Birch Coppice

On 31 Oct 201515 Nov 2016 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, Walks1 Comment

It’s a wooded ridge, west of Wenlock Edge; beyond is the eye-catching Lawley. I’d only recently realised that this little bit of country is access land, and the Google satellite pictures appeared to show that the highest ground, with a nameless summit (304m) and trig point, had been cleared of forest. They had – but new growth is shooting up, and away from the taller trees, a thick undergrowth of bracken and the occasional bramble make the going slow. Not to mention the soft peaty ground and deep horseshoe-shaped hoof prints… We retraced our steps to easier walking back along the ridge towards Hoar Edge, before following the lane back down to the car. We’ll perhaps return for further exploration – in early spring, before the new season’s growth has begun.

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=351550&Y=298548&A=Y&Z=120

The mist came down

On 31 Oct 201515 Nov 2016 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

Blue sky by lunchtime, with lots of nice wispy cirrus – an ideal afternoon for the hills? We drove out to Hope Bowdler, but the clouds regrouped (despite the forecast) and, by the time we arrived at the Battlestones, the mist was coming down. No return along the ridge today – we’ll take the lower path and keep the views.

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=347905&Y=293531&A=Y&Z=120

Autumn in the dale

On 28 Oct 201515 Nov 2016 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, Walks1 Comment

That’s Coalbrookdale – and Ironbridge – a good place for a pleasant walk on a sunny afternoon, after a couple of rainy days. There’s no shortage of visitors in the vicinity of the bridge (it is half-term week, after all), but away from the bridge it’s quiet. The leaves are coming down rapidly now – the trees will soon lose their colour.

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=367255&Y=304041&A=Y&Z=120

A last look at Royal Scot

On 25 Oct 201525 Oct 2015 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Railways...Leave a comment

On our way to the arboretum, we called in on the Severn Valley Railway, for a last look at Royal Scot, and perhaps Tornado too. It wasn’t an entirely successful trip… This is the best photo; there are three others on “Royal Scot” (I’d never make a salesman, would I?) on Geoff’s Rail Diaries.

At Arley

On 25 Oct 2015 By geoffspagesIn Photography1 Comment

Where have all the toadstools gone? Arley arboretum is a pleasant spot in autumn – the trees are very colourful at present, and on previous occasions, there have been all kinds of fungi everywhere. Today there were hardly any – apart from several large clumps, almost in a ring, amongst the tallest trees.

Arley Arboretum

Shrewsbury Signalboxes

On 19 Oct 2015 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Railways...Leave a comment

Just published to Geoff’s Rail Diaries – an account of Saturday’s visit to three of Shrewsbury’s wonderful mechanical signalboxes – and 30 pictures. Visit “Salop’s boxes” now!

A privileged position

On 17 Oct 2015 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Railways...Leave a comment

SBJ - One hundred and eighty! — SBJ – One hundred and eighty!

…looking down on the trains running in and out of Shrewsbury station, from three of its now-famous signal boxes. Shrewsbury is an island of mechanical signalling, a survivor because of its complexity, among other things. It came within a hair’s breadth of resignalling perhaps 30 years ago (what would we have been left with? Fewer platforms and less track, I suspect – and insufficient capacity for today’s intensive services). Its fame? Primarily because, for the last few years, Severn Bridge Junction, with its 180-lever frame, has been the biggest mechanical signalbox in the world. Wow! More photos will follow in a day or two, on Geoff’s Rail Diaries; in the meantime, a taster…

The Munslows – an afternoon on the Edge

On 14 Oct 201514 Oct 2015 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

One we’ve done many times – park at Aston Munslow, then follow field tracks and, in places, sunken and/or hidden ways, along the second of the Wenlock Edges. It’s higher here than the generally more obvious first edge, to the north-west, topping out at 324m – about 1063ft. There are autumn leaves, toadstools, blackberries (still), crazy pheasants, and fine views to the Clee hills and Mortimer Forest. The last downhill stretch into Munslow is particularly deep and well hidden; the surface is, in places, the rock of the Wenlock Edge.

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=351160&Y=287706&A=Y&Z=120

The Honeypot and Willey

On 11 Oct 2015 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

Walking from Broseley to the Willey estates, via the quaintly-named “Honeypot” (a short row of houses). Another fine afternoon (we’ve been spoilt recently! – though it is getting cooler) with autumn colours and atmosphere.