… a warm evening on Wenlock Edge. Perhaps it’s the heat? Things are not normal in the woods near Stokes’s Barn.

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=360695&Y=299405&A=Y&Z=120

Seeking the shade with a walk along Shirlett Lane, down Round Hill, through the Smithies and back up Ned’s Lane. Crabs? Two years ago, we had an excellent haul of tiny apples (which later became excellent crab apple jelly) from a tree along the way. Last year, barely an apple to be seen. This year – it’s well laden. We’ll be back! Near the bottom of Round Hill, we stopped to watch dragonflies. Again, a couple of years ago they posed obligingly on the bushes. Today – no chance.  “That’s a big one”.  Yes, it would have been – but it was a bat, not a dragonfly, flitting about in broad daylight (it’s about 2.30pm).  In the Smithies, there are more reminders that, despite more warm weather to come, it will soon be autumn. Yellowing leaves, damsons – and wild hops in the hedgerow.

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

After a busy day, an evening wander around these very quiet lanes is just the thing… Last autumn, there was a bush beside the lane, full of wild plums. It’s still there (I remember it well!) – but not a single fruit! Further along, there are damsons galore, though they’re some way off being ripe…

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=354860&Y=298485&A=Y&Z=120

It’s the 1st of August – Yorkshire Day! It’s a long way to the Yorkshire Dales, but just a little over 10 miles to Brown Clee, so that will have to do. Others had the same idea – it was quite crowded up there. We must have seen at least 15 other people, though happily they were well spread out. One had the temerity to sit in the chocolate seat! Fortunately we’d had our lunch, on the tranquil bank of Boyne Water, watching dozens of dragonflies and a goodly number of electric-blue damselflies. Most of them refused to be snapped, but one common darter posed obligingly. The sunshine was pleasant, the temperature likewise, with a gently-cooling breeze. Gradually, the sky’s blue turned milky white, and as I write, the rain is teeming down. I wonder if it’s raining in Yorkshire? (They’ll all be suppin in t’pub if they’ve any gumption…)

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=360125&Y=285675&A=Y&Z=120

We walked this way in early March (see Roaming around Rindleford) – the air was clear and cold, the spring vegetation just beginning to appear. At the end of July, it’s a different scene – warm, grey, flat lighting – and truly a jungle on the descent to Batch Lane. Similarities: the route; the quiet surroundings…

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=373850&Y=295125&A=Y&Z=120

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.

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=355890&Y=304025&A=Y&Z=120

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

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=354120&Y=288725&A=Y&Z=120

 

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.

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=367105&Y=297810&A=Y&Z=120