Wandering around Willey on a quiet autumnal morning. It should have been sunnier, and it’s not warm, but the leaves are glowing in their last days

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It’ll be a short one! There’s just time to get to the top and back before the light goes. I’ll take the longer way up, along the forest road, up to the ridge and the chocolate seat, and return by the direct route. Wish I hadn’t – the mud is horrendous on the descent! It’ll take a warm dry spring and summer to make it fit to walk again.

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Another grey, still and dry day. No sunshine. Fine for a local wander – Round Hill, Ned’s Lane and Willey. Autumn leaves and toadstools!

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Hallowe’en – a fungus-finding expedition seems appropriate today (no pumpkins, toads, witches, bats or other symptoms, fortunately). We were hoping for some fly agarics – there were some here a couple of years ago, but no sign of any at present. Maybe in a week or two? The leaves, mostly on the ground now, are colourful; the woods are definitely autumnal and the fungi (in a variety of shapes and sizes) are fun!

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It will be the best part of the day – let’s get out while the sun’s shining. Hurst Farm lane and Aldenham Park – just a mile or two down the road, always pleasant and fairly quiet (the main road is rather noisy while we’re down by the park gates – can’t have everything). A red kite wheels above us, silently – we’re clearly of no interest. The day’s changing by the time we’re back at the car.

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A fine afternoon – how about Haughmond Hill? We haven’t been there for a while. There are some pleasant autumnal tints, a few interesting fungi (mostly kicked over) and great views to the south Shropshire hills. There are others about, mainly on the walk to, and at, the viewpoint. Elsewhere it’s quiet, just the odd dog-walker (and some who look fairly normal)

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We’re out on the hills, on this fine, bright and dry October day. The hills in question would have been the Stiperstones, to be followed by tea and cake at the Bog Centre. Disaster – it’s closed (earlier than usual) until next spring! So we’re starting at Bridges, a mile or two further east, for a walk up the beautiful valley of Darnford Brook, up onto Betchcott Hill, along the ridge of the Long Mynd as far as Shooting Box, and back down the track to Coates and the lane to Bridges…
…where, instead of tea and cakes, we’ll have to make do with Three Tuns beer and some excellent crisps. Disaster? Certainly not!

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It’s only a little one! We’re in Church Stretton for essential edibles (‘Entertaining Elephants’. It’s a shop!); afterwards there’s time for a short leg stretch – Carding Mill Valley, and a walk up to the reservoir. Bright sunshine, blue sky (with fluffy white clouds) and autumn colours – wonderful! It’s busy in the valley, but walk for just ten minute and they all vanish!

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The breeze picks up whenever I point the camera at anything flighty (leaves and the like). Fortunately the fungi (it’s their season now!) are much more down-to-earth, and pose properly. The only problem for me is getting down to their level. It’s a fine afternoon, and it was supposed to be sunny. It was sunny just a little further west – clear blue sky was tantalisingly close, but the cloud never cleared above Cound. Can’t win every time.

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A quiet 90 minutes in the quiet lanes around Willey – familiar ground, but none the worse for that.  Plenty of autumnal colour and some bright sunshine – just what’s needed.

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