…are perfect for a short walk along Shirlett Lane. From today, until the end of December, the sun will set before 4pm. To be precise, the days from 10th to the 16th see the very earliest sunset times (according to Sky at Night Magazine). Yes, before the solstice. I’ve never quite been able to work out why that should be. Anyway, we’d better get out there while it’s light and dry. Surprisingly mild too – more than 10C warmer than it was for my walk on Tuesday.

 

Around the estate on a fine afternoon! I’m starting from Willey, and immediately there are great changes ahead. Last December, many trees blew down below the Lower Pool dam. Now there are great piles of timber waiting to be carted away, and heavy machinery at work. It’s a scene of devastation – mud everywhere! The mess of fallen trees wasn’t pretty, and of course it will all green up again, but suddenly the landscape has changed. For the first time, we can see across the valley to the ‘green drive’, an old road to the Willey estate.

I’m carrying sandwiches, apple, nuts and a flask of tea. I was planning to sit on the bench outside St Giles’ church at Barrow, but it’s gone! What will I do? Then I remembered – a few weeks ago, a tree just across the road was cut down – and a fine simple wooden throne carved into the much-shortened trunk. Perfect!

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=366335&Y=299100&A=Y&Z=120

Baucott – Broncroft – Tugford, an old favourite. It’s particularly good at this time of year, given photogenic weather… There’s a herd of friendly-looking longhorn cattle beside the road, there’s an intact and inhabited castle, there are fine views in most directions. On this potentially showery afternoon, however, the sky rules the scene (and no, we didn’t get wet).

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=354765&Y=287275&A=Y&Z=120

Caughley Road: sunny, frosty, still – and very cold. By the time we’ve reached the far end (beyond which the lane slopes steeply down to the valley) we’ve warmed up a little. Take the camera out of the bag – it needs some exercise too.

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=368987&Y=300557&A=Y&Z=115

…but bright and sunny. In the shadier places (like the first quarter-mile) the frost hasn’t completely lifted, and it’s bitter! We’ve warmed up a little when we get to the brow of the hill, where the warmth from the sun is very pleasant. It’s good to be out on an afternoon like this!

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=366750&Y=296360&A=Y&Z=120

… and getting colder. At least the rain’s gone. Our last outing was six days ago; just one dry day since then, when we were otherwise engaged. It’s really quiet around Church Preen this afternoon, and very pleasant, though we’re clearly in the last days of autumn. December’s approaching rapidly…

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=354860&Y=298485&A=Y&Z=120

09.45: it’s going to rain this afternoon… A pleasant walk around the Willey lanes. There’s no wind, no sunshine and hardly a sound – a grey melancholy calm as the last of the leaves, dripping with water, hang on for a few more days. Plenty of seasonal colour though.

View OS map in Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=367470&Y=298250&A=Y&Z=120

After a bright but overcast morning, the clouds have lifted. Blue sky! It’s against the law to stay indoors on afternoons like this. Just for a change, I’ll leave the car at home, and head for Willey (rhymes with ‘silly’), via Darley (rhymes with ‘rarely’). I’ll return past Deancorner, which sounds (a) like it should and (b) like war has broken out. It’s the shoot, and it’s very noisy (both guns and beaters). I’ll take that feather out of my cap (metaphorically, but we don’t want any mistakes) and scuttle away quickly!

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=367695&Y=300145&A=Y&Z=120

An hour or so along Shirlett Lane. No sunshine, but no rain either, and a steady breeze – plenty of fresh air! The autumn colours are great, but they’re not going to last much longer – most of them are on the ground.

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