Short walks with photos and a Google map.
Up the lane to Harnage, then across the fields, past the farm reservoir to the path beside the wood, high above Coundmoor Brook. Down to the ford, then back along the delightful brookside path, where the snowdrops grow at the other end of the year… A very pleasant gentle wander on a warm afternoon.
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=355950&Y=304180&A=Y&Z=120
The air’s cool on this bright sunny morning – let’s make the most of it with a pre-lunch wander: down the very quiet Stanley Lane (three walkers, two cyclists) to Lower Severn Hall, then back along the riverside path to the woods of Chestnut Coppice. The uphill stretch (it’s very short, and not very steep) is rewarded with two wonderful fungal growths on dead wood – chicken of the woods and velvet-top fungus (I think!). They’re interesting subjects for the camera, whatever they are, but I certainly wouldn’t want to eat them…
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=372025&Y=296540&A=Y&Z=120
We needed a short leg stretch – where? There was a light shower at home before lunch, and the forecast said “scattered showers”. If we go to Attingham, there’s plenty of shelter. That’s just as well – the rain seemed to focus on the area. Happily we found the expected shelter (a brick arch, the trees) and didn’t get noticeably wet, but we thought our usual longer route, much of it rather open, could be tempting fate. The rain stopped (great timing) just as we left the woods. A mile or so from Attingham, on the shortish drive home, the roads were dry. I’d hoped the garden might have had a drop. No chance! Scattered indeed.
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=355280&Y=310145&A=Y&Z=120
Stretton Westwood and Bourton Westwood: we’ve been here before. The last time was in early spring – there were no leaves on the trees, the hedges were bare and there was no-one else about. Today, the trees are in full leaf, the hedges are laden with blackberries and sloes – and there’s no-one else about. A great afternoon for for a wander in this quiet part of Wenlock Edge – pleasantly warm with a light cooling breeze. Can’t ask for much more at this time of year.
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=360205&Y=297680&A=Y&Z=120
A welcome leg stretch on a nondescript late July day… A bit of sunshine, then some cloud, neither warm nor cold, a light breeze – and a lack of colour in the landscape (have I just contradicted myself?). Haven’t walked this way for a while – the path beside the brook can be rather wet, but though there’s always a sticky spot where a spring runs across the path, it’s otherwise dry (and well-suited to limbo dancers). It’s quiet in the fields past the Albynes – and along Stocking Lane and across Nordley Common, where the breeze is just perfect!
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=367935&Y=297520&A=Y&Z=120
No – another full month to go. But there are plenty of signs of autumn in the hedgerows around Colemore Green – the bracken looks well past its best, and it will be worth returning to pick blackberries (looks like being a bumper crop). The sloes, wild plums and damsons are coming along nicely too, and some of the leaves are beginning to brown.
Not so long ago the hedgerows were a blaze of colour. The season has moved on, and the dry weather hasn’t helped – but there is colour, here and there. There would have been a little more if the small blue butterflies hadn’t been camera shy…
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=367515&Y=298310&A=Y&Z=120
Cooler again today, but still worth staying in the shade. We’ll walk from Bedlam and cross to the shady side of the river, then down to the Jackfield footbridge to cross over to Coalport – to the youth hostel at the china museum for ice creams. I’m not sure we’ve really earned them, but they’re very welcome.
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=368785&Y=302795&A=Y&Z=120
The last two days have been really hot (by UK standards) – today, just a few degrees cooler, we can perhaps manage a short wander. It’ll need to be somewhere shady – it’s still very warm. Comer woods should be ideal.
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=374775&Y=289600&A=Y&Z=115
I was here in November last year, when the mud on the main descent was truly horrendous. Hadn’t been back since… This afternoon, Mrs Geoffspages is out eating cakes with her friends. I’ll make the most of it with a walk on Brown Clee – and it’s a wonderful day! It’s cool and shady under the trees on the way out, down the eastern side of the hill. When I cross the crest of the ridge, I’m in pleasantly warm sunshine, with a gentle breeze. There’s no-one in the chocolate seat either (I only passed 10 other people in 3 hours). It’s too warm for chocolate though; instead an apple is just right. And the mud? Practically all gone. Last November, it was hard to imagine it could ever be dry again.
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=359675&Y=286170&A=Y&Z=120
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