Highest in the county

On 21 Feb 2019 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, Walks2 Comments

We stood above everyone else in the county at about 2.45 this afternoon, when we gazed out from Abdon Burf on Brown Clee, Shropshire’s highest point (1772 feet, or 540m). It’s a good place to be on an afternoon like this – positively springlike, it would be a crime to stay indoors. It’s quiet too – despite being school half-term week, we saw just four other people while we walked. Wonderful!

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In Mortimer Forest

On 19 Feb 2019 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

We’re walking from Ludlow into the hilly forest to the south-west, a route which takes us into Herefordshire, via the delightfully-named Sunnydingle Cottage to a summit at High Vinnals. 375m (1230 feet) is no great height, but the view is tremendous. That is, it would be, if it wasn’t for the showers of light rain here and there (no, the weather isn’t being as friendly as we’d expected). We return past Mary Knoll House, slithering downwards on the slippery clay, back to very welcome tea and cake, just right for the journey home.

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A walk to Wenlock

On 15 Feb 2019 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

A couple of weeks ago, we caught the bus to Much Wenlock and walked back (see A walk from Wenlock). Today, one of us will be spending some time in Wenlock – if I time it right, I can get a lift back. It’s more-or-less the same route, but in reverse the views are different – mostly. It’s a fine sunny day – not a cloud in the sky – too good to waste!

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=364795&Y=301296&A=Y&Z=120

Snailbeach and the Devil’s Chair

On 15 Feb 2019 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

The fog has cleared and it’s a beautiful afternoon for a walk on the Stiperstones. We’ve started from Snailbeach, and gone up past Resting Hill chimney, skirting Crowsnest Dingle to reach the ridge. The Devil’s not in his chair today, fortunately. To the south, a hazy remnant of the fog fills the valley, glowing in the bright sunshine. Red kites wheel above the ridge (out of range of the camera). We return on lower paths, gazing wistfully on the Bog Centre, not yet open for tea and cakes… It’s been a great day, out on these hills.

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=336965&Y=299776&A=Y&Z=120

A walk from Wenlock

On 02 Feb 2019 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, Walks2 Comments

We’ll catch the bus and walk back… It should have been wall-to-wall sunshine, but clouds are blowing across from the north-east – we’ll have to be selective with the photos. We’re certainly not going to stand and wait until the sun shines – it’s much too cold, barely above freezing. Nevertheless, it’s pleasant when the sun’s out, and there are one or two reminders that spring isn’t too far away.

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=364840&Y=301361&A=Y&Z=120

Winter sun on Hope Bowdler

On 23 Jan 2019 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

Not as much as we’d hoped for. We were anticipating snow too – there was a light cover at home, but hardly any here. Road closures delayed us, and by the time we’d reached the top of Hope Bowdler Hill, a bank of cloud from the west was stealing the sunshine. It’s good up here, especially when the sun is out, but now it’s gone – so has the light, and the wind’s cold. Let’s omit the Battlestones (just this once!) – we’ll cut our losses and head for home.

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=347617&Y=293618&A=Y&Z=120

Loamhole Dingle

On 13 Jan 201913 Jan 2019 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, Walks1 Comment

A short walk from the “coke hearth” at the top of Coalbrookdale. Like several others in this area, the dingle is a steep-sided little valley whose stream feeds the Severn. Below the coke hearth, it’s mostly culverted – higher up, it’s a jungle waterway. The path – a board-walk for much of its length – follows the stream fairly closely – away from the path, much of the woodland looks impenetrable (we’re not going to try!).

Our return takes us through Sunniside – and just beyond, there on the skyline are the most unlikely creatures – alpacas, ostriches (emus?) and reindeer. Are we still in Shropshire?

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=366217&Y=305081&A=Y&Z=115

Perkley skyscapes

On 11 Jan 201913 Jan 2019 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

Weds. 9 January: a cold but bright afternoon. It’s far too good to stay indoors, and it’s been dry for a few days – we’ll head across the fields to Perkley and back. Shouldn’t be too bad underfoot. It’s wide open country here, at the northern end of the Wenlock Edge – with big skies…

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=361365&Y=299001&A=Y&Z=120

Quiet days

On 02 Jan 201911 Jan 2019 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

They’re welcome, after Christmas and New Year – it feels like we’re getting back to normal (whatever that may be). It’s very quiet up here, at the southern end of the Long Mynd. We’ve only seen two other people (but lots of sheep), and the weather is quiet too – not a breath of wind (nor any sunshine, contrary to the forecast). It’s also very cold, nevertheless it’s good to be out on these hills – an enjoyable start to the year.

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=340430&Y=288846&A=Y&Z=120

Midwinter on Brown Clee

On 22 Dec 2018 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

Carpe diem: this kind of midwinter weather is great – dry, bright, mild (with a cool breeze, it has to be said) – a day that must be seized. It’s quiet on the eastern side, as we ascend slowly towards Boyne Water; the breeze is stiffer to the west, but the views are much better and we’re well warmed-up. From time to time the sun shines strongly through gaps in the cloud – these are truly “photoflood days”. It’s too good to come down again, but the cloud’s building and the day is fading – we’d better head back.