First one this year – a walk in the early evening. It’s been showery all day, but the clouds have cleared (there are still some big ones on the horizon – someone not far away may be thinking “what a horrible wet evening”). Familar territory – the loop around Willey and Linley Brook – looking different in this lovely light.
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=367585&Y=298270&A=Y&Z=120
It’s a tarred surface, but the surrounding are especially green in the odd burst of morning sunlight. With showers forecast after lunch, we’re enjoying a quick morning sortie on Shirlett Lane
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=365897&Y=298107&A=Y&Z=115
We’re across the river today for a wander around Ironbridge and Coalbrookdale. The former can be busy, and there are major road works along the Wharfage – we’ll avoid them both by following just some of the minor roads, lanes, ginnels and snickets in this fascinating area.
Near the top of Church Hill, we find ourselves at the place where we stood in December 2019 to watch the power station cooling towers being demolished – see Bang! and the ‘before and after’ photos below.
Remarkably, in a walk a little under 5 miles, we’ve done nearly 1,000ft of ascent. Truly, a walk in the Shropshire hills!
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=367262&Y=304117&A=Y&Z=120
We’ve walked this route several times – today we’ll vary it slightly at the start, taking the direct(ish) path to Barrow from Shirlett Farm. There’s a dark smudge of smoke on the horizon – later we find that a Telford recycling depot has gone up in flames. No smoke here – the air seems especially fresh today, and Shropshire is turning noticeably green. It’ll soon be summer!
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=366190&Y=299095&A=Y&Z=120
Out past the fishing pools near Hurst Farm, down the drive at Aldenham, skirt the potato field, pass Shore Pool, up through the next field, through the copse and back along the lane past the fishing pools. Once again, there’s a cool breeze, but it’s pleasant in the sunshine.
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=366905&Y=295705&A=Y&Z=120
…and back via Bould Lane and Linley Brook. Another pleasant wander around a quiet part of the county. There’s a well-hidden bank vole rustling beside the path, and later we glimpse deer in the woods – no chance of a photo today though.
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=367605&Y=298165&A=Y&Z=120
A Shropshire hill with a Welsh name, on St George’s day. England’s patron saint was born in Turkey to Greek parents, a former Roman soldier who never came to Britain (and certainly never slew any dragons!) It’s a popular outing – several others around (we can hear them!) but we can enjoy an al fresco lunch just below the summit and watch the trains go by, 300m below. Above us are red kites, but they’re camera shy today. Perhaps I can get a shot of one of these big noisy dragonflies…
We leave Caractacus’s fort and head back towards Cardington via the Battle Stones and Hill End – an altogether quieter conclusion to another great day out.
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=349110&Y=295075&A=Y&Z=120
A regular route from Much Wenlock – to Bannister’s Coppice, through Traps Coppice down the old wagonway and back up through Homer. Always an enjoyable outing, especially on a day like this, in cool air under a clear blue sky.
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=362150&Y=302080&A=Y&Z=120
After yesterday’s unbroken blue, today the skies are cloudier – white fluffy cumulus, big enough eventually for (happily, on our short journey home) a few spots of rain. Let’s park at Benthall Hall, and check out the bluebell woods. It’s a bit early for them, but there should be a few in flower.
Moving on from the bluebells, we stop for a moment to watch something scurrying in the undergrowth – some rustling, some twitching vegetation and two or three very brief glimpses of a small furry body. A mouse? A vole? Hard to say – it’s not keen on being studied. We continue via Workhouse Coppice to Benthall Edge, which we follow as far as Wyke, returning to the hall by the quiet lane and the fields.
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=365860&Y=302695&A=Y&Z=120
Not a cloud in the sky! The sunshine is lovely; the air’s still cool – perfect weather for a walk. Not perfect for photography – a few puffy white clouds, or some wispy cirrus would have been good, and it’s hazy. Mustn’t complain – it’s really pleasant up here – almost no-one else about. The highest hill in the county, and it’s all ours this afternoon!
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=359830&Y=285880&A=Y&Z=120
geoffspages.blog 