Sunday 7 July: It’s a major route – the A435 – heading southwards from the centre of Birmingham. Well known in those parts – but how well know is the little Warwickshire town to which it leads? We’d never been, but it looked like a potentially-interesting place to visit, on our way home from the Evesham gala. Was it interesting? Judge for yourselves! (I suspect we’ll be back, probably on a weekday when the shops are open)
For more photos, and a brief account of yesterday’s trip to the Evesham Vale Railway’s gala, visit “Owl and Katie” on Geoff’s Rail Diaries
…are two fine 15″ gauge locomotives which have been visiting the Evesham Vale Light Railway this weekend. We were there for some of the fun and games, but the “Rail Diaries” page will have to wait until tomorrow. In the meantime, the accompanying photo will have to do.
Weds. 3 July: a short wander from Benthall Hall. There’s lots of colour in the fields and hedgerows, and later, it’s pleasantly cool under the trees of Benthall Edge, with views down to the doomed cooling towers, and Ironbridge. Back at the hall, the ice creams are perfect, though I’m not sure we’ve really earned them.
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=365650&Y=302706&A=Y&Z=120
Just published to Geoff’s Rail Diaries, an account – and lots of pictures – of Sunday’s visit to Newcastle-under-Lyme, to the Apedale “Swords into Ploughshares” event. Visit “Apedale 1919” – in 2019…
Once again, we’re travelling on a Northern Rail £10 day ranger ticket, which covers the whole Northern Rail network. On this occasion, we’re heading for the north Lancashire coast – visiting Arnside, Morecambe and Heysham. At Arnside, once we’ve dodged the rain, there are views to Grange-over-Sands and the Kent viaduct. At Morecambe, there’s the former railway station to visit. Travellers coming to this terminus, in days gone by, might have felt they’d arrived somewhere – especially when, opposite the entrance they would see the magnificent “art deco” Midland Hotel (we’ll call in later for coffee and cake). There’s little sense of arrival at today’s station. Heysham? We’ll be there for three or four minutes only, on the daily train from Lancaster and Morecambe – yes, just the one, to connect with the ferry.
For more on the rail journey – and many more photos – visit “Roaming Northern Rail” on Geoff’s Rail Diaries.
An enjoyable day at Apedale’s “Swords to Ploughshares” event. More photos will follow on “Geoff’s Rail Diaries“, perhaps later in the week – meanwhile, here’s a taster.
It’s a handy place to leave the car! Too warm for energetic walks up hills – best to stay under the trees where possible, even if there aren’t many photo opportunities. If we walk downstream on the north bank, we can return to Ironbridge on the south bank, along the old railway track – and we’ll have earned an ice cream by the time we’re there. Refreshments disposed of, it’s a short walk back to Bedlam, and we can do most of it away from the road.
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=368940&Y=302726&A=Y&Z=120
The gardens and the wider estate… Ice creams needed afterwards – it’s a warm afternoon.
Thursday 27 June: Erddig Hall, near Wrexham – a very popular spot on this warm and sunny afternoon. I think we found our way into the house at the same time as a coach party – it wasn’t always easy to get around and take in everything of interest. We’ll have to go there again on a quieter day, and fill in the gaps…
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