… though not quite as good as the photos suggest. The plentiful sunny intervals were brief and well-spaced – too often, the sun would go as I raised the camera to my eye. That’s still better than the forecast – sunshine and showers. If there were any showers, they missed us completely.

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=367662&Y=298184&A=Y&Z=120

The afternoons are even shorter. It’s mild, still and quiet for this pleasant wander through fields and woods on the west bank of the Severn. There’s been no sunshine to speak of, and the light’s gone by the time we’re back at the car. It’s barely half past three!

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=370900&Y=297140&A=Y&Z=120

After a few wet and windy days, it’s still and sunny after breakfast. The afternoon looks much less encouraging, and we’ve other plans – let’s make the most of the morning along Shirlett Lane.

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=365660&Y=298545&A=Y&Z=120

Broome barely exists! Just a few farm buildings, a little way from the single-track road. Plaish has its Hall, and Church Preen its Manor – and (obviously) church. Halls and manors notwithstanding, this is very quiet country, especially on a grey and breezy Sunday afternoon. Being December, the poor camera is struggling by the time (not long after 3pm) we’re completing our circuit, but it’s been very pleasant wandering around these lanes.

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=353820&Y=297015&A=Y&Z=120

…and the leaves have all gone. Well, most of them anyway. The morning looks like being a little better than the afternoon – a touch more sunshine, that’s all. It’s quite cold and there’s a stiff breeze, though the lanes (Scots, Britons, Bould et al) between Willey and Linley Brook are fairly sheltered. It’s good to be out on a day like this.

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=367662&Y=298184&A=Y&Z=120

We expected clear blue skies, but a bank of cirrocumulus drifted over for a time. However, we didn’t expect snow, and while there wasn’t much of it, a recent fall, lingering especially on the north-facing slopes, provided us with scenes we’ve not enjoyed for some time. The Hope Bowdler hills are no great height, but they make up for it by providing wonderful views, extensive to the south and south-west, where the mountains of south Wales form the skyline around 50 miles distant. It’s good up here in winter!

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=348000&Y=293240&A=Y&Z=120

It’s winter tomorrow! The daylight is already wintry – the hours are short and the sun is low. Our walk this afternoon was very pleasant, with some blue sky at first; later, coming up from the old railway track through Chestnut Coppice, the sky is grey and it’s dark under the trees. Emerging from the woods, we’ve enough light for the last mile or so back to the car, but we’d better not hang around.

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=371110&Y=296405&A=Y&Z=120