Author: geoffspages

Stiperstones – foxgloves, bilberries and kites

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, Walks3 Comments

July on the Stiperstones: we were up here around this time last year, and nearly melted. Today the sky was blue, with some white fluffy cloud – and it was pleasantly cool, a great afternoon for a walk. The bilberries need a little longer, though they’re ripening nicely. The foxgloves – great clumps of them in places – are in their prime. A red kite crossed the sky, high up, with never a flap – and returned a few minutes later, performing one large circle and then away. Too far away for the camera, but good to see.

Map

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=336400&Y=297876&A=Y&Z=120

Ryedale Ruins

On By geoffspagesIn NT and EH, PhotographyLeave a comment

Sunday afternoon: we’re visiting Rievaulx Abbey, in the quiet valley just a couple of miles from the summer bustle of Helmsley. There’s some dark cloud around, and the chance of a shower – if we carry the brolly we won’t need it. I’d been here before, many years ago, but had forgotten just how substantial and extensive these ruins are – as were the cakes and scones at the cafe…

Rievaulx Abbey (English Heritage)

No, we didn’t need the brolly…

Large and little

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Railways..., VideoLeave a comment
Yorkshire “Janus” no 1 at Scunthorpe

It was a busy weekend – on Saturday, we were booked for a brake-van trip around Scunthorpe steel works – and we had “the works” too – a 5-hour trip around the site, taking in the main lines, branches, spurs and sidings. Great fun!

7¼" gauge NER Class C 0-6-0 no 22
7¼” gauge NER Class C 0-6-0 no 22

– and then on Sunday, we paid a brief visit to Gilling East, home of the Ryedale Society of Model Engineers. At the other end of the scale from Scunthorpe, it was fun too. We need to go again to do justice to it.

For more on both trips, visit “Appleby Frodingham” and “Gilling East” on Geoff’s Rail Diaries

Pyramids

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Orchids – little conical-topped ones – dozens and dozens of them. And one solitary (greater?) butterfly orchid (they’re not common). We’re walking on Wenlock Edge, the same route we followed on a misty day in February (see “A hazy day on Wenlock Edge“). It’s virtually midsummer now – no mist today, instead there’s warm sunshine, and it’s pleasant in the cool shade under the trees.

The map below is the one used in February:
today we walked clockwise – out below the edge, back along it.

MapView OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=359285&Y=298596&A=Y&Z=120

Coal Trains

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Colin and the coal trucks
Colin and the coal trucks

We’ve been to Chasewater this afternoon, for their “Coal Trains Day” event (what better way to celebrate the solstice?). Red (No 2), green (Colin McAndrew) and blue (Holly Bank No 3) steam locos in action on the self-styled “Colliery Line” – great fun! For more on the day’s activities – and more pictures – visit “Coal Trains Day” on Geoff’s Rail Diaries.

Sheinton to Harley, Wigwig and Homer

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

Life under the edge

There’s many a double-take by passing motorists on the Shrewsbury – Wenlock road – “Did that sign really point the way to Wigwig and Homer?”. Yes, a hamlet and a small village well-hidden, despite the sign, beneath the northern end of the Wenlock Edge. This was a very pleasant circuit, starting from Sheinton, following farm lanes and tracks past Belswardyne Hall to Harley. “Look at that – the sun’s got a halo”. There’s no need to enter quiet Harley village, and it means crossing the busy A458 twice – but it saves walking beside the noisy road. The lane to Wigwig crosses what was once a ford, and probably still is in very wet weather. In Homer, we leave the road and take to fields of sheep, followed by attractive woodland beside Sheinton brook, then more fields of sheep – and we’re back in Sheinton.

Map

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=361005&Y=302661&A=Y&Z=120

New town park

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Walks1 Comment

Monday – a walk into Telford Town Park. We started from the southernmost tip, close by the aqueduct, to walk nearly two miles mostly along and beside the old Coalport railway trackbed to the town centre. The paths are well made (there was a lot of rain on Saturday…), many and varied – quite a maze as we near the offices, shops and restaurants. The railway followed the route of an old canal, still evident in places, providing a pleasant and varied landscape in the “wild” park. It’s much tamer close by the town centre, and there are many more people. It’s good to turn and head back past the tall Stirchley chimney to the relative quiet of the railway cutting, a long cool hollow on this warm afternoon.

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=369850&Y=307441&A=Y&Z=120

On the border

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Walks1 Comment

Llanthony Priory to Cwmyoy – a walk in the Black Mountains:

We’ve done this one before – a circular walk in the easternmost valley of the hill country north of Abergavenny, following the valley of the Honddu from Llanthony to Cwmyoy, then up onto the ridge to walk along the border between England and Wales. The valley walk is pleasant and quiet, following woodland paths. Cwmyoy is best known for its church, built on unstable ground. The ridge is high and airy – it may be June, but there’s a cold wind – best keep moving…

Map

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=329335&Y=226033&A=Y&Z=120