National Trust, English Heritage, museums etc.
The one seems to accompany the other – we’ve been to Attingham on previous occasions, to see the floral display and to find the river Tern resembling a lake, backing up from the nearby Severn. It’s a pleasant spot for a cold afternoon, and though the morning’s sunshine has gone, there’s barely a breeze – the water’s like a mirror. There are post-stroll tea and cakes too…
A sunny afternoon (especially after a wet night and morning) is too good to waste at this time of year! We’ll have a walk around Attingham Park – the footpaths shouldn’t be too bad there, and the longest route is a reasonable leg-stretch. We can say hello to the crocodile* in the far pool (he wasn’t there! Where’s he gone? Warmer climes perhaps)…
*see “Snowdropping” Feb 2015
…or perhaps its grandfather? It’s the world’s first iron-framed building – built as a flax mill in 1797, it was converted to maltings in 1897 – and remained in use as such, on and off, until 1987, by which time its historic significance (and a Grade 1 listing) ensured continued existence. Work is now ongoing to restore the buildings on this site in Shrewsbury to further commercial – and community – use, work that will not be finished overnight. Our visit today, with an excellent guided tour, was a (free) Heritage Open Day event, and well worth a donation to funds. Must have another look in a year or two…
Friends of the Flaxmill Maltings
Sunday: We’re travelling through Herefordshire, and need somewhere for a picnic and fresh air. How about the Weir? It’s a National Trust property, consisting of a riverside garden and walled garden on the steep north bank of the Wye, a few miles upstream from Hereford. The riverside garden is attractive in a wild (dare I say unkempt?) kind of way; the walled garden nearby is more traditional, perhaps, with colourful floral displays and rows of veg. Once again, the butterflies are being fairly relaxed…
Scenes from the walled garden at Attingham Park (and a walk around the park afterwards).
A showery day – perhaps not ideal for a long walk. How about Blists Hill? – we haven’t been there for a while, and there’s plenty of shelter if it rains. (It didn’t…)
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…
They’re too good to waste! Bright sunshine, fluffy clouds, not too warm – ideal for wandering.
Wednesday: To Benthall Edge and Hall (tea and cake)
Thursday: Long Mynd. A route we’ve done many times, starting from the Cardingmill valley and ascending via the Lightspout (hoardes of schoolchildren – it’s peak field trip season). Beyond the waterfall it’s quiet – just the sheep and the hill ponies to accompany us to Pole Bank. We return along the ridge to Townbrook Valley, a pleasant path to take us back to the start.
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=343005&Y=294546&A=Y&Z=120
We needed to pay a brief visit to Leominster, and would require lunch later. How about Berrington Hall?
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