…it will be the first day of spring. Given the weather we’ve been ‘enjoying’ recently (three named storms in a week) it can’t some soon enough! We’re wandering the Willey lanes this afternoon for the same reason as last Wednesday – it’s sheltered from the wind and good underfoot. Where we leave the car, at the top of Scots Lane, it’s blowing half a gale, but in minutes we’re into a calmer land, and despite the storms, it’s remarkable how the early signs of spring are advancing. There’s lots more green on the hawthorn, some early primroses in Bould Lane, and dog’s mercury taking over the verges elsewhere. A week tomorrow…

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Rainy too! They’re putting up the flood defences in Ironbridge – the road’s closed, and pedestrians have to use New Road (we were going to go that way anyway) We’ve been to the top of Coalbrookdale – up via Jockey Bank and Orchard Lane, and over the top (windy here!) by the old White Horse, then down behind Coalbrookdale church. We’ll return by the Coach Road, then back beside the river. The rain has kept off, the sun has shone, and we’ve been out of the wind – mostly. A pleasant little outing – just as well, it’s going to rain again tomorrow.

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As well as the thousands of snowdrops, there are other signs of spring beside the Willey lanes. Celandines are starting to emerge, leaves are beginning to appear on the hawthorn, catkins are everywhere – and the sheep are learning new tricks!

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A misty, murky walk on the Long Mynd, starting from its northernmost valley, Gogbatch. We’re setting out a bit later than originally intended, to give the morning’s rain a chance to clear, and while it stays dry for the rest of the day, the views are hazy at best, with no sunshine. By the time we’ve eaten our lunch, the afternoon is wearing on, so rather than the highest point at Pole Bank, we’ll turn back at the Shooting Box, looping around to avoid too much retracing of steps. It may not be at its best on a day like this, but it’s still very pleasant to be out on these hills.

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We did this walk a couple of weeks ago – Shirlett Lane, Ned’s Lane (muddy but it could be worse), through The Smithies and back up Round Hill. Like last time, it’s a cold afternoon; the morning’s sunshine has become very watery. Can I take a different set of photos?

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Ironbridge on a mostly sunny (and rather cold) afternoon. As we approached the bridge, the clouds gathered sufficiently for a few spots of rain, but the clear skies beyond the cloud said it would quickly be gone. After a brief exploration, we head for home, back up the hill, under a clear blue sky.

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Walking in woodland, however pleasant it may be, would be a waste of a sunny day – but it’s not, it’s cloudy. We’re off to Comer Woods!

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Sunshine and showers! We weren’t expecting the latter, though they were little more than spots – or were they snowflakes? – in the wind. It’s a cold afternoon, but it’s mostly uphill to start with, so we’re soon warm – and it’s downhill all the way from Church Preen, back to the start.

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It was touch and go along the path from the hall to Wyke Lane – deep mud and dodgy detours. We’ll have to go the longer way round, along the road, next time. On the lane to Wyke we heard a plover  (“pee-wit, pee-wit”). It’s fine underfoot now (and the light is lovely) – until we get to the edge path, where dying ash trees are being cleared, and what used to be a winding path through the wood is a wide track for the tree-cutting machinery. Oh dear! Further along it’s fine, and we follow the usual ways to the chocolate seat, before cutting back to the lanes and paths across the fields, to return to Benthall Hall where we started.

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