There are snowdrops galore beside the quiet lanes between Linley Brook and Willey. Many of them are deeply entangled in the hedges. Meanwhile, the ice is melting on Lower Pool. Did I mention it’s much warmer? (in relative terms, that is.) After last week’s sub-zero temperatures, it was around 11°C this afternoon. Positively springlike!
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It’s still very cold. We’re following a (roughly) circular route, out through the back lanes and onto the Benthall road, then turning down Lodge lane – a very quiet way which takes us to the other Wenlock road… To avoid too much road walking, we’ll cut across into the field, and re-join the road at the old toll house – from there, there’s a good verge to hop onto if any traffic comes along.
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It’s still below freezing as we set out on this bright and sunny morning. A fresh light cover of snow reflects the blue in the sky, making for some very cool tones in the landscape. Closer to hand, where the sun breaks through the trees, the world looks altogether warmer (it isn’t! – though the sunshine feels good). At the far end of our walk, we venture for a few yards along Ned’s lane – it’s been seriously muddy along here recently, but this morning, the mud is more like very rough concrete. As we walk back, the clouds gather, making for some wonderful sunbeams in the southern sky – and though it’s still very cold, we’re comfortably warm.
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Last night’s light snowfall has melted where the morning’s sun has shone, but in the shade it’s still freezing. We’ll walk out to Benthall and back, through the quieter backwaters of Broseley – a fine little outing for this cold but bright afternoon.
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Once again, we need to walk for a while before we’re warm enough to stop and take in the views. There are few distant horizons on this fairly sheltered route, but the local landscape is pleasant enough. Like yesterday, snowflakes (just a few) are drifting downwards for the first mile or so, then the sky clears for a while and there’s some pleasant sunshine.
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I’m not sure ‘flakes’ is the best description. The tiny soft balls of snow blow around on the road, rolling off us as we set out just in time to catch one of the afternoon’s several showers. Once again an icy wind is blowing from the east, but between the showers, the air is clear and the sunshine is bright, and when we’re up amongst the trees the day feels more comfortable. The necessarily brisk walk has warmed us up. To the south the Clee hills have a covering of snow; above them the sky is dramatic. Soon we’re at the chocolate stop, then retracing our steps and revisiting the views. As we leave the woodland, the snow starts again. We didn’t think we would get a walk today – in the event our outing was enjoyable – exhilarating!
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Saturday: just for an hour or so, towards the end of the afternoon, the cloud clears and the sun breaks through – what a difference it makes! We’re wandering around familiar lanes, between Willey and the Smithies.
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A little sunlight is all that’s needed, to illuminate the various views from Shirlett. We can see the Wrekin, Wenlock Edge and Brown Clee, though the haze means we won’t see much beyond them. There are portents of a spring still some way off – daffodils are coming up, and new leaves on honeysuckle bear raindrops which catch the eye and capture the landscape in miniature.
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There’s no shortage of it today – it’s misty when we set out, though it clears a little as we walk. For a while it seems the sun might break through, but it doesn’t. The clouds never quite lift from the Shirlett woodlands.
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First of February and it’s a beautiful afternoon – blue sky, barely a breath of wind, warm sunshine but cold air. We’ll take in one or two of the more interesting corners of Broseley on the way to Benthall Edge. Here, through a gap in the trees, we can look down on the dwindling remains of the power station. Returning by a different route, there’s more of interest as the sun begins to sink.
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