We needed a good leg stretch, but the field paths would be sodden – and it’s a bank holiday, so somewhere quiet would be good. And these lanes are quiet – only a few vehicles, mostly farm-related. There was a chance of some sunshine, but it passed. Grey days!
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=353790&Y=297306&A=Y&Z=120
We’re out for a leg stretch and a breath of fresh air, on a mild but windy Boxing Day afternoon. The centre of Bridgnorth is busy, but we’re taking a quieter route away from the crowds. There’s a train due to leave the station – we’d better go and have a look…
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=371482&Y=292741&A=Y&Z=115
An unexpected find on a grey December afternoon – ALEXANDRA, built by Andrew Barclay of Kilmarnock in 1902 (works no 929). It was working at Millom ironworks when the latter closed in the late 1960s, and then spent many years at the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway. More recently, it lived in Gloucestershire – and now resides, after a short spell in Oswestry, near Criggion in Powys. I’d read of its recent moves, but hadn’t given it a thought when we set off earlier in the day. Yes, that’s (appropriately) a highland cow keeping it company…
Location (zoom out!)
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=328345&Y=314975&A=Y&Z=120
Done this one several times, usually in winter. Today the wind is rising, though there are some well-sheltered spots along the way on this mild afternoon, and apart from the wind, it’s quiet – no-one else around, apart from an angler or two at the pools.
The map is borrowed from an earlier visit – today I’m going anti-clockwise.
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=366365&Y=297016&A=Y&Z=120
Weather, mothers, and plumbers – they’ve all had an impact on our outings recently. We needed a leg-stretch, and the field paths would be muddy, so we took to the quieter paths and lanes away from the wharfage for a wander on a mild November afternoon.
The above is last month’s map – today we walked it anticlockwise… View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=367255&Y=304041&A=Y&Z=120
It’s a wooded ridge, west of Wenlock Edge; beyond is the eye-catching Lawley. I’d only recently realised that this little bit of country is access land, and the Google satellite pictures appeared to show that the highest ground, with a nameless summit (304m) and trig point, had been cleared of forest. They had – but new growth is shooting up, and away from the taller trees, a thick undergrowth of bracken and the occasional bramble make the going slow. Not to mention the soft peaty ground and deep horseshoe-shaped hoof prints… We retraced our steps to easier walking back along the ridge towards Hoar Edge, before following the lane back down to the car. We’ll perhaps return for further exploration – in early spring, before the new season’s growth has begun.
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=351550&Y=298548&A=Y&Z=120
Blue sky by lunchtime, with lots of nice wispy cirrus – an ideal afternoon for the hills? We drove out to Hope Bowdler, but the clouds regrouped (despite the forecast) and, by the time we arrived at the Battlestones, the mist was coming down. No return along the ridge today – we’ll take the lower path and keep the views.
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=347905&Y=293531&A=Y&Z=120
That’s Coalbrookdale – and Ironbridge – a good place for a pleasant walk on a sunny afternoon, after a couple of rainy days. There’s no shortage of visitors in the vicinity of the bridge (it is half-term week, after all), but away from the bridge it’s quiet. The leaves are coming down rapidly now – the trees will soon lose their colour.
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=367255&Y=304041&A=Y&Z=120
On our way to the arboretum, we called in on the Severn Valley Railway, for a last look at Royal Scot, and perhaps Tornado too. It wasn’t an entirely successful trip… This is the best photo; there are three others on “Royal Scot” (I’d never make a salesman, would I?) on Geoff’s Rail Diaries.
Where have all the toadstools gone? Arley arboretum is a pleasant spot in autumn – the trees are very colourful at present, and on previous occasions, there have been all kinds of fungi everywhere. Today there were hardly any – apart from several large clumps, almost in a ring, amongst the tallest trees.
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