Before our Canal Central walk (see below), we visited Nantmawr. The Tanat Valley Railway people have moved some DMU stock up there, and are currently offering weekend train rides. Visit Nantmawr DMU on Geoff’s Rail Diaries for more…
Author: geoffspages
Canal Central
A stroll along the bank of the Montgomery canal, a formerly dry section that has only relatively recently been restored. It’s connected to the national network at Frankton Junction, and is in water as far as Redwith Bridge, on the Knockin to Llynclys road. It’s navigable as far as Gronwen Wharf; the next stretch to Redwith Bridge is clearly appreciated by the numerous moorhens, ducks, swans and others. Beyond, work is in progress to extend the navigable waters, though it looks to be a slow job.
Canal Central is a good place to start the walk – it’s an even better place to end…
Starboard Way revisited
A short walk on the southern part of the Long Mynd, along the cutely-named Starboard Way past the gliding field. The paragliders (is that what they’re called?) are in the ascendancy (so to speak) these days – dozens of them wheeling above the steep western slope, and just two or three hang gliders. The conventional gliders were being winched up at regular intervals too. The large white butterfly behaved itself for a photo, but none of the many peacocks were cooperative, so no photos. Then, by the pool, we startled a dragonfly, which, when it landed again, got on with the business of laying its eggs (we think…).
Flying things notwithstanding, it was a good afternoon for a wander on the Shropshire hills – the air was clear, with views extending to Cadair Idris, some 45 miles distant on the western horizon.
Shrewsbury riverside
A walk from the weir to the Quarry, where Percy Thrower’s Dingle is almost certainly at its very best, just two days before Shrewsbury’s flower show.
Wigmore and Shobdon
We’re wandering in the north-western corner of Herefordshire. Wigmore Castle is unusual in that it hasn’t been tidied-up in its derelict state – rambling and colourful undergrowth rather than manicured lawns. Just the place for the Famous Five, or was it the Secret Seven, to have an adventure. Yes, they turned up, complete with dog.
The Shobdon Arches form a folly on the hillside, some remains from the interior of the old church which was replaced more than 250 years ago. Sadly, the stone carvings are suffering from the weather.
Flora
In the company of those who aren’t really up to some our more energetic outings, a wander around the gardens will have to do. There’s plenty to point the camera at, even though it’s firmly in the “sunsets, kittens and flowers” category.
The first few are taken beside the Severn in Ironbridge; then it’s a visit to The Dingle near Welshpool, and finally David Austin Roses at Albrighton. Like everything else, the roses are late into bloom this year.
Sweet Sixteen
I said, in my previous entry, “A Rail Diaries page will follow in due course.”. It did. Visit “Sixteen at Statfold” for pictures and video of (some of) the fun at the Statfold Barn Railway last Saturday 1st June
Sixteen at Statfold
There were sixteen locomotives in steam at Statfold yesterday (rapidly running out of superlatives here…). When was the last time there were so many locomotives (other than of the miniature/model variety) in steam together? Rainhill? Given that they keep moving around, it’s almost impossible to count them all, until the cavalcade at the end of the day. They’re all in the photo – with, at the head of the line, a little O&K diesel, which spent the day chugging around the garden railway.
A Rail Diaries page will follow in due course.
Bluebells and more…
Retracing our steps around Benthall (see Benthall Bluebells) – the bluebells are out now, four to five weeks late if the newspapers are to be believed.
Eustace Beard was a trowman (an 18th century equivalent of Eddie Stobart perhaps), as recorded on his cast-iron gravestone outside Benthall church. The broken anchors cast into the corners indicates that he is no longer trading…
Mawddach
A walk from Llwyngwril to Barmouth
“Day return to Barmouth, please” – but we’ll leave the train, on the outward journey, at Llwyngwril, a request stop a little way down the coast. The one-year-old Wales Coastal Path takes us over hill lanes where a red kite quarters the ground. Standing stones and other antiquities suggest it’s an ancient route. We drop down to Morfa Mawddach, where a triangular railway junction once connected the Cambrian coast line to the long-gone line to Dolgellau and, ultimately, Llangollen and Ruabon. The Coastal Path descends to Fairbourne before skirting the estuary to the Bridge – but the path is closed where coastal defence work is ongoing, and my companion suggests a route that follows the disused railway for a little way inland, before cutting across the marshes (the path is dry) to the unlikely row of houses at Mawddach Terrace.
The long wooden trestle that is Barmouth Bridge carries the railway and, alongside, a footpath and cycleway with extensive views inland. Once over, all we need is a little refreshment before joining the train for the long but scenic journey home.
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=259905&Y=285170&A=Y&Z=126
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