National Trust, English Heritage, museums etc.
Wroxeter (or Viriconium) was a Roman city, the fourth-largest in Britain. The remarkable ruins date back to those days, but across the road to Wroxeter village is a much newer Roman structure – the town house built for a Channel 4 TV programme. Just a mile or two to the east, the Wrekin looks on indifferently. It’s seen it all.
Wroxeter Roman City: English Heritage
We’ve been away for a weekend in north Wales. There are too many photos to deal with, and too many other jobs, so for now, here’s a taster – a visit to Penrhyn Castle and a ride on the Welsh Highland Railway, in Pullman luxury, from Caernarfon to Porthmadog.
It certainly was on this fine and sunny afternoon. It’s almost four miles around the perimeter of the park, and there’s plenty of interest en route. The sticky horse chestnut buds are swelling and bursting, there are deer in the park, a chaffinch is enjoying some sunflower seeds (and posing for the camera) and the ducks are having fun in their pond. Can’t go wrong on an afternoon like this!
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=355120&Y=310060&A=Y&Z=120
There’s no shortage of them here, at the Jackfield Tile Museum. We’ve been before, more than once, but it remains a very pleasant, interesting and colourful place to wander around on a cold, grey and damp afternoon.
Attingham: the snowdrops are in bloom, so we’ll walk through their woodland, but we’ve seen plenty over the last few days. Across the river, some good soul has been laying out bird seed on old logs and stumps, and if we’re patient (make ourselves look like trees!) we might be treated to a colourful display…
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=355135&Y=309990&A=Y&Z=120
Comer Wood: we almost went elsewhere – the car park appeared to be full. Then someone drove away at just the right moment. What will it be like in the woods? Our route is about 4 miles, and few visitors stray that far. There’s a “Tree Trail” in the heart of the woods, where Christmas tree-sized conifers have been decorated by various local groups, adding some valuable colour to our wanderings. Great fun! Rudolfs, knitted snowmen, five gold rings, four calling birds…
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=374670&Y=289545&A=Y&Z=120
Cold today! Foggy too – rather atmospheric, spooky even. It’s very busy in the car park at Attingham, but once we’ve walked for ten minutes, most of the other people have vanished (there are still one or two within earshot, but the fog means they’re hard to spot…). Nearer the house there are lit ways for evening exploration. Can’t call it floodlighting, which would in any case be tempting fate in these soggy times…
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=355355&Y=310117&A=Y&Z=120
The Tern’s flood plain is well filled today! ‘Lake’ is fair description of the temporary expanse of water, the outcome of Bert’s downpours and the rapid melting of snow. The ground’s rather soggy too, in places, but mostly the walking is good underfoot. Once again, we’re following a different route around the extensive parkland – the deer are out and about, and we won’t get a good view of them if we stay in the woods. We won’t be able to enjoy the sunshine there either.
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=355180&Y=310120&A=Y&Z=120
A walk in the park: Attingham, on another murky grey cold day. There’s barely enough light for photography; by mid-afternoon we can tell the clocks have gone back. A pleasant wander nevertheless – there’s always some interest in the woods
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=355145&Y=310060&A=Y&Z=120
Geese and toadstools! A wander around the estate from the sawmill car park – down to the pools (Wall, Seggy and Brim), through the asparagus farm, down to the big pool and back past the house, pausing at the bookshop and the cafe. (I’m not sure we’d earned the cake, but we enjoyed it…)
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=374837&Y=288945&A=Y&Z=120
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