Familiar ground, but today a slightly different route: up the (very quiet) road to Harnage, go round the back by the rough lane, walk a little further along the road, then follow the footpath past the pools and beside the wood as far as the Coundmoor Brook ford. Now we’re heading back, beside the brook for much of the way. The season’s first blackberries – just a few – are ripe, but they’d been eaten before I could take a photo! The light for today’s photos isn’t exactly spectacular, but it’s very pleasant and very quiet along these byways.

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It wasn’t our first choice – but when we arrived at our intended start, there was a fine drizzle which looked likely to keep up for some time. Perhaps it will be dry on the other side of Wenlock Edge? (Perhaps Tigger’s Ickle Shop will have some cakes?) Yes! The Corvedale fields look ready for harvesting, and here and there are hints (ripening berries and a few yellowing leaves) of the autumn to come

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The air’s still quite cool when we start out, heading up Round Hill. It’s shady here, and in Ned’s Lane. By the time we’re looking over to the dead tree from Bould Lane, the sun’s starting to feel quite warm. We’ve timed it nicely for this little outing.

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Starting and finishing through the shady Chestnut Coppice, we’re walking down the old Severn valley railway track as far as Bridgnorth golf course, then back along the riverside path. The latter follows the riverbank pretty closely, but the river is only occasionally visible through the jungle of vegetation on the bank, through the fishing access points. It’s a pleasant afternoon with a light cooling breeze; the cool air of the coppice is very welcome too.

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It’s not long after 9am, and already warm. We’re having a short wander in the Benthall Edge woods, where it will be cooler in the shade. It will be much too hot later today.

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We’re walking from Wenlock to the deserted farm at Perkley. There are fields of ripening barley, wheat and oilseed rape, and – at the start – a field of beans with hundreds of poppies.

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There are a dozen or more in the lane – then a few more beside the path along the Edge. After Stokes’ Barn, there are lots – count them! We’re into three figures, and then as the path opens into the field… ‘Hundreds’ will have to remain the grand total – no chance of counting them! A short, but colourful, leg-stretch on the Edge near Much Wenlock.

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A Saturday evening shortie – from Bedlam car park, over the hill through Hodge Bower and down into Coalbrookdale. New Road in Ironbridge helps avoid the busy Wharfage, and leads to the churchyard, where there’s a seat with a view over the bridge (perfect place for a chocolate stop).

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