It was rainy during the night – the sound of running water accompanies us throughout our wander around the Willey lanes. It’s not quite as quiet as usual – the wind is whooshing through the bare trees, buffeting us in the more exposed stretches (and blowing away the cobwebs!). The sunshine is bright and warm on our backs – it’s good to be out.
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=367515&Y=298310&A=Y&Z=120
A quick local leg stretch on a mild December afternoon.
Although the frost’s gone, there’s still a little ice here and there (my fingers are frozen…), and a couple of tiny patches remain from Sunday’s snow. Picking my way through the mud in Ned’s Lane warms me up (my digits have defrosted!). There’s precious little light, but there’s no wind and it’s very pleasant wandering in these quiet ways.
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=367475&Y=297980&A=Y&Z=120
It’s frost – hoar frost, quite thick in places, especially where the sun hasn’t shone. We’ve had no snow here – yet – but the frost resembles snow here and there. The air is certainly very cold, but there’s only the lightest of breezes, and the sunshine, from a clear blue sky, is warm. It’s a great afternoon for these quiet hills (I only met one other person. Where were they all?)
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=347500&Y=293335&A=Y&Z=120
First of December tomorrow – and first frost of the winter today. The temperature’s barely risen above freezing, though the afternoon is fine and sunny. We’ll need to keep moving – too cold to stand around for long, even at the chocolate gate…
No shortage of trees around here! The leaves are mostly shed now; their former hosts are in (photogenic) winter silhouette mode, great on this fine afternoon.
No shortage of mud around here! We’ve had a drop of rain over the past few weeks – we could do with some dry weather, or some hard frosts to freeze it…
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=361430&Y=298891&A=Y&Z=120
It’s a sunny start, but cloud is pushing in from the west, producing some spectacular skyscapes around Aldenham, and remarkable reflections in Shore Pool. By the time we’re heading back, the shadows are lengthening and the afternoon is almost over. The days are short now, but the solstice is not far away.
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=366905&Y=295650&A=Y&Z=120
It’s very nearly a perfect day for a walk on the Wenlock Edge near Aston Munslow – cold (and getting colder), clear and sunny. There’s a red kite wheeling above the sheepy field, and in the woods are deer – one, two, then three. They’ve seen us, of course, and aren’t sure of our motives. Soon they’re away, down the steep slope to the west. The sun’s almost gone by the time we’re back to the start.
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=350995&Y=287750&A=Y&Z=120
There’s not much light today, but there’s colour in the few leaves that remain – mostly beech and brambles. There’s an interesting assortment of fungi – here are some that look like little bread rolls. I don’t think I’ll try them…
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=366240&Y=297950&A=Y&Z=120
Sunny intervals? Huh! Drizzle (at first) and cloud, more like… Not to worry, it’s still very pleasant wandering around these quiet, if rather muddy lanes.
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=356815&Y=301390&A=Y&Z=120
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