Just photos – no particular theme
Following a rainy afternoon, the evening could be clearer. It’s very dull, and there are puddles in profusion. One big example stretches across the track – we were thinking of turning back just beyond anyway, so that will have to do for today. Despite the optimistic forecast, the rain starts again as we near home. Tomorrow’s not looking good either, and then it’s the bank holiday weekend. I don’t think we’ll be going far from home for a day or two…
It’s not a long walk, about three and a half miles, but it’s pleasantly varied. There are two red kites circling as we set out – we won’t see them again today. Elsewhere the season moves on. Although the farmer hasn’t cut his wheat and barley yet, the blackberries are plentiful (some are already past their best), and there are some splendid conkers in the woods by Shore Pool. September is approaching!
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A walk around a triangle of quiet lanes, up to Church Preen and back. We’ll take a look at the 13th century church (St John the Baptist) – and its remarkable yew tree. It claims to be more than 1,500 years old (it looks it!), and the oldest tree in Europe (perhaps not…). There are butterflies in the buddleia, just over the churchyard wall, and some quite astonishing fungus near the lychgate.
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A fairly short stroll today, and once again we’re dodging the showers. From the parking spot near Chestnut Coppice we’re walking down the road until we can cut across to the old Severn Valley railway trackbed. The former railway brings us to the foot of Chestnut Coppice, for a very pleasant and gentle ascent through the woods and back to the car.
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There’s everything we need for a pint around here! It’s spotting with rain as we leave the car, but we’ll risk it. We stay dry, but it’s a determinedly grey evening – no light until just before eight o’clock, when we’re in the car for the ten minute drive home.
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Perfect weather for a walk; less-than perfect for photography. Everything is moving about in the wind, and the curly cirrus clouds foretell more high winds tomorrow. At last (we’ve been watching them closely) there are wild hop flowers in the hedge. Rub them between the fingers and sniff – mmmm! Back home, we’re slightly more sheltered – there are butterflies posing in the buddleia.
…for much of the day. The last few drops fell around teatime, and though it’s not going to be a sunny evening, it should stay dry. It’s gradually brightening from the west, but the light’s not going to improve noticeably before the morning…
Tuesday 18 August: taking advantage of some evening sunshine after a drop of rain. “The Avenue” is the lane linking Benthall Hall to the main road; beyond, a rough track takes us to Benthall Edge. That’s far enough for today – there may still be the odd shower…
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There was some heavy rain earlier in the day; this evening it’s dry, there’s some sunshine – and some huge clouds gathering. Happily they’re not above us. We’re taking in the views in all directions from the high ground at Shirlett. To the north and east, the skies are dramatic; towards the lowering sun, there’s a much calmer feel to the evening.
We’re on the western slopes of Brown Clee, starting out below the hill fort and walking down the lane as far as Heath Chapel, a remarkable (grade 1 listed) little building dating from Norman times. Leaving the chapel, we head for Peckledy (a farm), from where a tree-lined track aims towards Clee St. Margaret. Beside the lane there’s much buzzing – a wild bees’ nest, which appears to have been robbed recently (the evidence is on the ground a few feet away).
Clee St. Margaret is distinguished by its unusual ford, where the brook runs along the road – and around the bend – before continuing its journey down to Corvedale. Our journey continues gently uphill, across the grassland below Nordy Bank and back to the car.
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