…is a scarce commodity. The Met Office said “sunny day”, but that’s not quite what we experienced. There was a silver lining, so to speak, in the skyscapes and sunbeams – much more dramatic than unbroken blue. There was a rainbow too, briefly. There was “<5%” likelihood of rain, but there must have been some drops blowing in the breeze. We didn’t get wet, and after several rainy days, it was good to be out in this airy stretch of country

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A foggy morning, clearing to sunshine by early afternoon. We’d better get out there and enjoy it. We’ll take a short wander from the usual spot at Shirlett, down the other lane to the top of Hawthorn Bank and back. Short maybe, but plenty to see – the mist lingering over Wenlock Edge and Brown Clee, but clearing steadily – and some wonderful fungus in the forest.

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Need to make the most of sunshine in the month of shortest days! Just a week ago, workmen were clearing the trees – standing and fallen – below the Lower Pool dam. I was on my own that day – now, Mrs Geoffspages wants to have a look. Happily they seem to have finished – the stacks of timber have significantly diminished; the men and their machines have all gone. So have the trees (there are plenty more beyond this short stretch of the valley of Linley Brook).

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The next daylight will be winter daylight – by the Met Office’s definition (an entirely sensible one), the season starts on 1 December. Today’s last daylight of November and autumn is very pleasant, when the sun shines, though it’s a bit more hit-and-miss than we expected (were there a few spots of rain in the breeze?). The high ground of this walk, south-east of Meadowley, is its highlight, and the sun does its best to provide us with the conditions for some pleasing photos. It’s good up here!

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…are perfect for a short walk along Shirlett Lane. From today, until the end of December, the sun will set before 4pm. To be precise, the days from 10th to the 16th see the very earliest sunset times (according to Sky at Night Magazine). Yes, before the solstice. I’ve never quite been able to work out why that should be. Anyway, we’d better get out there while it’s light and dry. Surprisingly mild too – more than 10C warmer than it was for my walk on Tuesday.

Around the estate on a fine afternoon! I’m starting from Willey, and immediately there are great changes ahead. Last December, many trees blew down below the Lower Pool dam. Now there are great piles of timber waiting to be carted away, and heavy machinery at work. It’s a scene of devastation – mud everywhere! The mess of fallen trees wasn’t pretty, and of course it will all green up again, but suddenly the landscape has changed. For the first time, we can see across the valley to the ‘green drive’, an old road to the Willey estate.

I’m carrying sandwiches, apple, nuts and a flask of tea. I was planning to sit on the bench outside St Giles’ church at Barrow, but it’s gone! What will I do? Then I remembered – a few weeks ago, a tree just across the road was cut down – and a fine simple wooden throne carved into the much-shortened trunk. Perfect!

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Baucott – Broncroft – Tugford, an old favourite. It’s particularly good at this time of year, given photogenic weather… There’s a herd of friendly-looking longhorn cattle beside the road, there’s an intact and inhabited castle, there are fine views in most directions. On this potentially showery afternoon, however, the sky rules the scene (and no, we didn’t get wet).

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Caughley Road: sunny, frosty, still – and very cold. By the time we’ve reached the far end (beyond which the lane slopes steeply down to the valley) we’ve warmed up a little. Take the camera out of the bag – it needs some exercise too.

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…but bright and sunny. In the shadier places (like the first quarter-mile) the frost hasn’t completely lifted, and it’s bitter! We’ve warmed up a little when we get to the brow of the hill, where the warmth from the sun is very pleasant. It’s good to be out on an afternoon like this!

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