Monday 1 April: another old favourite – walking from Aston Munslow, up onto the crest of the Wenlock Edge, and back via Munslow and the path across the fields. There’s no-one else about today – it’s very quiet up here. More signs of spring’s advance – the first bluebells are starting to appear, amongst the primroses, violets and celandines.
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It’s a landmark for miles around, marking the highest point of the Wenlock Edge. At the top of Flounders’ Folly. we’re 80 feet higher! Benjamin Flounders, a Yorkshireman, had it built in 1838. After falling into disrepair, the tower was renovated by a local trust in the early years of the millennium, with a new metal staircase. It is open to all who wish to take in the magnificent view from the top (and who are prepared to make the 500 ft ascent from the parking area) once a month – usually the last Sunday, also on certain high days (appropriately) and holidays. Today being the last Sunday in March, we’ll pay it a visit…
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After an excellent lunch at Jules in Weobley (http://www.jules-restaurant.co.uk/) we needed a gentle wander for an hour or two to let it settle. “It’s not far to Berrington Hall”
…to Pole Bank. Thursday 28 March – the sky is cloudless, we need an outing to enjoy this weather. Haven’t been to the Long Mynd for a little while, so we’ll go for the old favourite – up the Ashes Hollow, to its stream’s source in the Boiling Well (which is neither), on to the highest point of the Mynd at Pole Bank, then back along the ridge which eventually brings us back to Little Stretton by Small Batch (which is aptly named, a batch being a valley). Despite the weather, we have the hills almost to ourselves – I think we saw more wild ponies than people.
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Monday 25 March: I arrived just as the school parties were leaving… It’s a bright sunny afternoon – perfect for a wander with the camera
It’s a beautiful spring day, perfect for a picnic lunch on Climbing Jack Common… We’re walking from the Black Pool car park near Ludlow, up to the top of High Vinnals. The air is cold but clear – those are the Brecon Beacons, more than 40 miles distant on the southern horizon. Heading downhill now, we cross the top of Hanway Common and look down on the Goggin (who wouldn’t?) before descending to what’s left of Richard’s Castle. It’s defended, or tended, by a pair of goats, currently basking atop the highest remaining wall. The church nearby has a separate bell tower, The village of the same name is perhaps 3/4 of a mile way. A curious settlement – mostly in Herefordshire, its village hall is in Shropshire.
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Not possible, is it? Someone once asked my wife why she didn’t get books from the library. The answer may be obvious to those who are similarly afflicted: “You’ve got to return them”. Despite being overwhelmed by the things, today we’re in Birmingham, redeeming some book vouchers, but before we visit the book shop, we’re going to have a look at the astonishing new Library of Birmingham…
It’s a beautiful day! The sunshine is bright and warm, and the deep blue sky is decorated with wispy cirrus clouds. The fields will still be muddy, so we’re keeping to quiet surfaced lanes near the village of Cound. There’s a donation box for parking by the Guildhall, and there’s a second-hand book shop too. It’s open, but there’s no-one there, just an honesty box – 50p for paperbacks, £1 for hardbacks. Wonderful!
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Friday 15 March: “I thought we could go to Dundee – we can go on the train and visit the new V&A”. Great idea! If we time it right, we can travel on one of Scotrail’s “Inter7City” trains – shortened HST sets providing a fast and high-quality ride. We’ll be crossing two of the best-known bridges in the world – over the Forth and the Tay.
The new museum is just yards from Dundee’s smart new railway station, beside the “Discovery”, famous survivor of Shackleton’s Antarctic explorations. The tall ship poses in striking contrast to its futuristic ship-shape neighbour, the work of Japanese architect Kengo Kuma.
The interior is no less striking, but I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves (the splendid pork and apricot sausage rolls deserve a mention, but were eaten before the camera had a chance to record them…)
… and speaking of big eaters, look who we met wandering the streets of Dundee afterwards!
Thursday 14 March: We’re in Edinburgh for a couple of days, and this afternoon we’re taking a leisurely stroll around the Royal Botanic Gardens. Not too leisurely – there’s a biting wind. Despite the weather and the season, there’s plenty of colour – rhododendron and azalea are in flower, there are plenty of other spring flowers, and then there are the Tibetan prayer flags… There’s a good view of the Edinburgh skyline too, just a short way to our south.
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
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