We last got out for a leg-stretch on Christmas Day – which of course was last year. Since then, weather and family commitments have kept us in – until today. The weather nearly defeated us – several rumbles of thunder around mid-day, and some heavy showers. It was raining as we set off in the car: ever-optimistic, we persevered and had a very pleasant short wander up to Plaish and back (the route we followed in November, but widdershins… See The Plaish triangle). Yes, we’ve started 2023 as we mean to go on – Happy New Year everyone!

 

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Eat early and get out for a leg stretch! The lanes around Willey are ideal – very quiet, exceptionally so on this still afternoon. Despite our intentions, the light is fading rapidly by the time we’re back to the car. Merry Christmas everyone!

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A short walk on a fine Christmas Eve afternoon – down Stanley Lane, along the riverbank footpath and back up through Chestnut Coppice

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A necessarily short walk on the afternoon of the shortest day, a walk whose quality – the light, the views – more than compensates for quantity. Sweet? Yes – Stollen, shortbread, Lebkuchen – perfect for a pre-Christmas cake stop on the Hope Bowdler ridge. We’ve paid for it though – the light has gone! Just one last glimpse of the sun before it disappears altogether…

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Tomorrow is the solstice – not that it makes much difference a day or so either way. I’m walking by 1.30; by the time I’m back at the car, a little over two hours later, the sun is setting (behind the triangular road sign in the last photo!). To the south-west of Shirlett Lane lie the Clee hills, impressive against the December sky as I view them on the outward journey. Heading back, the sun is much lower in the sky, and the colours are now dramatic. There wouldn’t have been time for a longer walk though…

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Days like today, that is. It’s the third in a row with clear blue sky, sunshine and frost. The sky isn’t completely clear – there are some wispy clouds drifting about, and there’s a change coming from the south-west. The next few days will be warmer, wetter and windier, so I’d better try to make the most of it this afternoon, in the upland fields around Barrow

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… around Clive and Grinshill. Once again, the sunshine is very pleasant, but there’s a hard frost in the shade. A very interesting walk through woodlands and around old quarry workings, which present themselves as impossibly clean-cut rock faces in amongst the trees. Back at the start, an unusually inquisitive robin insists on checking inside the car for any spare crumbs. It nearly came home with us!

The route shown below depicts our somewhat erratic wanderings – it’s not a recommendation…

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The clouds have gone and the sun is shining from a clear blue sky. It’s still really cold though… Wenlock Edge, above Aston Munslow, should be good for a walk with the camera.

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It’s cold, grey and dull, though yesterday’s light snowfall provides an extra dimension to the local scenes. In Coalbrookdale the Coke Hearth Crocheters have decorated the bus shelter for Christmas, and by the time I reach Ironbridge there’s a warm glow of light in the shops.

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