Mostly quiet ways on the west bank of the Severn: out via Astley Abbotts, then via Colemore Green to the river bank. The old railway track is busy with bicycles, but we’re not on it for long, and it’s quiet again as we climb up through Chestnut Coppice and back to the start.
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Another fine sunny afternoon – once again, the air’s cool but the sunshine is warm – it’s good to be out in this quiet little corner of the county. Lots of new green things sprouting everywhere!
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…will be followed by a cloudy afternoon, according to the forecast. We’d better get out there. A walk to the far end of Red Lane and back, enjoying the skyscapes and blossom in profusion. The air’s cold, but the sun’s warm, there’s no wind and hardly anyone else about – wonderful!
Back to the hills! A beautiful sunny afternoon again. The air’s cool but there’s no wind – it’s great to be out on the hills near Church Stretton, on a circular walk from Cardington. We follow the usual route through Willstone towards Caer Caradoc, but instead of continuing towards that popular summit, we turn to the left and head for the rocky turret of the Battle Stones on the edge of Willstone Hill. The views towards to north Shropshire plain are extensive, so it’s a good place for chocolate. Completing the circle (it’s more like a rectangle), we’ll visit the Sharpstones – an unlikely little rocky ridge in a field – and look back on our route.
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A short walk around the lanes near Willey, concentrating mainly on things close at hand.
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A circular walk from Benthall Hall. The NT car park is busy (and noisy!), but once we’re into the fields it’s a different world. The sky’s a deep blue today, with puffy white clouds (how do they stay up there? They looks so solid!). As we walk up the lane to the Vineyards, there’s a rustling in the woods, perhaps 30m away. As we stand still and silent, ten fallow deer make their careful way through the trees (the camera would have been busy, but we can barely see them. I’m sure they can see us!). Beyond, the path through the trees along Benthall Edge is pleasant, the sunlight picking out the bright green of new leaves.
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Just cross the road from Cound’s Guildhall and we’re in the fields beside the brook, which today is truly babbling, the water sparkling in the sunshine. We leave the brook to cut across the edge of the woods and over to Harnage, where we’re spoilt for choice – far more footpaths than we need! The quiet lane takes us back to the Guildhall – we’ll have a look in the charity bookshop before setting off for home.
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Soft hail is pattering on our shoulders as we leave the house – is this outing a mistake? There are showers about, obviously, but once again we succeed in dodging them, until the very last minute of our walk, when a few more soft white blobs descend. Along the old Corvedale road, we’re following a chattery group of walkers, but after pausing at Tigger’s Ickle Shop, they continue along Rowe Lane. We turn away from the lane, to pass Thonglands – now all we can hear is curlews in the fields. Much better!
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A morning walk at Shirlett. It’s cold and not exactly clear, but there’s no wind and the sun’s trying to shine, picking out the new year’s growth in the woods. It’s quiet up here, very pleasant for a short stroll.
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On the map, the public footpath along the north bank of Linley Brook, east of Linley Bridge, looks inviting. When we tried to access it a few weeks ago, we encountered thickets of brambles and, unable to see a path, gave up. When I heard, earlier today, that the obstruction had been cleared, I decided we ought to try again.
As we’d hoped, there was little difficulty today in starting along the way, and the path looked usable. At times it’s close to the brook, which runs here in a mini-gorge on a rocky bed – beautiful! However, it became increasingly clear that we were the only two-legged users of the path for some time, and eventually it seemed to peter out as more brambles gathered. We might be able to continue in the field just beyond the jungle – let’s try it. Yes, sure enough, there are the waymarkers – we’ve made it, and we’re soon back to civilisation! A most interesting and enjoyable exploration, but emphatically not to be attempted in shorts…
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