Author: geoffspages

To the Wrekin!

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

For complex (and mildly embarrassing*) reasons, a walk on the Long Mynd became a walk up the Wrekin. The hill is lower and the walk shorter, but it’s not an inferior substitute – it provides us with a very enjoyable leg stretch and a good place to sit and enjoy our sandwiches. Afterwards, tea and cake in Much Wenlock replace the intended refreshments in the Carding Mill pavilion – similarly, not at all inferior. A most enjoyable little outing!

*I forgot my boots!

View OS map on Streetmap https://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=363280&Y=308451&A=Y&Z=120

December days

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

First day of December – and first day of (meteorological) winter. They’re short, but when they’re dry and sunny, it’s good to be out. It’s a familiar route for us – out past Hurst Farm pools, down through the field (a significant part of which came home on our boots) to Shore Pool, and back up the estate road past Aldenham Park. Most enjoyable!

View OS map on Streetmap https://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=366995&Y=295721&A=Y&Z=120

 

It’ll soon be Christmas

On By geoffspagesIn PhotographyLeave a comment

1st December: yesterday evening the lights were switched on – we’d better go and record the jolly scenes. There’s always a good turnout for this event, weather permitting – which it did. It’s cold, clear and dry – perfect for the fireworks, and once it’s over, we’ll head swiftly for home, pausing only to record one local resident’s personal take on the season (with a donation box for charity). Merry Christmas from Broseley!

There’s no-one here!

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

We’ve had lunch, the rain has stopped and the sky has cleared, so we’re taking a stroll from Ironbridge to the top of Coalbrookdale and back. It’s a pleasant afternoon – mild, bright and mostly dry (it’s trying to rain when we get back to the car). But where are all the people? There’s no-one else on the bridge, the Wharfage is deserted, Coalbrookdale’s quiet. Most unusual!

View OS map on Streetmap https://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=366895&Y=304151&A=Y&Z=120

To Calton Hill and the museum

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Monday 18 November: there’s a clear blue sky, but it’s an icy cold morning at Newhaven harbour. The walk, this time up the old railway track to Scotland Street, warms us up, and by the time we’re atop Calton Hill, we’re positively glowing. The views, especially to Fife and the Forth, are extensive, but it’s busy. “Let’s go and spend an hour or so in the museum”. Perhaps we’ll get a bite to eat there too? We’re distracted by the wonders on display, and soon it’s time to make our way back to Waverley for the train journey home.

National Museum of Scotland

Leith walking

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…from the bitterly-cold Forth shore to the tourist hordes in the old town.
Sunday 17 November: we walked from Newhaven to Leith, following the water’s edge where we could, then headed inland to the top of Leith Walk. We’re in Edinburgh now: I shudder to think what the Royal Mile must be like in high summer. We’ll try to find a quieter route to Waverley, where we’ve an appointment with the 13.11 train to the Borders Railway.

From Princes Street to Wallgate Street

On By geoffspagesIn NT and EH, Photography, Railways...Leave a comment

Busy days!
Saturday 16 November: off to Edinburgh, on the train from Crewe.
Sunday: an ice-cold start on the Forth’s shore at Newhaven and Leith, then up Leith Walk (on foot, of course) for a brief spot of tourism in Edinburgh’s old town.
Monday: another frosty morning. This time we’ll use the old railway track to Scotland Street, and we’ll visit Calton Hill and the National Museum of Scotland. A full day wouldn’t have done justice to the museum, and we’ve only got a couple of hours before our train for home.
Tuesday: a day off, and an hour or so of fresh air down by the Severn, where the bridge is looking good in the late-afternoon light.
Wednesday: away at the crack of dawn for a rail exploration of parts of Lancashire, which doesn’t quite go according to plan. We miss a train in unexpected fashion in Wigan, before finding ourselves (briefly) in Blackburn and Clitheroe.
(further photographic exploration to follow)