… and showers? Not this afternoon, we hope; later maybe. It’s too warm and humid for anything energetic – the ascent of Ned’s Lane, on the woodland fringe, is quite enough.
Category: Shropshire hills
A drop of rain
We almost set off for a walk – but heard distant thunder as we got out of the car, and changed our minds. A minute or two later, we realised we’d had a close shave when it began to pour.
We drove on, sitting for a while to watch the rain at Morville, before continuing, hoping for a break in the clouds. It came a few minutes after we pulled up in Shirlett Lane, allowing us to enjoy a brief leg-stretch and views of the passing storm. It hadn’t passed very far – just a couple of miles away, we had a taste of what we could have enjoyed on the walk, as we ran for the front door on arriving home…
Hawthorn Bank
The other road at Shirlett: a short walk down the lane and through the woods to the redundant trig. point on Hawthorn Bank, and a fine view to the Clee hills.
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Barrow to Wyke
The heavy clouds threaten rain, and one or two spots appear on the windscreen as we drive the couple of miles to our parking place. They continue to threaten as we walk, but no more spots. The fields could do with more than a few spots – tomorrow perhaps?
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To Bannister’s Coppice
“Perhaps we’ll see some deer”… Yes, we did – a couple trotted past some distance away, There were squirrels too, by the dozen. Apart from the squirrels, and blackbirds frantically rustling in the undergrowth, it’s really quiet here, and very pleasant too – it feels as though the world outside has been left behind.
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Ned’s Lane, Willey and The Smithies
We’ve walked this route several times, with a difference. It’s been a good standby in winter and/or very wet weather, a pleasant stroll around quiet lanes. Today’s difference is the inclusion of the track up behind Round Hill, and back down Ned’s Lane to get to Willey (a route that can be seriously muddy in poor weather). It’s a Sunday, and there are one or two other people about, on Round Hill and near Willey Lower Pool – after that, we’ve got the place to ourselves.
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Shady ways
Back to Ned’s Lane and Round Hill! It’s a short leg-stretch, but very pleasant. The path up the hill on the edge of the woodland has a far-away feel to it, and the shade under those tall trees is most welcome.
As we drive the couple of miles to our starting point, a red kite swoops low over the road. We’re losing count of the number we’ve seen close to home in the last few weeks.
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Clee woodlands
We’re walking on the tame side of Brown Clee – the woodlands on the north-eastern edge of the hill. Once again, the shade is welcome, though there’s a bit more cloud today. The greater part of this route is not over-popular – as we guessed, most of the other people we saw (perhaps a dozen?) were on the short stretch between the picnic field and the summit. For much of the time, we had the place to ourselves.
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Shady Shirlett
The air temperature is comfortable – 20 or 21 degrees, no more, but the sun is strong. Once again, some shade would be pleasant. There’s plenty of shade on this short out-and-back walk – and some open stretches where there are views to the Wrekin, and the Clee Hills.
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Down the drive
We walked this way a couple of weeks ago – so we’ll do it anticlockwise. We go down the drive at Aldenham, past Shore Pool and across the field to the network of lanes which will take us back via Hurst Farm pools, where the anglers are hard at it. Otherwise, there’s no-one else around.
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