Category: Photography

Just photos – no particular theme

Gloucester Docks

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Railways...Leave a comment

We were here perhaps twelve years ago. to visit the national waterways museum; today’s could be described as a flying visit, though we travelled by train, from Shropshire to Newport, then up the west side of the Severn estuary. The docks area had undergone some tidying-up in 2002 – today there are many more signs of redevelopment. It’s still an interesting place to wander around – there’s a “tall ship” moored on the west side, and a couple of boats in dry dock, as well as the canalside warehouses and all manner of other floating things. Odd short stretches of railway track provide a reminder of what this are must have been like in its heyday.

For more on the trip, and more photos, visit “Newport and Gloucester” on Geoff’s Rail Diaries

The Un-stately Home

On By geoffspagesIn NT and EH, Photography1 Comment

That’s how its owners, the National Trust, describe Calke Abbey. Here, they talk of preservation not restoration – to provide a reminder of the state many such houses were in, at the end of their existence, with their last residents living in just a tiny proportion of the house. Preservation of the last lived-in parts of Calke means displaying the amazing collection of stuffed birds and other creatures; the disused parts are shown complete with their stored clutter.

There’s far too much here to take in on a single visit – we were beginning to suffer from overload when we left the walled gardens and headed for home. We’ll have to come again.

Calke Abbey NT

Back to the Tackeroo

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Walks1 Comment

We’re taking advantage of dry and bright weather in the early afternoon – rain is forecast to spread from the west later, so if we head east, we might stay dry.

The “Tackeroo” was the first world war military railway on Cannock Chase. Much of its route can still be traced, especially the long straight cutting as it climbs from Milford towards the plateau. We begin our walk this way, leaving the trackbed at the south-eastern end of the cutting to head for the stepping stones over the Sher brook. Still heading south-east, Heywood Slade leads us to Marquis Drive and the trig point, where we turn towards the brook and up again to the glacial boulder. As we descend to the northern fringes of Brocton, four deer cross our path, some distance away. They haven’t seen us, but they’re not posing for photographs.

The windscreen wipers are on within minutes of leaving for home – excellent timing!

Map of the military railways on Cannock Chase

On Haughmond Hill

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, Walks1 Comment

A wet morning, but the forecast promised a fine afternoon – somewhere that won’t be too bad underfoot? Haughmond Hill is mostly forested, but the tracks are pleasant, good to walk on, and there are some extensive views. The hill isn’t high, barely topping 500′ (153m, according to the OS) – but there’s little to get in the way of the long view in a 180º panorama from south-east to north-west – the Stretton hills, Stiperstones, Long Mountain, the Breiddens and the Berwyns.

There’s a café back at the car park – we made it with just minutes to spare. The cakes were pretty good too, eaten beneath tall pines.

Here’s a map – haven’t attempted to show the route (can’t see it for all the trees). We followed the blue waymarkers, anticlockwise…

Another Autumn Gala: Toddington

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Railways...Leave a comment
Sena (and Stanhope, and Justine) at Toddington
Sena (and Stanhope, and Justine) at Toddington

The season continues: this weekend the Toddington Narrow Gauge Railway held its Autumn Steam Gala. Two residents – Jung “Justine” and Henschel Brigadelok “Sena” were in action, together with visiting Kerr Stuart “Stanhope” from Apedale. There’s action on the standard gauge too – two 2-8-0s, one of which has an interesting history. Visit “Little and Large at Toddington” for more…

Westhope and Diddlebury Common

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

I’m reliably informed that it’s pronounced “Delbury” (as in the nearby Delbury Hall). This was a very pleasant four-mile wander around Westhope, the most south-westerly “hope” on the Wenlock Edge. The woodlands are increasingly autumnal; the paths through the fields are not always obvious or well-marked (potato fields are not easy to cross). Westhope itself is a quiet hamlet; its college offers craft courses, of which there’s evidence on the wall, and its teas would be splendid, I’m sure, if this was high summer and the rooms were open. The nearby pigs are entertaining…


Chapel Lawn and Caer Caradoc

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, Walks2 Comments

Most Salopians will know of Caer Caradoc – the hill near Church Stretton with the eponymous hill fort atop its summit. Few will be aware that there is another hill fort bearing the name Caer Caradoc, in the far south-west of the county, less than two miles from the Welsh border near Knighton. Undoubtedly less well known, it is by far the more impressive. High above the delightful hamlet of Chapel Lawn, in the Redlake valley, its earthen ramparts are steep and high. Many years have passed since the Iron Age, but those defences would still be effective today.

It’s a super viewpoint too – those ancient warriors would have had a clear view of potential aggressors long before they arrived – a great place to be on this unseasonably pleasant afternoon. Chapel Lawn is a good starting place – walkers are welcome to park in the village hall car park, according to the village website, and the eggs from the community produce stall (honesty box) look as though they are truly free-range (haven’t tried them yet).