Mild, dry, a light breeze – we ought to stretch our legs. How about Shirlett? It’s very pleasant up here – quiet, some good views, and we’re on our own until the last half-mile between the Hurst Farm pools and the car.
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=366610&Y=296976&A=Y&Z=120
The sky’s blue today, with photogenic clouds (best kind) – let’s have a walk on Brown Clee! We’ll walk up from the telephone box (it’s a free library these days) and take the terrace path around the hill to the far side. At first on the open hillside, it later skirts the forest, where there’s some attractive deciduous woodland beside the conifers. When we meet the path up the east side, from the picnic place, we make a gentle and cautious (it’s a bit sticky underfoot) ascent to the summit where, for a few minutes, we’re the highest people in Shropshire. It’s downhill from here, of course, but no-one has told the water – the moor is rather squelchy. But who cares? It’s great up here on a day like this.
Soon we’re back at the car – better change the library books before we head for home…
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=359115&Y=286916&A=Y&Z=115
The morning’s fog dispersed, as instructed by the Met Office, to leave a clear blue sky – perhaps the last we’ll get for a week or so? Better get out there and enjoy it – Aston Munslow and the Wenlock Edge could be good. It’s not especially elevated ground here, just over 1000′ at the highest point, but it feels like the top of the world. Must be the rarefied atmosphere!
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=350930&Y=287731&A=Y&Z=120
We’ve taken the no 18 to Much Wenlock – it’s a double decker, so we’re in the front seats at the top – and we’re walking home again. We’ve had a succession of dull, grey, cold and murky days, so today’s wall-to-wall sunshine is especially welcome. It’s wet underfoot in places, but it’s great to be out in the fresh air on a perfect January afternoon.
Wednesday 4 Jan: “We’ll be out most of the day – you’ll have to amuse yourself…” No problem – it’s fine, bright and intermittently sunny. I’ll start from the Carding Mill Valley and work my round to Little Stretton, then up to the top beside Small Batch, and come back down Mott’s Road. There are one or two tricky bits on the path through the woods – soft and slippery – otherwise it’s a very pleasant route. The sun’s trying hard, and though it doesn’t always succeed, it provides me with some fine sunbeams to the south-west.
View OS map in Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=343115&Y=293621&A=Y&Z=120&ax=367365&ay=301641
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Wandering under a clear blue sky – a perfect January day, though it didn’t quite go according to plan, and a full day’s walk further afield became an afternoon’s local walk. There’s colour in the sunshine, and a surprising amount of green.
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=366340&Y=301991&A=Y&Z=120
At home, we’re just on the edge of it; along the Wenlock Edge, we’re well above it. It’s pretty thick down in Apedale, but we can see the Hope Bowdler hills poking out through the fog. We’ll keep going! The forecast says the clear blue above the fog will be replaced by cloud later in the day, so we’ll set off in the morning (after scraping a very hard frost from the car) and find somewhere on the hill to eat our sandwiches (the Battlestones). As we head slowly back towards the car, the day is changing. We’ve had the best of it!
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=347860&Y=293626&A=Y&Z=120
Barely a cloud in the sky this afternoon – can’t stay in! A walk down to Coalport will fit the bill – it’ll certainly be worth avoiding the cold wind, though that will mean avoiding the sun too. Can’t have everything!
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=369345&Y=301606&A=Y&Z=120
25 December: a day when we get out, weather permitting, for a walk and a breath of fresh air. On this Christmas Day, there’s no shortage of the latter – quite a stiff breeze, though the route we’re following will be sheltered. It’s certainly not cold – 13C according to the Met Office. It’ll soon be dark though – better get back to the car, and head for home and Christmas tea (featuring, among other things, a rather fine locally hand-built pork pie). Merry Christmas everyone!
We were here (Streetmap): http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=365980&Y=298106&A=Y&Z=120
22 December: We’re past the shortest day now, though it will be weeks before the evenings become noticeably lighter. It’s a fine and breezy afternoon – a last chance for a good leg stretch before the weather deteriorates and the Christmas fun begins. Brown Clee beckons!
As ever, it’s quiet up here. Just as I leave the car, two families arrive, but I’m away, and won’t see them again. Other than a solitary photographer at the highest point, I’ve got the hills to myself (and the sheep, and a couple of small groups of wild horses). The breeze stiffens at Clee Burf, the secondary summit, but it’s quiet enough at the seat above the five springs for a lunch break.
I’m off again, following a soggy path to the summit at Abdon Burf, and for a few seconds (the wind is cold here) I’m the highest person in Shropshire. I’ll return to Cockshutford down the track towards the telephone box, before taking the contouring path back to the lane. There’s a glimpse of a red kite for a few moments, but try as I might, I won’t see him again. Until the next time, perhaps…
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=358625&Y=285576&A=Y&Z=120
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