Cloudy today, the forecast says, with perhaps some light rain in the afternoon. At 10am, the sun’s shining – let’s get out there. Shirlett Lane, Ned’s Lane, Round Hill – familiar ground, but subtly different every time. Perhaps we’ll see the belties?

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Just a short one! Over the fields to the Wyke lane, through the trees along Benthall Edge, and back, for a change, across the rear of Benthall Hall. A hare started just yards from where we stood in the field, and (as they do) went hurtling away, swerving to avoid the sheep. Photo? Not a hope; in any case we were too busy just watching.

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It’s a fine, bright and sunny day, and there are others about when we start out from Cleehill. As a result (though there’s no-one else in sight there) the dereliction at Magpie Hill isn’t creepy. Apparently. We approach via Hoar Edge, where the rocks make a good picnic bench, then visit the three-forked pole before following the old wagonway past Lower Random. Never below 1100 feet above sea level, this is an airy walk with extensive views in all directions -perfect for a day like today.

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Once again, a familiar circuit along the quiet lanes near Church Preen. Autumn is with us now, and though most of the trees are still largely green, there are seasonal colours and fruits everywhere – damsons, tart wild plums, and there, in the hedgerow, a bush full of sweet wild greengages… The sun mostly fails to shine, but eventually (we’re almost back at the car) lights a line of trees down by the school.

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… via Jackfield. Not quite a circular walk – more like three oddly-shaped sausages, on whose links we retrace our footsteps briefly. Yesterday’s forecast for today wasn’t optimistic: the bright sunshine and deep blue sky are a bonus, and the clouds are no worse than expected. We seem to have avoided the showers.
Sadly, the season’s over at Coalport for weekday walks – the café is now only open at weekends. We’ll have to make do with the chocolate in the camera bag (it’s what they’re for, surely?)

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…are the lanes we’re walking along this morning – down Scots Lane as far as Bould Lane, which we descend to Linley Brook. Britons Lane then takes us to – an innominate lane, the far side of our wander, past the pools and to the top of Bould Lane. It’s fine and sunny, but rain is promised for later in the day. Signs of the season abound – summer is long gone.

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Summer’s gone and the schools are back – it’s quiet along the Wharfage in Ironbridge, and the view upriver has changed since the last time we walked this way. Coalbrookdale is quiet too – the ironworks is closed, so is the museum (on Mondays and Tuesdays). No danger of getting run over as we shelter under the railway arch, its entrance, during a brief shower of rain.

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