After Doris Day

On 25 Feb 2017 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Walks1 Comment

Friday – the sun’s shining, and we’re taking a walk down to the Severn, on the day following storm Doris. Others were worse affected, I think, though there were one or two trees down (fairly rotten specimens, it has to be said), and one or two houses lost a ridge tile. It’s more sheltered in the valley, and the weather’s mild enough for us to sit outside the youth hostel at Coalport for our tea and cake. We’ll head for home the shortest way – up the dingle with its wonderful hanging gardens, and not-so-wonderful mud. Can’t have everything!

Shirlett on a grey day

On 19 Feb 2017 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

Mild, dry, a light breeze – we ought to stretch our legs. How about Shirlett? It’s very pleasant up here – quiet, some good views, and we’re on our own until the last half-mile between the Hurst Farm pools and the car.

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Walled garden, snowdrops, deer

On 15 Feb 2017 By geoffspagesIn NT and EH, Photography1 Comment

Attingham Park, in other words – walking out through the walled garden and the snowdrop woods, then around the perimeter of the park, along the path which passes through the deer sanctuary. Those in charge are keeping a wary eye on us, though they don’t seem worried.

Attingham Park NT

Steam on a cold day: Tornado

On 11 Feb 2017 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Railways...Leave a comment

Not that we felt the cold – we arrived at Cosford just minutes before Tornado. Hauling “The Red Rose” from London Victoria, it was stopping to drop off visitors to the RAF Museum. Soon it was away again, accelerating quickly with its 11-coach train, and making a fine sight despite the sleety rain.

Brown Clee skyscapes

On 04 Feb 2017 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

The sky’s blue today, with photogenic clouds (best kind) – let’s have a walk on Brown Clee! We’ll walk up from the telephone box (it’s a free library these days) and take the terrace path around the hill to the far side. At first on the open hillside, it later skirts the forest, where there’s some attractive deciduous woodland beside the conifers. When we meet the path up the east side, from the picnic place, we make a gentle and cautious (it’s a bit sticky underfoot) ascent to the summit where, for a few minutes, we’re the highest people in Shropshire. It’s downhill from here, of course, but no-one has told the water – the moor is rather squelchy. But who cares? It’s great up here on a day like this.

Soon we’re back at the car – better change the library books before we head for home…

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=359115&Y=286916&A=Y&Z=115

Fog’s gone: the edge in January

On 25 Jan 2017 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

The morning’s fog dispersed, as instructed by the Met Office, to leave a clear blue sky – perhaps the last we’ll get for a week or so? Better get out there and enjoy it – Aston Munslow and the Wenlock Edge could be good. It’s not especially elevated ground here, just over 1000′ at the highest point, but it feels like the top of the world. Must be the rarefied atmosphere!

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On Breidden Hill

On 24 Jan 201724 Jan 2017 By geoffspagesIn Photography, WalksLeave a comment

A short walk to a landmark summit, just across the Welsh border. It’s no great height, nor the greatest height of this little clump of shapely hills which is a significant feature of views from further east. The top is marked by Rodney’s Pillar, memorial to the 18th century Admiral, and provides splendid views of the border hills – or would have done, that is, had it not been for the lingering mist. The sun tried hard, but only really succeeded, inevitably, when we’d come back down again.

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=329515&Y=314401&A=Y&Z=115

A cold afternoon

On 22 Jan 2017 By geoffspagesIn Photography, WalksLeave a comment

Murky too! Not a day for the hills, and it’s wet underfoot. The paths at Attingham Park are well-maintained – we can get a leg-stretch there. Many others have had a similar idea, though they’ve thinned out considerably by the time we reach the far perimeter. There are some attractive reflections in the Tern, and there’s some wonderful bracket fungus on a tree near the entrance. It’s still there when we return…

Attingham Park NT

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A walk from Wenlock

On 20 Jan 201720 Jan 2017 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

We’ve taken the no 18 to Much Wenlock – it’s a double decker, so we’re in the front seats at the top – and we’re walking home again. We’ve had a succession of dull, grey, cold and murky days, so today’s wall-to-wall sunshine is especially welcome. It’s wet underfoot in places, but it’s great to be out in the fresh air on a perfect January afternoon.

Windy afternoon…

On 11 Jan 2017 By geoffspagesIn PhotographyLeave a comment

…but bright and sunny – we’ll have a leg-stretch, but we’d better avoid the hill tops. We follow the lane down to the Severn valley, which is well-sheltered, but mostly in the shade…