There’s no shortage of them here, at the Jackfield Tile Museum. We’ve been before, more than once, but it remains a very pleasant, interesting and colourful place to wander around on a cold, grey and damp afternoon.
Author: geoffspages
Sunny Salop
Thursday 6 February: A clear blue sky! What a difference a day makes. Yesterday (Fri 7th) was cold, grey and windy, and that’s the forecast for the next week. Oh dear!.
The county was, for a few years, called “Salop” (I think it reverted to Shropshire after a visit by a party of French schoolchildren, who couldn’t help giggling). The town was Salop too, to railwaymen – a useful shorthand. A van destined for a Shrewsbury siding would usually be chalked-up for “Salop”. Anyway, Thursday was a great day for a wander around our county town (whatever it’s called) with the camera – but don’t be deceived by the sunshine – it was cold in the shade…
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=349282&Y=312460&A=Y&Z=115
What sunny intervals?
That’s what was forecast from 1pm. All we saw was a watery sun, providing little illumination and no warmth! We needed to be home by around 3pm, and sure enough, just a few minutes later, the sun was shining brightly from a blue sky. Reddish brown predominates today, with a splash of welcome yellow and a little new greenery too.
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=365840&Y=298200&A=Y&Z=120
Blooming birds
Attingham: the snowdrops are in bloom, so we’ll walk through their woodland, but we’ve seen plenty over the last few days. Across the river, some good soul has been laying out bird seed on old logs and stumps, and if we’re patient (make ourselves look like trees!) we might be treated to a colourful display…
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=355135&Y=309990&A=Y&Z=120
Willey: signs of spring
Snowdrops galore – and catkins, and the odd early primrose. Spring can’t be far away!
View OS map in Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=367470&Y=298250&A=Y&Z=120
Snowdrops at Plaish
On Wednesday’s walk, we passed a wayside plant stall, offering pots of snowdrops for sale. “We’ll bring the car round and buy some after our walk” (we could hardly carry them for the next four miles). We remembered the idea just a couple of minutes before returning to the start – then drove home having completely forgotten again. There were plenty on offer – “We’ll go that way in a day or two”.
Today (three days later) we bought the last two pots!
Continuing on our way, we found ourselves on the Cardington road, for a walk up to Plaish. Oddly enough, there were lots of snowdrops along the way…
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=353520&Y=295320&A=Y&Z=120
A Random walk
We’re on a distinctly chilly Clee Hill today, walking from Cleehill village to Magpie Hill – out via Whatsill, back past the curiously-named settlement at Random. We would have continued past the Three-forked Pole and over Hoar Edge – but we’d have been fully exposed to that bitter wind, and the sun was becoming rather watery. We’ll take the direct route. Cold notwithstanding, it’s a very pleasant outing on this lonely high ground.
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=360620&Y=276445&A=Y&Z=120
By Harnage Grange and Kenley Ridge
An old favourite! At the end of January, it’s still cold, but there are one or two welcome signs of spring in these quiet lanes
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=356835&Y=301335&A=Y&Z=120
Cold on top
A walk along the Long Mynd ridge, from Robin Hood’s Butts to Pole Bank and back. It felt cold at first under a stubborn bank of cloud, but once that cleared the sunshine was very pleasant. Not the quietest of places on a fine Saturday, even in late January, but most enjoyable, with great views in all directions. Near the top of Mott’s Road, a sizable flock of birds circles before landing nearby. Are they golden plovers? Later, as we near our starting point, we hear grouse exchanging chuckles. “Go back, go back, go back”. Yes, we will, soon, but we’ll listen to you for a minute or two first. The icing on today’s icy cake!
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=342640&Y=295430&A=Y&Z=120
Look both ways
The hour before sunset: a walk down the lane, making the most of some late sunshine. What a difference – look towards the light and it’s hazy, atmospheric. Away from the light, everything is bathed in a warm glow. On our way back, the sun slips behind layers of cloud just above the horizon, and the light is going…
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