools. The Shirlett – Hannigan’s stretch always feels remote – a public footpath without a visible trodden way, well-hidden and possibly little-known. Perfect for a quiet walk on an equally perfect afternoon.