The scenic route to New Brighton

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Railways...Leave a comment

Scenic? I exaggerate… Monday 4 February: a day out, using a “Cheshire Day Ranger”. There were one or two stretches of track we wanted to travel along, and somewhere for lunch would be good. We began our travels just inside Cheshire on a Carmarthen to Manchester (aka “Manceinion” – it’s a Transport for Wales service) Piccadilly train. A northbound train from Piccadilly took us to Victoria, using the (almost) brand new “rusty bridge” Ordsall chord. At Victoria, we switched to a Liverpool-bound train, and from the low-level station at Lime Street we caught a New Brighton service …

… for a brief stroll beside the sea, and lunch (at the Floral Pavilion – wow!) …

…and now we’re heading for Chester, where our train of choice is the loco-hauled (propelled…) service to Piccadilly. Things are getting busy now – our train back to Crewe is packed (the two-coach – crazy! – 16.31 to Milford Haven). Lastly, the short hop home is on the “stopper”. I’ve lost count of all the different – very different – trains we’ve been on, but it’s been a great day out!

Cheshire Day Ranger

A walk from Wenlock

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, Walks2 Comments

We’ll catch the bus and walk back… It should have been wall-to-wall sunshine, but clouds are blowing across from the north-east – we’ll have to be selective with the photos. We’re certainly not going to stand and wait until the sun shines – it’s much too cold, barely above freezing. Nevertheless, it’s pleasant when the sun’s out, and there are one or two reminders that spring isn’t too far away.

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=364840&Y=301361&A=Y&Z=120

Snowdrops, squirrels and sad cedars

On By geoffspagesIn NT and EH, Photography1 Comment

Last winter, the (literally) heavy snowfall in December broke many branches off the lovely Lebanese cedars at Attingham Park. They will recover some of their former glory, I’m sure, given time. Elsewhere in the park, the snowdrops are coming out, and the squirrels are scurrying about trying to remember where they buried their nuts. It’s one of the floodlit days – when the sun shines, that is – it’s rather hit and miss…

Winter sun on Hope Bowdler

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

Not as much as we’d hoped for. We were anticipating snow too – there was a light cover at home, but hardly any here. Road closures delayed us, and by the time we’d reached the top of Hope Bowdler Hill, a bank of cloud from the west was stealing the sunshine. It’s good up here, especially when the sun is out, but now it’s gone – so has the light, and the wind’s cold. Let’s omit the Battlestones (just this once!) – we’ll cut our losses and head for home.

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=347617&Y=293618&A=Y&Z=120

Silver Birch

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…on Cannock Chase. There are forested areas, and there are wide expanses of heathland – the latter well-scattered with silver birches. On this chilly, clear and sunny January afternoon, the silver-white of the birches stands out against the blue of the sky. There are warm tones in the winter undergrowth of grasses, heather and bracken, but there’s little else – the leaves are long-gone, as are all those colourful toadstools we saw on our last visit. The bacon baps in the visitor centre are, of course, much as they were last time – just the thing for a cold day.

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=398945&Y=316431&A=Y&Z=120

Loamhole Dingle

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, Walks1 Comment

A short walk from the “coke hearth” at the top of Coalbrookdale. Like several others in this area, the dingle is a steep-sided little valley whose stream feeds the Severn. Below the coke hearth, it’s mostly culverted – higher up, it’s a jungle waterway. The path – a board-walk for much of its length – follows the stream fairly closely – away from the path, much of the woodland looks impenetrable (we’re not going to try!).

Our return takes us through Sunniside – and just beyond, there on the skyline are the most unlikely creatures – alpacas, ostriches (emus?) and reindeer. Are we still in Shropshire?

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=366217&Y=305081&A=Y&Z=115

Murky Mersey…

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…on a Thursday. 10 Jan: we’re in Liverpool. It’s not a photographic outing, though we should have a few minutes to spare around lunchtime – it might be worth taking the camera. Yes, it might have been – but the weather on Merseyside was unremittingly dull, a slight drizzle in the air and a cloud base barely above sea level. There are better ways, and better places, to enjoy lunchtime – put the camera away!

Perkley skyscapes

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

Weds. 9 January: a cold but bright afternoon. It’s far too good to stay indoors, and it’s been dry for a few days – we’ll head across the fields to Perkley and back. Shouldn’t be too bad underfoot. It’s wide open country here, at the northern end of the Wenlock Edge – with big skies…

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=361365&Y=299001&A=Y&Z=120

Quiet days

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They’re welcome, after Christmas and New Year – it feels like we’re getting back to normal (whatever that may be). It’s very quiet up here, at the southern end of the Long Mynd. We’ve only seen two other people (but lots of sheep), and the weather is quiet too – not a breath of wind (nor any sunshine, contrary to the forecast). It’s also very cold, nevertheless it’s good to be out on these hills – an enjoyable start to the year.

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=340430&Y=288846&A=Y&Z=120