Category: Walks

Short walks with photos and a Google map.

Comer autumn

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

The season continues! The leaves are falling steadily now – soon the trees will be bare, and we’ll be well on the way to winter. There will still be plenty of fungi, I imagine, though not the ones we’ve met today – they’ll be long gone! Their above-ground lives are mostly short. The colours of the leaves and the variety of toadstools have certainly brightened up this cold afternoon in Comer Woods

Comer Woods NT

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=374740&Y=290067&A=Y&Z=120

An autumn morning: Shirlett

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

It’s cold, too. The clocks have gone back to GMT (or winter time, in effect) – is it anything to do with that? It’s a good morning to be out though, whatever time it really is, especially as rain is likely later. Plenty of seasonal colour, and some splendid toadstools – an enjoyable little outing.

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=365790&Y=298180&A=Y&Z=120

Stacks and caves of Balmaqueen

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Skye, WalksLeave a comment

Mostly, the caves are unseen (a boat could be useful!) but from the Balmaqueen clifftops the stacks are an impressive feature, despite being just a small part of the extensive seascape and landscape views. Tomorrow’s going to be rainy, and the day after, we’re heading for home. A good one to end this trip’s outdoor explorations.

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=144270&Y=874503&A=Y&Z=120

Bornesketaig’s cave of gold

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Skye, WalksLeave a comment

There’s silver in the greenery beside the road – it must have been misty in the early hour – and below the Ru Bornesketaig clifftop, there’s an Uamh Oir – a Gold Cave! It’s a well-hidden sea cave, and most of the time it’s inaccessible. Today the tide is really low – perhaps I should go and check? Perhaps 30 years ago, when the tide was exceptionally low, I managed to get into the cave. Not a great place to be – a wet and slippery floor – and there was no sign of any gold, so there certainly wouldn’t be any today. I’ll enjoy the view and keep going!

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=137815&Y=870870&A=Y&Z=120

Unhurried Uig

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Skye, WalksLeave a comment

Thursday 16 October: As we drove down into Uig, the ferry was just departing with the 14.10 sailing to Lochmaddy – the puff of exhaust smoke from its funnel told the story. Soon after arrival from Tarbert some 50 minutes earlier, there would have been a flurry of activity as numerous cars, camper vans, lorries and other vehicles drove away, and the pier would then have been busy as the ferry loaded for its next crossing. Now it’s quiet in Uig, until the ferry returns in around 4 hours. The weather’s quiet too. It’s a small-scale shopping trip, but while we’re down here, we may as well enjoy a leg-stretch.

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=139181&Y=863762&A=Y&Z=115

 

Chestnuts and toadstools

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

Perhaps Chestnut Coppice should be renamed Toadstool Wood? There are certainly lots of chestnuts – we left with our pockets full – but there’s also a fine crop of all kinds of fungi. Mushrooms? Toadstools? I’m no judge, I just enjoy finding them, in all their different shapes and sizes, ranging from single isolated specimens to large family groups. And I’d much rather leave them for everyone else to enjoy.
The fallen chestnuts are in a different category. We’ll roast them and enjoy eating them – and rest assured, there are plenty left for the squirrels and other nibblers of nuts…

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=372065&Y=296465&A=Y&Z=120

Sunny Mynd

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

Monday 6 October: What a beautiful afternoon! It would be a crime not to be out on the hills, though we can hardly call this Long Mynd wander a hill walk. We’ve parked the car at about 1530′, and the highest point, Pole Bank, is 1680′. A good leg stretch though, through the rich colours of the autumnal moorland. Returning to the start, we realise we’ve had the best of the sunshine – clouds are starting to gather – but it’s been really pleasant out on these hills

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=342385&Y=295030&A=Y&Z=120