It’s grey, dull and breezy – not an afternoon for wide open spaces. We’ll walk down Stanley Lane, then back along the old railway track and through Chestnut Coppice. One of the regular paths up through the woodland has been closed. Why would anyone want to do that?
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It’s a regular destination for a good leg-stretch. Today we’ll walk up into Broseley and Broseley Wood, down ‘the slip’ and through Jackfield, then over the footbridge to the Coalport canal bank, where the sun is shining brightly. In better times (and in season) there would be tea and cake at the YHA café; today we’ll make do with the chocolate we brought with us (it’s what camera bags are for). We’ll need the energy to get back up the hill from the old railway line – and by then, the light is fading.
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… we stayed at home. It’s not much less misty in the afternoon, but we need a leg-stretch – didn’t get out yesterday (far too moisty!). It’s grey along Shirlett Lane (it feels grey!) but there’s lots of colour in the woods, most of it on the warm side of the spectrum. There are still some colourful autumn leaves, but very few of them are on the trees. They’re mostly lining the road and the paths (hiding the deep muddy holes!). It feels brighter down by the Smithies – is the sun going to come out? No – it’s just as misty and moisty on Shirlett Lane as it was earlier, and though it’s only 3.40 pm, it’s beginning to get dark when we arrive back at the car.
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Not ours! The only way we can enjoy the little bit of Shropshire within this circuit is by peering from the fences, through the trees, or over the parapet of the bridge which crosses the estate road. Nevertheless, ‘around the estate’ is a pleasantly varied walk, and it feels very different on this cold, almost wintry afternoon – last time it was a pleasantly warm September day.
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Yesterday we walked to Benthall Hall and back. Today, we’re leaving the car at Benthall Hall, and walking out to Wyke, then following woodland paths along Benthall Edge. We’ll pause for a (chocolate) moment or two at the viewpoint, then conclude the walk by heading through Workhouse Coppice to the track (which we walked yesterday) taking us back to the hall. There’s a nip in the air today – a hint of wintry days to come.
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Thursday: walking with the camera, across the Fiery Fields and Lodge Lane to Benthall Hall. We’ll find a different route home again through quiet back roads.
Wednesday 4 November: a walk from Willey – down Bould Lane, through Linley Brook, up the track to Round Hill, and back down Ned’s Lane. There’s barely a breath of wind, and though it’s not as sunny as forecast (and slightly damper…), it’s very pleasant to be out.
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This is the route we followed two months ago – see A Cound Round (it still doesn’t rhyme). It’s colder today, and though it’s bright and sunny, we could get a shower. Fingers crossed! The views from this slightly elevated land are, of course, more autumnal now.
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It’s windy, and the forecast says there could be a shower or two. As we approach our parking spot, there’s a rainbow, but that’s the last rain we’re aware of. This part of Stanley Lane is very quiet – as is the old railway track. Coming back up through the woodland of Chestnut Coppice, the autumn leaves are striking. Admittedly most of them are on the ground now…
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… doesn’t look any different from Church Preen on any other day at this time of year. I suppose there was a house with a witch in the porch, but I wasn’t sure it was wise to point the camera in her direction. It’s just very pleasant to be out in the sunshine, on a day that looked like being wet.
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=354860&Y=298485&A=Y&Z=120
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