27 Oct: We’re beside the firth again today, on an afternoon of bright sunshine, a stiff breeze and the threat of showers. The area around Gullane may be best known for its golf courses, but the beach is superb, a sweep of sand backed by dunes and invasive (but colourful) sea buckthorn bushes. At the west end of the bay are rocks, separated by sandy gaps, and more shells (mostly broken fragments) than we’ve seen anywhere recently. Looming clouds from the west caused us to curtail our explorations; a sharp shower followed our return to the car, free of all cobwebs… Must come here again one day.

We’re into the darkest four months – there’s little sunshine in the deep valleys of the Long Mynd, but it’s great on the top, given a decent day – and this was a decent day. In fact it was much better than that – bright (and directional) sunshine, clear air, a cool breeze – what more could one ask? The night’s rain was rushing down the valley below the Light Spout waterfall, but the paths on top were generally good – just the odd soggy corner…

I walked to the highest point of the Long Mynd, at Pole Bank, then headed back along the ridge south of Townbrook Valley to descend on easy grassy slopes. A bank of cloud had been sitting stubbornly over the Mynd for the last half-hour or so, clearing (inevitably) as I dropped into the shade of the hills.

A walk along the towpath of the Shropshire Union canal from Norbury Junction. Norbury is not far from Newport, Shropshire – but the walk is entirely in Staffordshire. It’s easy going along the canal bank, though it’s muddy in places. We left the canal at the second bridge, whence a public footpath connects with a very quiet lane (I suspect it would have been easier to walk a few yards further and leave the canal at the old railway bridge. Perhaps another time). For the last mile or so, we followed a track around the north side of Shelmore Wood – it’s even quieter here . The best walks end where refreshments are available…

“Roses Pop-up Vintage Tea Room”, to be precise. What a wonderful idea! (excellent cheese scones, with cream cheese and onion marmalade). We’ve been to Mortimer Forest many times, and walked the High Vinnals circuit more than once before, but always in winter – when there had been far fewer visitors and no sign of tea rooms, pop-up or otherwise. It’s a pleasant walk, about 3 miles, with great views from the higher parts of the route. Where the trees limit the views, the insect life and the ripe blackberries provide more local interest.

We did a very similar walk to this one almost exactly a year ago (Around Batch Valley) – today we walked anti-clockwise, attaining the plateau via Jonathan’s Hollow, returning past the golf course. At first cloudier than we’d expected, the weather brightened, but it was never particularly warm.