Another clear blue sky – third day running! It can’t last. We’re walking to Benthall and back, a pleasant circular route with lots of variety. (Farmers have some great toys!)

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We started under a clear blue sky, but when we came to the path beside the railway line, near the former Lightmoor Junction, patches of mist were forming. It’s thickening over the river – rather atmospheric by the bridge…

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A perfect January day – sunshine from a clear blue sky and a light breeze. The view from our lunch table  – the Packet Stone – is extensive, with ridge after ridge gradually fading into the haze. And (despite all the cars in the Carding Mill valley) there’s no-one else in sight or sound! It can’t get much better than this. It’s a shame to have to come back down to earth, but the light’s fading rapidly as we get back to the car. We’ve made the most of it!

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A fine sunny afternoon in the open country between Harley and Cressage. It’s cold, but we’re soon warmed by our walk. From Wood Lane, the Wrekin looks very shapely; further on, as we look back near Belswardyne, it’s more obviously a ridge.

 

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Wednesday 5 January: there’s a thin layer of snow at home – the hills should be good today? Yes, they were, a great day to be out on Willstone Hill and Caer Caradoc, but there’s no snow. We’re well prepared for the cold and frosty weather, and the uphill stretches keep us warm. A patch of thicker cloud towards the end of the afternoon  brings somewhat gloomier conditions for a time – and a few snowflakes – but without a doubt we’ve chosen a good day for this most enjoyable outing.

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It rained heavily last night – anything away from a surfaced road or track will be seriously muddy. So, having been dropped off in Wenlock’s Barrow Street, I’m walking down beside the main road towards Buildwas, then up the narrow (grass in the middle) lane to Wyke. Just past Newhouse Farm, the road has become a canal – deep water for perhaps 50-60 yards. After a false start, the verge sees me past, but it’s touch and go. My usual companion would have fallen in. After that, the lane from Wyke to Posenhall is pleasant but lacking in excitement…

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A wander around the lanes on a remarkably mild day – and some very welcome sunshine after the dullest December since 1956… Happy New Year everyone!

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…and once again, I’m enjoying a point-to-point walk. A lift gets me to Linley Green – I’ll walk down past Linley church, and along the track that eventually (after a particularly muddy stretch) takes me down to the old railway trackbed. It’s then a good walk to the foot of Caughley Road, the rough track that will take me back home again.
Last post of 2021: instead of expressing similar thoughts to everyone else, here’s a new one: why don’t we adjust the calendar, so that the old year ends with the winter solstice, and the first day of the new year marks the start of lengthening days? (I know, it’s only true in the northern hemisphere, but…)

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