Category: Walks

Short walks with photos and a Google map.

Mist on the Chase

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, WalksLeave a comment

It was more like fog at home, and might be worse further west. We headed east instead, for a walk on Cannock Chase, from Milford to the visitor centre at Marquis Drive (tea, sausage rolls, cake – we try to live life to the full). Our outward route followed, roughly, the old railway trackbed – not so easy at the southern end of the walk. Returning, we made our way to the Sherbrook valley, retracing our steps only for the last half-mile down the cutting. As forecast, the day gradually brightened, and the sun began to break through towards the end of this very pleasant ten-mile trip.

Map

Or view OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=398585&Y=317851&A=Y&Z=120

Another afternoon on the Mynd

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

Monday: the weather’s too good to stay indoors (and it can’t last) – we’re wandering on the Long Mynd, making the most of what little light there is in late November. The steep hillside path takes us quickly up into the sunshine, and by the time we’re coming back down Mott’s Road, it’s almost gone. Instead of the heavy clouds that shaded us yesterday, there’s lots of wispy cirrus, much of it forming from jet trails. And instead of that biting wind, there’s just a gentle breeze. Perfect!

Map

Or view OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=343240&Y=294746&A=Y&Z=120

To the Battlestones

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, Walks2 Comments

We did this walk, more or less, this time last year – more or less. Late November is good on the Hope Bowdler hills, or perhaps it’s the other way round. A stubborn bank of cloud limited the sunshine on the ridge, though there was plenty of sunlight in the distance, and the wind was biting, briefly carrying a light shower of rain (that wasn’t forecast!). We sheltered, more from the wind than the rain, behind the Gaerstone for a few minutes, before descending the last of the ridge as the sun dropped.

Map

Or view OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=347350&Y=293596&A=Y&Z=120

Green Fields of Morville

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

A walk from Morville to Hurst Farm pools – out along the quiet lane to Haughton, back down the (public footpath) drive from Aldenham Park. There had been some heavy rain overnight – field paths would be hard going, so we stuck to known good surfaces. The grey skies had cleared by lunchtime – the afternoon was fine, bright and sunny – and surprisingly warm.

Map

Or view OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=367370&Y=295321&A=Y&Z=120

November on Clee Hill

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, Walks3 Comments

One of those rare afternoons when the sun shines from an almost-cloudless blue sky. It’s cold, and there’s a chilly breeze on top, but it’s a great day to be out on the Shropshire hills.

I’d include a map of the route, but Google have introduced “new My Maps. Better tools for mapping”. ’nuff said.
9 Nov: I’ve been trying Scribblemaps – see below

Map

Or view OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=358500&Y=284901&A=Y&Z=120&ax=358625&ay=284851

 

The Roaches and Lud’s Church

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Walks3 Comments

The Roaches lie just a few miles north of Leek, in Staffordshire. The name derives, supposedly, from the French les roches – the rocks. It’s a most appropriate name too – there are rocks in profusion. The gritstone outcrops along the ridge are spectacular – a great subject for the camera on a day like this, with bright sunshine and low lighting angles.

Not far from the Roaches is another gritstone feature – this time, a deep rocky chasm perhaps 100 yards in length, “Lud’s Church”. Formed, it is thought, some time after the last ice age, a slippage towards the valley has created this remarkable feature. It’s well hidden in the pleasant (if somewhat muddy) woodland, though well signposted – the footpath runs along its length.

The walk back to the car ought to be an anti-climax, but it’s not – the ridge walk back to the road is airy, with excellent views. The afternoon has worn on – the light is distinctly golden for the last stretch, the very quiet road beneath the Roaches taking us back to the car.

 

Grinshill

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

It’s no mountain – just 192 metres (630 ft) above sea level at the summit – but it’s a great viewpoint for the real hills of Shropshire and the borders. Not that it was particularly clear, nor did the sun manage to break through, but it was a pleasant afternoon to wander through deep carpets of fallen leaves, sweet chestnut husks etc. (the many squirrels have dealt with the nuts). The deeply-cut former quarries are worth a few minutes’ exploration.

At Clive we wandered around the village briefly before taking to the stone lane in its deep cutting beside the church and headed the highest point. As we walked back to the car, our eyes were caught by a bright flash of green (woodpecker), then the red of a pair of fly agarics. Peer over the wall – there are some deep dark holes…

A Stiperstones Stroll

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

There’s quite a breeze, and the clouds never quite clear  – a few rays of sunshine would improve the outing photographically, but otherwise, it’s a good day to be out on the Stiperstones. It’s a Sunday afternoon, so there are quite a few other people about, but there’s plenty of space up here. And though the clocks may have gone back, the Bog Centre is open (for a few more days only, before the winter shutdown) for tea and cake. What more could one ask?

The Bog Centre

Back to the Tackeroo

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Walks1 Comment

We’re taking advantage of dry and bright weather in the early afternoon – rain is forecast to spread from the west later, so if we head east, we might stay dry.

The “Tackeroo” was the first world war military railway on Cannock Chase. Much of its route can still be traced, especially the long straight cutting as it climbs from Milford towards the plateau. We begin our walk this way, leaving the trackbed at the south-eastern end of the cutting to head for the stepping stones over the Sher brook. Still heading south-east, Heywood Slade leads us to Marquis Drive and the trig point, where we turn towards the brook and up again to the glacial boulder. As we descend to the northern fringes of Brocton, four deer cross our path, some distance away. They haven’t seen us, but they’re not posing for photographs.

The windscreen wipers are on within minutes of leaving for home – excellent timing!

Map of the military railways on Cannock Chase

On Haughmond Hill

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, Walks1 Comment

A wet morning, but the forecast promised a fine afternoon – somewhere that won’t be too bad underfoot? Haughmond Hill is mostly forested, but the tracks are pleasant, good to walk on, and there are some extensive views. The hill isn’t high, barely topping 500′ (153m, according to the OS) – but there’s little to get in the way of the long view in a 180º panorama from south-east to north-west – the Stretton hills, Stiperstones, Long Mountain, the Breiddens and the Berwyns.

There’s a café back at the car park – we made it with just minutes to spare. The cakes were pretty good too, eaten beneath tall pines.

Here’s a map – haven’t attempted to show the route (can’t see it for all the trees). We followed the blue waymarkers, anticlockwise…