Category: Walks

Short walks with photos and a Google map.

New town park

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Walks1 Comment

Monday – a walk into Telford Town Park. We started from the southernmost tip, close by the aqueduct, to walk nearly two miles mostly along and beside the old Coalport railway trackbed to the town centre. The paths are well made (there was a lot of rain on Saturday…), many and varied – quite a maze as we near the offices, shops and restaurants. The railway followed the route of an old canal, still evident in places, providing a pleasant and varied landscape in the “wild” park. It’s much tamer close by the town centre, and there are many more people. It’s good to turn and head back past the tall Stirchley chimney to the relative quiet of the railway cutting, a long cool hollow on this warm afternoon.

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=369850&Y=307441&A=Y&Z=120

On the border

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Walks1 Comment

Llanthony Priory to Cwmyoy – a walk in the Black Mountains:

We’ve done this one before – a circular walk in the easternmost valley of the hill country north of Abergavenny, following the valley of the Honddu from Llanthony to Cwmyoy, then up onto the ridge to walk along the border between England and Wales. The valley walk is pleasant and quiet, following woodland paths. Cwmyoy is best known for its church, built on unstable ground. The ridge is high and airy – it may be June, but there’s a cold wind – best keep moving…

Map

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=329335&Y=226033&A=Y&Z=120

Two sunny afternoons

On By geoffspagesIn NT and EH, Photography, Shropshire hills, Walks1 Comment

They’re too good to waste! Bright sunshine, fluffy clouds, not too warm – ideal for wandering.

Wednesday: To Benthall Edge and Hall (tea and cake)

Thursday: Long Mynd. A route we’ve done many times, starting from the Cardingmill valley and ascending via the Lightspout (hoardes of schoolchildren – it’s peak field trip season). Beyond the waterfall it’s quiet – just the sheep and the hill ponies to accompany us to Pole Bank. We return along the ridge to Townbrook Valley, a pleasant path to take us back to the start.

Map

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=343005&Y=294546&A=Y&Z=120

Brown Clee from the phone box

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

We’ve done this one before (the phone box in question no longer contains a phone – instead, it’s now the “Little Red Book Stop”) – see “A clear day on Clee Hill” . It was clear this afternoon, warm when the sun shone – which wasn’t often, nor was it for long –  nevertheless, it’s a good place to be.

Map

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=359005&Y=286906&A=Y&Z=120

Hay to Hampton

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, WalksLeave a comment

From Hay Bridge, near Eardington, to Hampton Loade, a pleasant path follows the Severn – though with riverside vegetation and a tall crop of oilseed rape, there’s not always much of a view. Banded demoiselles flop around like tiny world war 1 biplanes in an apparently clumsy manner, until one proves its aerobatic capabilities by snatching a passing fly and making lunch of it. We didn’t snatch anything, but the ice creams at Hampton Loade station were enjoyable on this increasingly warm afternoon, and the platform a pleasant spot to sit for a while watching the world go by. The latter happens in fits and starts – it’s busy when trains call, otherwise quiet (perhaps not quite Adlestrop).

Walking back to Hay Bridge, we follow a quiet way past Chelmarsh reservoir, where there are just a couple of boats out – not enough wind today.

Map

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=373765&Y=287531&A=Y&Z=120

Sheinton Coppices

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

Wandering south of the Severn, through quiet woodlands and fields. The OS map defines several of the small woods as coppices, and one or two were still recognisable as such, though no recent work was obvious – unlike the extensive clearance that had been taking place at Traps Coppice. A small herd of wild deer grazed on the hillside just to the north of Farley Coppice – if they had seen us, they weren’t concerned. The rabbit saw us eventually…

Map
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=362460&Y=303461&A=Y&Z=120

Packetstone and Ashes

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

Having made a plan, one should adhere to it… This walk was going to be “Callow Hollow and…”, but when we’d followed the route through the plantation to gain access to Callow Hollow, we looked at the descent, then looked at the steep but inviting ridge ahead – and continued up the hill instead. The good path which we joined on reaching the plateau gradually fizzled out, and we eventually gained the road after struggling through tussocky heather. There is, of course, an excellent track on the southern flank of Packetstone Hill, but I’d forgotten about it…

We had debated leaving jackets in the car – although the air was cold, the sunshine in Little Stretton was comfortably warm. We got this decision right – we were glad of them on top where, when the sun dodged behind the clouds (few and far between) the breeze became a bitter wind. Dropping down into Ashes Hollow, we were out of the wind, and the late afternoon sunshine was very pleasant.

Map

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=342505&Y=292436&A=Y&Z=120

Wesley Brook

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, WalksLeave a comment

Thursday: a waterside walk from Shifnal to Grindleforge bridge, near Ryton, following the Wesley Brook as it makes its way toward the Worfe – down the west side, and back up the east. It’s all very gentle country – we’re not in the Shropshire hills today. That may be a good thing – there’s only the lightest of breezes, and it feels warm in the fields – the shady wooded stretches come as a relief. Spring is really getting going now – lots of colour beside the path.

Map

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=374345&Y=305606&A=Y&Z=120