Just photos – no particular theme
1st March – St David’s day, and the Met Office’s first day of spring. Inevitably, it’s rather cold, with a sprinkling of snow on the Clee hills, and the daffodils are reluctant to flower. Warmer days will come, I’m certain. Meanwhile, it’s good to be out and about in this quiet part of the county.
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=365840&Y=298200&A=Y&Z=120
Wednesday 28 February: a trip that was planned back in January. Northern Rail’s great ticket sale meant we could get from Carlisle to Crewe, via the Settle and Carlisle to Leeds, and along the Calder Valley line to Manchester, for just £3.50 each! On that basis, we can afford some luxury – first class seats from Crewe to Penrith, also for a bargain price – with breakfast thrown in. We’ll have the scrambled eggs with smoked salmon, please. And coffee – and orange juice… Just the job!
Travelling most of the day meant few opportunities for photos, except at Carlisle where we had a little while to wait before we could board our Leeds train. But what a great day out we’ve had!
Cool, bright, breezy – when it shines, the sun is welcome… A pleasant afternoon wandering up Kenley Ridge, then dropping down the path through the trees to that hidden hollow, before walking back through Harnage Grange. Fresh air and some fine views!
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=357220&Y=301550&A=Y&Z=120
Just published to Geoff’s Rail Diaries, an account of the rail-related aspects of my trip to Skye, via Kyle of Lochalsh and the Caledonian Sleeper from Crewe to Inverness. Visit There and back again for the full story and more photos.
The start, near Church Preen school, is well below the Wenlock Edge. At the highest point of my wander, a little way beyond Church Preen village, I’m almost at the same height, and can see the Clee hills beyond – nevertheless the Edge dominates the eastern horizon. Looking west now, there are fine views towards the Welsh border, though the distance is rather hazy. To the north, the Wrekin’s in charge. This is very pleasant quiet country.
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=354860&Y=298485&A=Y&Z=120
…and it will be spring, by the Met Office’s definition. It certainly felt springlike when I set out. There will be rain later – there’s been a lot of it recently. The fields are completely sodden, and refuse to accept any more water, so instead it’s running off down the roads. Despite the wetness, the signs of spring are everywhere – hawthorns leaves are brilliant green in the hedgerows, there are primroses and periwinkles (garden escapees?) and the blackthorn blossom is starting to appear.
View OS map in Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=367470&Y=298250&A=Y&Z=120
Almost two weeks ago, I travelled on the sleeper from Crewe to Inverness, where I boarded the normal service train to Kyle of Lochalsh and Skye. This morning I arrived home again, after an “interesting” return trip – a departure from Inverness delayed by 194 minutes. Nevertheless I was home just an hour later than if it had left on time. The full story will possibly appear on “Geoff’s Rail Diaries” in due course; meanwhile, here are a couple of tasters.
Monday 19 February: A last Skye leg-stretch, grabbing a couple of hours between lunch and the onset of rain… There’s a stiff breeze raising the waves down by the slip at Camus Mor, and I won’t go too near the cliff edge, but there’s some brightness for a time, and the rain held off. The first drops are falling as I drive away.
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=137830&Y=870875&A=Y&Z=120
Monday 19 February: …or four? A week ago, we saw the Pentland Ferries catamaran Alfred arriving at Uig pier (see A stranger at Uig). A little digging on the Calmac website clarified the position. The usual ferry, Hebrides, which we’d seen at the pier a couple of days earlier, had gone for its scheduled overhaul. Another Calmac ferry, Clansman, should have taken over but its own overhaul is over-running… So, today, Hebridean Isles came to the rescue. It was the regular vessel – a familiar shape and sight – on the Uig routes from the late ’80s until the bigger Hebrides took over. It seems to be providing a Lochboisdale – Uig service in lieu of the Lochmaddy and Tarbert routes for the time being. So – here’s a reminder of Hebrides and Alfred, and today’s arrival from Lochboisdale. (No photos of Clansman, for obvious reasons).
Sunday 18 February: Sometimes the weather in Staffin, on the east coast of Trotternish (and not quite 7 miles away, as the golden eagle flies), is very different from that on the west. The Met Office thought it would be different too – I left in murky mist, under heavy cloud, and enjoyed bright sunshine for much of my walk. The basic route is quite short (and we’ve done it many times), but today I lengthened it by walking to the end of the line of cliffs above the slip (which may explain the unlikely route shown below), for an aerial view of familiar places.
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=149025&Y=867956&A=Y&Z=120
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