Watercolour days

On 12 Mar 201612 Mar 2016 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

Friday: spring is in the air – and there’s a spring in our steps. It’s not warm, but this is the first day we haven’t needed gloves, scarves, hats etc. With the change in weather has come a haze, shortening our horizons and fading them to shades of watercolour. We’re following a new (for us) route, using a permissive bridleway and gentle gradients to reach Boyne Water, an attractive pool which is larger than one might expect, so near the summit ridge of Brown Clee. Minutes later, we exchange the eastern view – pleasant gentle countryside, for the western view – the indistinct pastel-blue ridges of the border hills. It’s good up here on a day like this, but we can’t stay, and we’re soon threading our way back down between moss- and lichen-clad trees, towards the car and the short journey home.

Or view OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=360140&Y=285876&A=Y&Z=120

Under a clear blue sky: Lyth Hill

On 07 Mar 2016 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

We needed to collect a package in Shrewsbury, some time in the latter part of the afternoon. One of us had thought about calling in on the shops, but the weather was much too good for that. Lyth Hill, just south of the town, would provide us with a reasonable walk. It’s hardly worth calling a hill, barely 550′ at its highest point, but its isolated position provides a panoramic view of the south Shropshire hills, from the Wrekin through the Stretton hills to the distant (and snow-covered) Berwyns. We encountered the noisiest and most insistent sheep we’ve met for a long time (“wave upon wave of demented avengers”), a fine herd of deer (who, fortunately, can’t read the sign at the end of the lane proclaiming “venison for sale”), innumerable horses, and on Lyth Hill itself, one of the highest concentrations of dogs and their walkers for many a mile. As for the fields of Exfords Green – they’re the greenest we’ve seen for a long time. It must be spring.

Or view OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=346640&Y=306321&A=Y&Z=120

The other edge at Wenlock

On 05 Mar 201605 Mar 2016 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

The western escarpment is much the better known at the northern end of the Wenlock Edge, with some very pleasant walks from the popular NT car park at Much Wenlock. This route, to the eastern ridge, is less well-known and much quieter. We walk beside the old railway line and through fields, along interesting little wooded pathways. Between the heavy clouds (we’ve managed to dodge the showers) the sky is blue – the landscape is a patchwork of light and shade today.

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=361295&Y=299171&A=Y&Z=120

Just around the corner?

On 28 Feb 2016 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

It’s the 1st of March on Tuesday – St David’s day, and there are signs of spring all around us as we wander down to the river, for tea and cake at Coalport youth hostel, just beside the china works. We’re about 2/3 of the way round, and their shortcake is perfect fuel for the long plod back up the hill…

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=369175&Y=301571&A=Y&Z=120

The Packet Stone and Pole Bank

On 23 Feb 201623 Feb 2016 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

At Pole Bank, I took off my gloves to eat an apple – my fingers were nearly frozen when I’d finished, and it was only a little one. Temperature aside, it felt as though spring could be in the air this afternoon on the Long Mynd. Around Little Stretton, the birds’ singing seemed to confirm my suspicions. Clear air (the Brecon Beacons just visible to the south), bright sunshine and just a very light breeze – perfect! One of those afternoons when it’s too good to come down again…

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=342450&Y=292486&A=Y&Z=120

On the Chase

On 18 Feb 2016 By geoffspagesIn Photography, WalksLeave a comment

It’s a good place for wandering on a cold, bright and sunny day – even when it’s half term. The numerous parked cars are evidence of other people (and their children / grandchildren / dogs), but there’s plenty of space here. We only really become aware of others at the visitor centre, where (conveniently) it’s lunchtime, and despite the crowds (that’s a relative term – it’s not quite Blackpool beach), there’s a table where we can sit indoors. Fed and watered, we’re heading back towards the start. Like the trees, there are paths galore here – no need to retread our steps.

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=399195&Y=316501&A=Y&Z=120

Scarlet, silver and gold

On 16 Feb 201616 Feb 2016 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

We’re heading for Coalbrookdale, using a path we haven’t walked before (old maps show a pre-railway age tramway following the same route) to descend from Broseley’s maypole towards the new free bridge, a modern silver-painted steel structure half a mile downriver from its more famous cousin. A ruddy stream betrays the content of the hillside, a reminder of why it all happened around here, some 250 years ago. When we reach Darby’s coke hearth, at the top of the dale, we’ll head for home – pausing only for tea and scones beside the Severn…

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=367225&Y=303191&A=Y&Z=120

Following a new path

On 14 Feb 2016 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

Rights of way are not, it would appear, set in concrete (far from it – it was distinctly wet underfoot today) – this one has only recently appeared on the Ordnance Survey map. On the ground, the signs describe it as a “Restricted Byway”. It’s fairly obvious that the route has existed for a long time – through the woodlands, and the wonderful green road as we descend. It makes possible a very pleasant circular walk, between Shirlett and Muckley Cross (I’ve added a lead-in to the circle in order to park the car somewhere sensible). It’s fine, dry, bright but cold afternoon, and there are one or two early signs of spring – the trees are full of twittering birds (blue tits, great tits – teacher, teacher, teacher – and robins galore). There are one or two daffodils out, and in places the hawthorn is greening rapidly – much too soon, I suspect. Is there a chance of snow later in the week?

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=364774&Y=296785&A=Y&Z=115 (not yet shown on 1:50,000 map)

Tautology on the Mynd

On 03 Feb 201603 Feb 2016 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

No, nothing to do with the once-popular pets – in fact we kept up a pretty good pace (these new boots must have belonged to Mercury; happily their wings are invisible to mortals). We were walking an 8-mile circuit from the Cardingmill, out via Cwm Dale and Batch Valley – which might roughly translate as “Valley Valley” and “Valley Valley”. Nomenclature notwithstanding, it’s a very pleasant route, which takes us to the Mynd plateau and an easy stroll to the highest point at Pole Bank. The days are getting longer, but so were the shadows as we approached the top, so the photos must end there…

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=343855&Y=295086&A=Y&Z=120

Chasewater

On 30 Jan 201631 Jan 2016 By geoffspagesIn Photography, WalksLeave a comment

I’m walking-in some new boots, though I suspect they don’t really need it. A slightly-extended circuit of Chasewater is just the thing on this cold, bright and breezy afternoon. It’s an interesting and popular spot. There are swans, ducks, geese and coots by the dozen. There are deer (at least, there are the heads of deer). There are dog-walkers, families and cyclists: some are quiet, some have to talk very loudly, and some chat with invisible people using little hand-held gadgets. Two of the cyclists are pushing their machines, for no very clear reason (other than the obvious “push-bike”). Close to the car park, there’s a truly crazy golf course – but surely that can’t be the hole? Back at the car, the boots appear to be suitably muddied – and though they didn’t need walking-in, their owner enjoyed a walk out.