A short walk on a bright afternoon – the morning’s mist is clearing, and the sun is coming through in fits and starts. At times it’s like a searchlight, then it’s altogether softer, casting pastel shades in the distant views. These winter days can be so much more colourful than high summer!
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It’s not all “stroll” – there’s a steep pull up Mott’s Road to the Long Mynd plateau, and our legs haven’t had enough exercise during the past few weeks. But once we’re up, it’s a very pleasant amble. The sunshine is bright, the sky is (mostly) blue, the breeze is light – no need to hurry. It’s one of those afternoons whose only downside is the need to come down…
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Cothercott’s decaying early 20th century concrete is hardly the prettiest relic of mining in the Shropshire hills. If the barytes mining had begun earlier, the remains might at least have been of stonework. The grim slab beside the road on Cothercott Hill has formed a minor landmark for many years, but now the site has been tidied up, with interpretation boards and a yellow-painted mines tub (from Gwynfynydd – it’s not a local!) set on a plinth as a reminder of the little railway which once operated here.
There are more interpretation boards just a little further up the hill – but we’re on our way elsewhere, and it’s bitterly cold despite the sunshine. We’ll come back another day, and perhaps try to follow the route of the railway back to the mines.
Sounds like a pizza! …and even. There’s over 12″ of snow coating this part of Shropshire – that’s deep for these parts – quite exceptional in fact. It’s even too – there was little wind when it fell. It’s not very crisp though – more light and fluffy (still sounding like a pizza?). With a completely blue sky and bright sunshine, a walk with the camera was unavoidable.
…and snew and snew, as my grandfather used to say. That was yesterday – today, a respite – more snow is forecast for tomorrow – so we’re taking a brief leg stretch along the local lanes.
It’ll be wet underfoot – we’ll have a walk along some quiet lanes in the high ground south of Monkhopton. It’s not especially scenic, but it’s easy walking, and there are some fairly extensive views. By the time we’ve completed about 2/3 of the route, the gaps between the clouds have gone, and with them the light for photography, though it’s only just 4pm when we get back to the car. This time next month, the nights will be getting lighter again.
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…and Jackfield, Madeley and Ironbridge. The sky is clear blue, but the temperature is barely above freezing and there’s a stiff northerly breeze. The sheltered valley and south-facing slopes might be the best places to aim for, and there’s plenty of interest on this short leg-stretch.
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Friday 24 November: It’s cold up here today – the frost is lingering in the hollows – but the sunshine (wall-to-wall!) is warm, and a picnic lunch on the rocks near the summit of Clee Burf will be just the thing. We’ve got to get there first, and we’re trying a new route, up the edge of the access land near Stoke Enclosure. It’s a good route too – until we reach the summit plateau. We have to cross deeply tussocky grassland, and there’s no path – and the gaps between the tussocks are very wet… Lunch over, we’re not going to hang around – it’s too cold, but not too cold for a chocolate stop at the well-placed wooden seat. It’s downhill from here…
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We got it right this time – the train was running 25 minutes late when it hurried past, making a wonderful sight and a tremendous sound. If it had been on time, there would have been heavy cloud overhead – no sunshine! For more pictures, visit “Olly – better late…” on Geoff’s Rail Diaries
We’re circling the Willey estate (have to circle it – can’t go through it. Private. Keep out) on a fine, still November afternoon. There’s some bright sunshine early on, lighting the remaining leaves and the odd bit of bracken. Later, as we pass the medieval old hall and head up through the woods, the sun is dimming, and we’re into the gloom of late afternoon.
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