Just photos – no particular theme
We’ve done it many times, always with subtle variations. The afternoon was too good to waste – leaving the car in the Carding Mill Valley, we walked up Townbrook Valley onto the ridge and on to Pole Bank. The air was growing cold as we headed back towards Mott’s Road; if we’d done this a month ago, it would have been dark by the time we got back to the car.
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=343320&Y=294676&A=Y&Z=120
Thursday: there was a chance that the sun might break through later in the afternoon – it was trying when we left home. It failed – though sunbeams to the south showed success elsewhere. It was cold on Clee Hill, with patches of snow, and the views weren’t great – the hills beyond Ludlow more sensed than seen. It’s not pretty up here – a bleak landscape, with much evidence of past industrial activity. But it’s atmospheric today, and the old workings are interesting. We started out from Clee Hill village, past the noisy working quarry, and headed north-eastwards to Magpie Hill. Our return was by Random Farm and the three-forked pole (see http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/607144), descending from Hoar Edge (and its frost…) to the Titterstone road. From the top of the old incline, we followed the route of the railway (more industrial evidence) back towards the car. An enjoyable afternoon.
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=360005&Y=276536&A=Y&Z=120
Saturday afternoon: we’re out on the Wenlock Edge, enjoying some winter sunshine. There was a moderate sprinkling of snow at home – perhaps there would be a bit more up on the edge? No such luck – just an occasional dusting to prove we were in the same county. Sadly, one or two short stretches of the (public foot)path have been deeply churned by tractor tyres and are almost unwalkable. In fact they are unwalkable. The only progress that can be made – very cautious hedge-hanging, slithering and clambering out of one rut into another – cannot be described as walking. We’ve walked these same paths and tracks in previous winters, and one or two stretches can get a bit sticky, but now they’re seriously damaged. (Did the local farmer get a new tractor for Christmas? One of those really huge, heavy monsters that completely fill the lanes? I hope it came with a rut-filling attachment…)
Just playing with Saturday afternoon’s pictures and the software…
A rare event – and one that might not be possible in a year or so… Today’s “Shropshire Union” railtour brought a passenger train down Coalbrookdale, to Ironbridge power station and back. I’d better get out with the camera. For more photos, visit “The Shropshire Union” on Geoff’s Rail Diaries
…the high winds and heavy rain, forecast for tomorrow. It wasn’t completely calm today – there was a light breeze, and it was pleasant to be out in the country to the south of Shrewsbury. Lyth Hill is a tremendous viewpoint for the Shropshire hills – it’s also a popular spot for the dog-walkers. We left them behind as we descended towards Exfords Green, past the venison farm. By the time we got back to the car, the day was changing…
Or view OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=346640&Y=306321&A=Y&Z=120
A quiet hour in the afternoon, exploring the streets of Ludlow (and trying to keep the cars out of the photos…)
Friday – first “ordinary” day of the new year. Attingham’s always good for a gentle stroll, and it shouldn’t be too bad underfoot. We might see the deer too… They were anticipating their lunch as we passed, but rather than hang around, we wandered on around the perimeter of the parkland on the east bank of the Tern, getting back to the car a little before sunset.
There was still evidence of Saturday’s snow showers on the Stretton hills. We should have been out enjoying the conditions on Sunday, or yesterday, but other transport arrangements got in the way. No such problems today, and once again, the sun was bright and the frost hard – the mud on the path to Hope Bowdler was well-frozen. It’s the walk we did in November (“To the Battlestones“), though today we started from the parking space below the Gaer Stone. Most enjoyable it was too!
Can’t stay in all day, but the weather’s poor and deteriorating… The China Museum at Coalport is worth exploring – the china is astonishing! (there are those who like it). We leave at about twenty to four – already it’s becoming dark, and the rain has turned to sleet – which turns to snow as we climb out of the valley.
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