Corvedale cornfields

Tuesday 20 August: It’s harvest time – some of the fields have already been cut, with lines of straw or towers of bales in evidence. Not all – in other fields, the wheat and especially the barley look beautifully ripe and golden. We’re walking from Tigger’s Ickle Shop in Rowe Lane – we’ve stocked up with some plum tomatoes, an aubergine that resembles a black boxing glove and some pieces of cake… (There’s a second Tigger’s Ickle Shop at the other end of the lane, but we’re spent up!) Soon we’re approaching Holdgate, where there’s a chocolate seat with great views to Brown Clee; beyond, the lane is well-edged with ripe blackberries. It’s been a great walk, despite our sticky fingers…

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=356005&Y=289605&A=Y&Z=120

Wild chicory

I don’t think I’ve ever knowingly seen it before today! An unusual plant with attractive blue flowers – will Google know what it is? Yes, it did! We’re walking from the end of Hurst Farm lane, round the edge of the fields to Shore Pool, and back up the drive past Aldenham Park. The season is galloping along – the grain harvest is in full swing, and the blackberries are ripening well (inevitably delaying our progress, though there’s rarely any hurry)

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=366905&Y=295650&A=Y&Z=120

An afternoon with the Earl

That’s GWR no. 822 The Earl – one of the two 2’6″ gauge 0-6-0T locomotives built in 1902 for the Welshpool and Llanfair Railway. He’s hauling us from Llanfair Caereinion down to Welshpool Raven Square and back – a very pleasant outing in the good company of a friend and his 4-year-old grandson, both of whom seemed to enjoy the journey. Who wouldn’t, on this fine and (eventually) sunny afternoon?

Welshpool and Llanfair Railway

Blowy Brown Clee

Friday 9 August: We’ve been stuck at home since Thursday morning with an electrician. He’s finished and gone – now we need to blow away our cobwebs. Brown Clee should be ideal – and so it turns out. The strong westerly wind at the summit is making it hard to hold the camera still, but it’s very pleasant up here, with warm sunshine, and the views extensive as they can be on a clear day. We can make out Pen y Fan, 55 miles to the south-west. Away from the summit, it’s calmer, and though the chocolate seat faces into the wind, we can have an enjoyable five minutes there. Not many minutes later, we’re through the trees and back on the east side of the hill. Wind? What wind?

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=360080&Y=286165&A=Y&Z=120

Blues

Tuesday 6 August: A blue sky – and blue fields! It’s a perfect evening for a walk in the very quiet area around Boldings Pools, Astley Abbots and Colemore Green. The colour in the fields is unusual – immediately eye-catching as we drive past to park. Whatever can it be? Close inspection (and Google Images…) tells us it’s phacelia, and almost certainly it will be ploughed in as green manure. Meanwhile, we’ll make the most of this unusual landscape

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=370965&Y=296815&A=Y&Z=120