We’re wandering around Bridgnorth, making the most of some better weather. Will it last?
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Author: geoffspages
Bickerton Hill
Sunday afternoon: we’re away from our usual haunts, up in the south-western corner of Cheshire, which unlike parts of the county, isn’t plain. These sandstone hills are not very high, but only a little elevation is needed for the extensive views in all directions – once we’re out of the woodland, that is. Away to the north-west, we can make out Liverpool and its cathedral (one of them), and there’s the reassuring outline of the Wrekin to the south. It’s good underfoot too – sandy paths and not much mud, despite recent rain. But it’s busy on Bickerton Hill! There are lots of people everywhere, especially on the main drag up from the car park to Kitty’s Rock and the hill fort at Maiden Castle. It’s not quiet here! We’ll come again, and explore more of the Sandstone Trail – on a school-term weekday…
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Blists Hill: cold but sunny
Friday: it’s a better day – bright and sunny, great for photography. It’s also very cold – we won’t hang around. Apart from one or two groups of schoolchildren, it’s quiet at Blists Hill. I think all the visitors are in the several houses – the doctor’s house, the squatters’ cottage, the toll house – in front of their warm fires.
A rainy afternoon at Arley
At least there’s plenty of shelter in the arboretum… Less than 5% chance of rain at Bewdley? Huh! We spend some time trying to stay dry in a variety of shelters – under the trees (obviously), in Hagrid’s hut, Aragog’s lair, the tea room… There’s some sunshine too, and at times it’s both sunny and rainy. Nevertheless, a very pleasant afternoon, and it didn’t rain on the (unsheltered) way back to the car, at the other side of the river. The cakes, of course, were wonderful!
November in Comer Wood
We’re enjoying a pleasant afternoon in the woods on the Dudmaston Estate, making the most of a dry spell (it’ll rain later). The autumn colours are splendid here, especially the sweet chestnut, and the beech down by the pools.
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Stiperstones strolling
It has to be a stroll – the path along the ridge is far too rough for any speed. Slow progress is essential if the view is to be appreciated without broken bones… The distant views are wonderful, in all directions; closer, there are other items of interest – a red kite, toadstools (just a few), a fine hairy coo – and the alpacas… It’s a great day to be up here – fine and clear, bright and cool (and breezy). Nevertheless, it’s good to get back to the Bog too – the cakes are splendid. What an enjoyable day!
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Stiperstones: the end of the season
We spent the afternoon on the Stiperstones, enjoying sunshine and a bracing breeze. Afterwards (it’s the law) there’s tea and cake at the Bog Centre, and they close for the winter after next weekend – hence the choice of venue for today’s outing.
More photos to follow.
A Cound Circular
It’s a slightly-extended version of a walk we did earlier in the year, and for the same reasons. There’s been a lot of rain in the last couple of days; now the sky’s mostly clear blue, and we need to make the most of it, but we’ll have to stay on hard roads and tracks unless we want to get seriously bogged down. It’s a very pleasant leg-stretch, and as the afternoon wears on, the sun gets noticeable lower, spotlighting the landscape and leaving deep shadows.
We left the car at Cound Guildhall, where there’s a charity box for parking and a charity bookshop too: St Peters Charity Bookshop
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Wenlock walking
Familiar paths and tracks on a fine and pleasant autumn afternoon – it’s good to be out and about, in and around Much Wenlock
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Chase again
That’s Cannock Chase, of course. The forecast implied there would be more sunshine than we had before lunch; afterwards, things improved a bit. At least it’s not raining, and it’s generally dry underfoot too. We’d hoped for more autumn colours, and thought there might have been a good crop of toadstools… The visitor centre, half-way around our wander, is reliable for a simple snack lunch (bacon baps) – and it’s good to be out on a day like this.
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