We’re walking from Langley Chapel to Church Preen and back. We walked this way in January, so we’ll do it anticlockwise this time. There are one or two showers about – just a few drops in the wind, but enough to provide a couple of rainbows. The wind is more significant – up on the ridge from Broome to Church Preen, it’s really blowing, but the sun is shining and the views are wonderful (when we can see over the hedge).
We’ve visited Langley Chapel before – for photos see https://geoffspages.blog/2016/03/25/langley-chapel/

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That’s the weather (nothing to do with what we used to call ‘coffee’) – no sunshine, hazy, a grey sky and flat lighting. It’s pleasant to be out, wandering across the fields from Barrow to Wyke and back, but there’s no drama in the landscape – even the autumn colours are subdued.

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We’re exploring the lanes between the Wenlock Edge and the Stretton Hills. Although they’re barely two miles apart, Rushbury lies beneath the Edge, while  Willstone Hill’s Battle Stones and Caer Caradoc define Cardington. They may be quiet, but the villages feel prosperous, and Cardington’s Royal Oak is the archetypal English pub (no, not today…). Walking anticlockwise from Wall-under-Heywood, we reach the highest point on our route as we pass – and we’d better visit – the Sharpstones, where rocks poke out of the hilltop pasture. From there it’s all downhill…

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…in Birch Coppice and Causeway Wood, a forested hill between the Stretton hills and the Wenlock Edge. We hadn’t intended to come here today, but at the starting point for our planned walk, there were several horse boxes, and a quad-bike loaded with wicker hampers was just arriving. We’ll move on…
We’d been here five years ago (see ‘Birch Coppice‘), and resolved to revisit. Once again, our plans changed when we found the path ahead was deep in near-impenetrable mud. We’ll follow the forestry road and see where we get to. The road in question goes around perhaps ¾ of the hill, and given that this is access land, there could be a path completing the circuit*. When we arrived at the scene of serious-looking forestry operations (there were warning signs and several huge stacks of timber awaiting transport) we decided to retrace our steps, and try again another day.
* The aerial images on Google Maps seem to show such a path. Next time!

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Like yesterday, we’re out in the morning – for the same reason. Rain’s forecast for the afternoon (once again, accurately). Some early mist is lingering, clearing only slowly, and there are some splendid sunbeams along the lane. No shortage of interesting fungi either – some old friends and some new surprises!

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Sounds great, doesn’t it? Catherton Common, then Silvington Common, but first, Cramer Gutter, appropriately the low point of a wander around this strange area to the north-east of Magpie Hill. Remains of old bell pits abound, and there are former squatters’ cottages everywhere. The paths are not always obvious, but the sheep seem to know where they’re going. Perfect for a cool, bright and sometimes sunny October afternoon!

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