Short walks with photos and a Google map.
The land rises gently from the river so that whenever there’s a view to the north-east, the Wrekin is prominent. As we walk from Cound Guildhall on this fine afternoon, it’s worthy of attention…
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=355895&Y=304110&A=Y&Z=120
Should have been ‘November Morning’… We weren’t very quick getting away – until we saw the sunshine and the forecast for rain later. The season has moved on again – the trees are becoming rather sparsely foliated, and the autumnal fruits are either gone or well past their best – but it’s pleasant out, despite a few spots of rain. We’ll be ready for lunch when we get home
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=367515&Y=298310&A=Y&Z=120
It’s half term, it’s almost Halloween, and it’s very busy at Attingham – more cars than we’ve seen for a long time. “They won’t be going far…”
They aren’t – once we’re beyond the house, there are relatively few others around. The toadstools in the woods are past their sell-by dates, but there’s a wonderful assortment of pumpkins on display in the stable yard. (We’ve avoided the walled garden – we think that must be where all the others are)
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=354940&Y=310040&A=Y&Z=120
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
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=374740&Y=290067&A=Y&Z=120
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
… to familiar territory. Familiar it may be, but it’s different every time. This morning, the lanes around Willey are decorated with autumn colours, and there’s a very fine crop of toadstools half-way along Britons Lane, well-hidden in the undergrowth…
View OS map in Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=367470&Y=298250&A=Y&Z=120
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
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
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
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
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