Short walks with photos and a Google map.
A walk from Cound, along paths which can be unwalkable (except in waders) in wet winter weather, but very pleasant in this dry and sunny spell (will it last?).
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=355995&Y=303950&A=Y&Z=120
A walk from Sheinton, via Belswardyne to Bannister’s Coppice on yet another fine and sunny afternoon. We haven’t been that way for a while – the woods can be really muddy. Once again, there’s a cool breeze from the east, and once again there are more seasonal ‘firsts’ – a comma butterfly beside the lane to Belswardyne, butterbur and garlic flowers in the woods beside Sheinton brook, and just beyond Sheinton church there are flowers of garlic mustard beside the lane.
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=361235&Y=302925&A=Y&Z=120
More firsts for 2025: green alkanet, yellow deadnettle, herb robert – and a small tortoiseshell butterfly. Just a few days ago we read in the paper that they’d suffered their worst year on record – and there he was, feeding on dandelions as though everything was fine! We’re enjoying a late-morning walk from Willey, along the lane through the Smithies, up Round Hill and back down through the woods along Ned’s Lane, which after a particularly muddy autumn and winter, is almost dry along its length. (Please could someone dig out that spring and divert its water off the path…)
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=367090&Y=297935&A=Y&Z=120
We’ll start with blue – the year’s first bluebell, and end with white – the first stitchwort. In between, a wander through Chestnut Coppice, down to the riverbank, back up to Colemore Green, along the road and back to the start past Boldings Pools.
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=371205&Y=297260&A=Y&Z=120
…and he’ll still be around tomorrow, I expect. We’re walking from Wenlock, out to the derelict farm at Perkley and back. We’ll stop for a minute or two at the chocolate seat. “Look, there’s a hare!”. A minute or so later there was another, neither of them in any hurry. Then, as we approached the field corner, we saw one heading back towards us. Stay still and quiet… He paused and posed just yards away, then a few seconds later (ears down now!) took off like a rocket. A moment to remember!
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=361430&Y=298891&A=Y&Z=120
There’s no hurry, and the sunshine is warm… It’s a day or two since we had a proper leg stretch – we’ve spent too much time sitting in cars and train. Dudmaston will be perfect!
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=374895&Y=288830&A=Y&Z=120
It certainly was on this fine and sunny afternoon. It’s almost four miles around the perimeter of the park, and there’s plenty of interest en route. The sticky horse chestnut buds are swelling and bursting, there are deer in the park, a chaffinch is enjoying some sunflower seeds (and posing for the camera) and the ducks are having fun in their pond. Can’t go wrong on an afternoon like this!
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=355120&Y=310060&A=Y&Z=120
Not far from Wenlock – Stretton Westwood and Bourton Westwood, a few houses and a large farm respectively. There’s not a cloud in the sky – it would be criminal not to be out enjoying the quiet countryside on a day like this. Starting from the old quarry beside the Church Stretton road, we head up the farm track and over the Edge, descend to the field path past Bourton Westwood, and return to the start down the lane and through the old quarry. This is the lesser-known edge at this end of the double escarpment – there’s no-one else about. What a pleasant little outing!
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=360205&Y=297680&A=Y&Z=120
It’s not quite the walk we’d intended. The bluebell wood path is blocked (we’ll take the detour, along the edge of the field), then further on Workhouse Coppice is, in effect, closed – both due to fallen trees. We’ll retrace our steps a little way and head for Benthall Edge woods, where there’s no problem. We’re entertained along the way by numerous songbirds – the usual suspects plus, on this occasion, a chiffchaff or two, and last of all a yellowhammer. He’d love some bread, but isn’t too struck on cheese, apparently.
Chiffchaff, robin, wren, thrush, wood pigeon, blue tit, yellowhammer…
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=366070&Y=302595&A=Y&Z=120
Last time I tried to walk through the sheep pastures up here, about 15 months ago, the mud did its best to stop me. I suspect it’s been quite muddy ever since, but the recent dry weather made it worth a retry. Yes, soft in places but not a problem. On this fine morning – the vernal equinox, no less – it’s very pleasant up here, and (dare we say it?) comfortably warm. No hats, scarves, gloves, thick winter jackets today!
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=368065&Y=297340&A=Y&Z=120
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