Author: geoffspages

To Atterley

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

…from Much Wenlock, through leafy lanes and orchards to this hamlet at the end of a very minor road. As well as the road, which we would need to use to continue our wanderings, three public footpaths meet at Atterley (the one we’re on and two others) – but there seems to be no obvious connection between the paths and the road, and the rights of way on the OS map don’t correspond with the signing around the settlement. A kind and helpful young lady pointed us in the right direction – “you’re not the first I’ve had to help”, or words to that effect…
Heading back, a long straight lane takes us to towards Callaughton, then we head across the fields (with the oilseed rape towering above us) and down another leafy lane to return to Wenlock. An interesting and most enjoyable walk!

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=362765&Y=298325&A=Y&Z=120

Six of the best!

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13 May – a selection from outings on this day over the years.
2006: 6024 “King Edward I” recreates the days of the steam-hauled Cambrian Coast Express as it hurries through Wellington (and see https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1847976913?tag=duc08-21&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1) (advert!)
2012: From the subline to… This little locomotive was having fun on the Kinver minature railway (it’s called “Boris”, poor thing!)
2015: There be pirates on the river!
2016: Tracks to the Trenches at Apedale, a reminder of what was happening 100 years earlier
2017: Invasion of the traction engines! A fine fleet of steam-powered vehicles chuffed their way around the local roads, marking 50 years of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum
2019: Another Place: a visit to the installation of Antony Gormley sculptures on Crosby Beach. This one had had too much of the drink…

A change of scene

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, Walks1 Comment

We’re walking past Hurst Farm pools, then across the field to Shore Pool, where there are bluebells in the woods. The estate road takes us up past the house at Aldenham Park, and soon after, we’ve closed the circle and are heading back past the pools towards the car. We were here just two months ago – what a change! The bare fields are now green – and yellow; the trees are in leaf, and it’s good to be somewhere different. It almost feels like being on holiday, just four miles from home…

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=366905&Y=295705&A=Y&Z=120

Three steam days

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Railways...Leave a comment

12 May 2011: a pair of Black 5s heading south-west, over the Central Wales line – we drove out to see them crossing Knucklas viaduct, on the climb to Llangunllo – and heard them long after they’d passed, until the sound was swallowed by the tunnel.
12 May 2012: three locomotives on two separate trains. 60163 “Tornado” would be coming north in the morning, and heading south again late afternoon. Meanwhile, another pair of Black 5s would be bringing a train north from the Central Wales line.
12 May 2018: Bulleid pacific 34052 “Lord Dowding” (it’s really 34046 “Braunton”) will be hauling a train southwards in the morning. After it’s passed, we’re off to visit a number of old watermills – it was “National Mills Weekend”. See “Watermills in border country“

Once more…

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The wind has dropped, and the air is a touch warmer – it’s pleasant to be out. We’re walking past the old mines and along the little dark, damp lane, under the trees and through the wild garlic. Emerging from the other end is like passing from one world to another, but at the end we’ll turn back and retrace our steps.

Three outings

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Railways...Leave a comment

11 May 2003: a visit to the Abbey Light Railway, near Kirkstall Abbey, Leeds. Visit “Abbey Light Railway” on Geoff’s Rail Diaries for more on this lovely little line, sadly now closed and gone.
11 May 2019: a Shropshire Railway Society 50th Anniversary special train on the Welshpool and Llanfair Railway. There’s an illustrated account of the trip at “SRS 50 on the W&L” on Geoff’s Rail Diaries.
11 May 2015: a fine May day on Wenlock Edge.

It’s cold!

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Yesterday we walked in our shirtsleeves – today we’re wearing wind-proof jackets and still feeling cold. What a difference in 24 hours! Was that a flurry of snowflakes? No, just the wind whipping the blossom off the hawthorn (is it any wonder the stereotypical Briton talks about the weather?). It’s dull and grey too, so I’ve switched to monochrome – except for the year’s first wild rose, which deserves full colour.