The Christmas Cheshireman

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

DSC_0652…was the name of the train, a trip from Bristol to Chester for the Christmas market. It was going to be hauled by Tangmere, an un-rebuilt Bulleid pacific, but earlier in the week, Tangmere was advised as “unavailable”, and instead the reliable duo of 44871 and 45407 would haul the trip. At about the same time, the weather forecast was rather unfriendly – happily, the forecast improved, and in the event, the morning’s fog cleared to bright sunshine. Here they are, Black 5s 44871 and 45407 hurrying along, on time, near Stokesay with the Christmas Cheshireman.

There are two steam-hauled specials next week, bringing passengers to the Ludlow Christmas markets – fingers crossed for the weather…

Green Fields of Morville

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

A walk from Morville to Hurst Farm pools – out along the quiet lane to Haughton, back down the (public footpath) drive from Aldenham Park. There had been some heavy rain overnight – field paths would be hard going, so we stuck to known good surfaces. The grey skies had cleared by lunchtime – the afternoon was fine, bright and sunny – and surprisingly warm.

Map

Or view OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=367370&Y=295321&A=Y&Z=120

November on Clee Hill

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, Walks3 Comments

One of those rare afternoons when the sun shines from an almost-cloudless blue sky. It’s cold, and there’s a chilly breeze on top, but it’s a great day to be out on the Shropshire hills.

I’d include a map of the route, but Google have introduced “new My Maps. Better tools for mapping”. ’nuff said.
9 Nov: I’ve been trying Scribblemaps – see below

Map

Or view OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=358500&Y=284901&A=Y&Z=120&ax=358625&ay=284851

 

The Roaches and Lud’s Church

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Walks3 Comments

The Roaches lie just a few miles north of Leek, in Staffordshire. The name derives, supposedly, from the French les roches – the rocks. It’s a most appropriate name too – there are rocks in profusion. The gritstone outcrops along the ridge are spectacular – a great subject for the camera on a day like this, with bright sunshine and low lighting angles.

Not far from the Roaches is another gritstone feature – this time, a deep rocky chasm perhaps 100 yards in length, “Lud’s Church”. Formed, it is thought, some time after the last ice age, a slippage towards the valley has created this remarkable feature. It’s well hidden in the pleasant (if somewhat muddy) woodland, though well signposted – the footpath runs along its length.

The walk back to the car ought to be an anti-climax, but it’s not – the ridge walk back to the road is airy, with excellent views. The afternoon has worn on – the light is distinctly golden for the last stretch, the very quiet road beneath the Roaches taking us back to the car.

 

Moseley Old Hall

On By geoffspagesIn NT and EH, PhotographyLeave a comment

It’s a National Trust property, tucked neatly between the M54 and the northern edge of Wolverhampton. It started life as a half-timbered structure – and remains so, though the original building was encased in brick when the hall was “modernised”, in the days before Victoria became queen. Its fame lies with an earlier monarch – King Charles hid there, in one of its priest holes. Whatever its history, it’s an interesting place to explore on a changeable Sunday afternoon.

Moseley Old Hall NT

Grinshill

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

It’s no mountain – just 192 metres (630 ft) above sea level at the summit – but it’s a great viewpoint for the real hills of Shropshire and the borders. Not that it was particularly clear, nor did the sun manage to break through, but it was a pleasant afternoon to wander through deep carpets of fallen leaves, sweet chestnut husks etc. (the many squirrels have dealt with the nuts). The deeply-cut former quarries are worth a few minutes’ exploration.

At Clive we wandered around the village briefly before taking to the stone lane in its deep cutting beside the church and headed the highest point. As we walked back to the car, our eyes were caught by a bright flash of green (woodpecker), then the red of a pair of fly agarics. Peer over the wall – there are some deep dark holes…

A Stiperstones Stroll

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There’s quite a breeze, and the clouds never quite clear  – a few rays of sunshine would improve the outing photographically, but otherwise, it’s a good day to be out on the Stiperstones. It’s a Sunday afternoon, so there are quite a few other people about, but there’s plenty of space up here. And though the clocks may have gone back, the Bog Centre is open (for a few more days only, before the winter shutdown) for tea and cake. What more could one ask?

The Bog Centre

Gloucester Docks

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We were here perhaps twelve years ago. to visit the national waterways museum; today’s could be described as a flying visit, though we travelled by train, from Shropshire to Newport, then up the west side of the Severn estuary. The docks area had undergone some tidying-up in 2002 – today there are many more signs of redevelopment. It’s still an interesting place to wander around – there’s a “tall ship” moored on the west side, and a couple of boats in dry dock, as well as the canalside warehouses and all manner of other floating things. Odd short stretches of railway track provide a reminder of what this are must have been like in its heyday.

For more on the trip, and more photos, visit “Newport and Gloucester” on Geoff’s Rail Diaries

The Un-stately Home

On By geoffspagesIn NT and EH, Photography1 Comment

That’s how its owners, the National Trust, describe Calke Abbey. Here, they talk of preservation not restoration – to provide a reminder of the state many such houses were in, at the end of their existence, with their last residents living in just a tiny proportion of the house. Preservation of the last lived-in parts of Calke means displaying the amazing collection of stuffed birds and other creatures; the disused parts are shown complete with their stored clutter.

There’s far too much here to take in on a single visit – we were beginning to suffer from overload when we left the walled gardens and headed for home. We’ll have to come again.

Calke Abbey NT