Short walks with photos and a Google map.
There was a frost this morning… It’s still cool later in the day, but it’s sunny, calm and clear – perfect for a wander past Hurst Farm and down to Aldenham, and despite some heavy and ominous clouds, it’s stayed dry. Will it last?
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=366905&Y=295650&A=Y&Z=120
Black bryony berries in the hedgerow – a few are still green, others yellow or orange, but the great majority are red now. Eye-catching! Shame they’re poisonous. The leaves on the trees are turning too, and despite the sunshine, there’s a definite autumnal feel to the air today
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=367515&Y=298310&A=Y&Z=120
Geese and toadstools! A wander around the estate from the sawmill car park – down to the pools (Wall, Seggy and Brim), through the asparagus farm, down to the big pool and back past the house, pausing at the bookshop and the cafe. (I’m not sure we’d earned the cake, but we enjoyed it…)
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=374837&Y=288945&A=Y&Z=120
Saturday 5 October: A new one for the blog – we’ve been here before, but not for many years (the trees have grown considerably, I’m certain, since our last visit). It’s not a huge area, but it’s popular and has its attractions, especially if you like trees, or have dogs to exercise. We passed dozens of dog walkers, a few who were exercising children (and dogs, in some cases), and possibly only one other dog- and child-free couple. We were starting to feel conspicuous until we met the latter. As well as trees, there are some clear grassy areas, and from the far south-eastern corner, an extensive view towards the Black Country (which feels sufficiently distant), complete with a chocolate seat. Admittedly, it faces the other way, into the woods. Perhaps that’s intentional?
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=383920&Y=290100&A=Y&Z=120
Autumnal Attingham – pumpkins and gourds, waiting around for who-knows-what. The leaves are turning, mostly in a minimal way, but there are some fine fungi to find for those who keep their eyes peeled…
View OS ma on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=354980&Y=310130&A=Y&Z=120
A walk from Cardington, along quiet surfaced lanes (away from the mud!). There’s hardly any traffic along these narrow ways, and when the odd car has passed and gone, there’s just a little birdsong in the trees and one or two sheep complaining about their lot.
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=350990&Y=296295&A=Y&Z=120
… as a gaelic-speaking local of Skye once said to us, describing her feelings on being back on dry land after some lengthy sea trips (we know what she meant). After our week on Skye, we’ve come down to earth (the 500-odd mile drive contributing to that experience) and to celebrate we’re wandering around some very familiar local lanes. It’s good to be back…
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=367515&Y=298310&A=Y&Z=120
Those five fine days are gone, and it’s grey. It could rain, but I might be lucky. After a busy morning, a last leg stretch would be good – tomorrow we’re on the road again. The clifftops at Bornesketaig would be good, and I can look down on the rocky shore around the Gold Cave (yes, I was lucky – the rain held off)
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=137805&Y=871090&A=Y&Z=120
Another favourite route in this part of Skye. It will be busier than the other walks I’ve enjoyed during this spell of wonderful weather, but the scenery is spectacular. It’s fairly quiet at first, up past Lochs Langaig and Hasco, but there are plenty of others on and around the pinnacles beside my route to Sròn Vourlinn. There’s no-one else at that splendid peak though. The silence is wonderful.
Retracing my steps, I decide to continue in the other direction to the Quiraing. I won’t scramble up into the rocky stronghold – the path there is a good vantage point for photos.
Finally, descending once more past the two lochs, what’s this? A highland wedding!
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=145598&Y=870111&A=Y&Z=120
Up in the clouds above Uig! I very nearly abandoned this idea. I’d driven down for today’s paper, with the intention of walking up to the headland to see the ferry go out, but the fog was quite thick. Perhaps I should drive over to the other side – Staffin or Flodigarry perhaps? I drove up the hill towards the hairpin bend. Was the sun trying to break through? Back down to the triangle, boots on, camera over shoulder, fingers crossed.
As I walked up the road and along the first stretch of the path, I heard the ferry arriving (yes, pom pom pom pom – see yesterday’s post – and long blasts of the horn) but I couldn’t see it at all. Onwards up to the ridge – is there some blue up there? The view to the north opened out – a sunlit landscape of thinning, clearing mist. I’ll sit on the rocks overlooking the bay and hope! Another long toot of the horn, still can’t see the pier or the ferry – then there it was, emerging in most spectacular fashion and heading out towards Lochmaddy. Within perhaps 15 minutes, Uig bay was completely clear and plain as day – bright sunshine and brilliant white banks of mist in the distance. I made the right decision!
I retraced my steps on the headland, dropped down to the pier, along the road, through the woods and back to the start, but the best of the afternoon was behind me…
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=138825&Y=863887&A=Y&Z=120
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