Category: Shropshire hills

Halloween at Preen

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, Walks2 Comments

Sorry. This blog has nothing to do with pumpkins, ghouls, tricks or treats. It just happens to be 31 October, and it rhymes with (Church) Preen. Whatever the date, it’s a fine and pleasant afternoon in this quiet part of the county below Wenlock Edge, and it looks as though it will rain for the first few days of November, so we’re trying to make the most of it…

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=354910&Y=298575&A=Y&Z=120

New ways from Hope Bowdler

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

There are some obvious attractions in the area around Hope Bowdler – today we’re finding some of the less obvious pleasures in the lanes and tracks to the south of the village just a couple of miles from Church Stretton. There’s more sunshine and blue sky than we expected, though there are some obvious showers here and there. “I hope my washing isn’t getting wet”. The consolation is simple – if we’d decided to walk nearer home, we’d have been soaked too…

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=347240&Y=291885&A=Y&Z=120

Mid-autumn at Shirlett

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A fine afternoon, cool but with some warm sunshine. Shirlett Lane might be good – there could be some interesting toadstools… There might be a few down Ned’s lane, and perhaps one or two more back up Round Hill. Sadly, there aren’t any fly agarics – they made a splendid display a couple of years ago, and there were more last year. Maybe in a week or two? I’ll have to come back…

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=366240&Y=297950&A=Y&Z=120

Toadstool time

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Fungi in the forest (and chestnuts under the trees). It’s still wet underfoot, but the paths around Comer Woods are mostly mud-free and very walkable. There are lots of interesting fungi, though most seem to be of the same kind, and there are fallen chestnuts everywhere. The squirrels think it’s Christmas!

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=374885&Y=289885&A=Y&Z=120

A day for the hills

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Sunday 15 October It’s bright and breezy today. The forecast thinks it will be dry and sunny all day – we really must head for the hills. The Bog Centre will be open – let’s head for the Stiperstones. The views are wonderful, and with the sun lower in the sky now, it’s atmospheric too. Perfect! Now for the tea and cakes!

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=336360&Y=298305&A=Y&Z=120

Repeat performance?

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About four weeks ago – just before we set off on our trip to the north – I had a very pleasant wander through the fields between Bould Lane and the river (see ‘Run for it!‘). I met three fallow deer, two of which were an unusual dark colour, found a tree very heavily laden with crab apples (perfect for jelly, but I had no means of carrying them), then found my way blocked by a fallen tree. What will I find today? I’ll take a bag…

There were two deer away across the other side of the lower field, by Birch Wood – two of the three I saw last time, I’d guess. They’ve spotted me. Then came the tree – almost all the apples had gone, though I was still able to pick a reasonable quantity (I need much longer arms). The blocked path? No change there! As I retraced my earlier steps, I watched a red kite quartering the far edge of the fields, by the wood. Not a repeat performance, but would I want that? An enjoyable afternoon!

Vies OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=368755&Y=298755&A=Y&Z=120