Category: Walks

Short walks with photos and a Google map.

Day 4: Castletown and Port Erin

On By geoffspagesIn NT and EH, Photography, WalksLeave a comment

27 July: we’re on the bus this morning, from just outside our hotel straight through to Castletown, and beyond – a bus stop giving access, via a very quiet country lane, to the shore path at Poyllvaaish. Once again, we’re following the Raad ny Foillan, this time via Scarlett Point and its remarkable rocks, back to Castletown. Here we’ll visit Castle Rushen, before catching another bus to take us on to Port Erin. We wander slowly down to the harbour then back to the railway station for our return run on the last train of the day to Douglas (on Geoff’s Rail Diaries)

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=225478&Y=467326&A=Y&Z=120

Port Soderick to Douglas

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Railways..., WalksLeave a comment

25 July: Douglas Head Marine Drive – tramway no more

This standard-gauge (4′ 8½”) tramway closed immediately before the war in 1939, and never reopened. Providing a spectacular ride along the cliffs, the high-level route connected to sea level at either end using funiculars. Today we must use steps and feet… There’s a good road surface much of the way, though a short unstable central section is closed to vehicles, so there’s no through traffic, making for a quiet and most enjoyable walk.

Wikipedia: Douglas Southern Electric Tramway

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=236505&Y=473975&A=Y&Z=120

Cound wandering

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

Up the lane to Harnage – and then it’s almost all paths and tracks in this interesting little area threaded by the surprisingly deep valley of Coundmoor Brook. The season’s first blackberries are ripening, there are fine apples near the ford and some good-sized puffballs beside the lane – reminders that, though it’s still July, autumn is little over a month away.

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=356010&Y=304105&A=Y&Z=120

A fine afternoon

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

Monday: just right for the walk up to Church Preen, along quiet lanes with great views. It’s a bit too breezy for the butterflies, though eventually a gatekeeper agrees to pose for us. Returning to the start, we’re looking out for a particular bush in the hedgerow, that had a good crop of wild gages a couple of years ago – ah yes, there it is. We’ll be back when they’re ripe!

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=354910&Y=298575&A=Y&Z=120

Later that day…

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, Walks2 Comments

Saturday evening: it’s windy around Willey, but it should stay dry for an hour or so. The sun shines only briefly, and up Bould Lane the hedgerow vegetation is blowing around. A little later, now in the lee of the Shirlett woodlands, it’s calmer. Down by Lower Pool, first a wren and then a goldfinch make their presence known (along with the inevitable canada goose and woodpigeon (click the ‘play’ button below), and there are grey wagtails hopping about by the water’s edge

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=367515&Y=298310&A=Y&Z=120

A breeze in the trees

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

Comer Woods – good tracks for walking when the field paths will be muddy (it’s been rather wet recently). At least it’s (mostly) dry today. The little froglets seem to like this weather – they’re hopping about all over the place, tiny little things barely half an inch across. We’ve really got to watch where we’re putting our feet!
Overhead, a blackcap (sometimes known as the ‘northern nightingale) and a chiffchaff politely take turns to entertain us (play sound file below).

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=374780&Y=289595&A=Y&Z=120