Silent and secret

On 16 Sep 2023 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, Walks2 Comments

We leave the car and take the path across the field, cutting off the corner and avoiding the road. The corn has been harvested; just the stubble remains, and with it an eerie feeling that, with the crop, everything else has gone. The air is still, it’s very quiet – is anybody there? We continue via Harnage Grange, then, further along the lane, we take the path across the fields towards Kenley. There’s a secret world here, not visible from any of the roads nearby, and if it was quiet earlier, it’s even quieter now. Not even the sheep have anything to say.

Winged seeds (and shield bug - I hadn't spotted him!)

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=357220&Y=301550&A=Y&Z=120

Overground Underground

On 15 Sep 202315 Sep 2023 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Railways...Leave a comment

No, we haven’t morphed into wombles. Our trip to Liverpool and surrounding area on Wednesday was marked by some subterranean exploration, and a ride in what was once an underground train, entirely above ground. Visit “Overground Underground” on Geoff’s Rail Diaries for more on this most interesting day out.

Mersey scenes

On 13 Sep 2023 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Railways...Leave a comment

We’ve spent the day exploring, in a fairly eccentric and unstructured way, the north-west of England, focusing (so to speak) on Liverpool and Merseyside. More to follow; here are a couple of tasters. The Liver building may be instantly recognisable, even when it’s hiding being more modern structures; the Water Street entrance to James Street underground station may be less well-known, but it was worth a visit with the camera.

Close

On 10 Sep 2023 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

The weather, that is – not as warm as the past few days, but humid. The views are hazy and limited, but it’s pleasant enough on Nordley Common. The old way from Linley Brook to Stocking Lane is a delight, lined with trees and bushes (damsons galore!), and the inevitable brambles and sloes…

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=368065&Y=297340&A=Y&Z=120

Cool air of morning

On 06 Sep 2023 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, Walks2 Comments

It’s going to be warm again this afternoon – we’ll have a wander around Willey in the cool air of morning. It should be pleasant in the shade on Round Hill, and even more so as we descend slowly under the trees of Shirlett forest and head back to the start.

Autumnal shades at the foot of Round Hill

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=367505&Y=298000&A=Y&Z=120

A warm day on the Stiperstones

On 04 Sep 2023 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

Too warm to hurry (as if there’s any need…). We’ll walk gently up the rocky ridge, where there’s a shady corner for lunch. It’s getting really warm by the time we’ve reached The Rock, towards the southern end of the ridge, so we’ll return to the start through shady woodlands. Sadly, the Bog Centre is closed on Mondays – we’ll have to go to the Bridges Inn to refresh ourselves… Beer is best on a day like this!

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=336370&Y=298120&A=Y&Z=120

Benthall woodlands

On 03 Sep 202303 Sep 2023 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

As seems to happen sometimes in September, the weather has changed – it’s warm and sunny, in contrast to the last two summer months. It will be pleasantly cool and shady under the trees along Benthall Edge

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=366030&Y=302915&A=Y&Z=120

Autumn begins

On 01 Sep 2023 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

Meteorologically, that is. Astronomically, we’ve got another three weeks or so. Around Willey, it looks and smells like autumn (even if the Met Office says we’re in for a few warmer days…)

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=367515&Y=298310&A=Y&Z=120

Summer’s end

On 31 Aug 2023 By geoffspagesIn Photography1 Comment

We did well to avoid the rain… It was dry when we left the house, but drizzled much of the way to Bridgnorth. Dry again when we left the car, threatened most of the time we were out, and began to follow through on the threat as we returned to the start. We stayed dry(ish). Not good weather for photos…
Tomorrow the Met Office’s autumn begins (and it’s forecasting warm dry weather for next week)

The previous King Charles

On 30 Aug 202330 Aug 2023 By geoffspagesIn NT and EH, Photography1 Comment

Lunch at, and a quick wander round Moseley Old Hall near Wolverhampton. King Charles II famously hid in an oak tree at Boscobel – and having avoided discovery there, found his way to Moseley, where he was able to hide in a priest hole. It’s an interesting place in which to spend an hour or so (the Cornish pasties were good too…)

Moseley Old Hall NT