It was foggy at home – but the forecast said it would be clear just a little way to the south and west. It was right. The air was cool, but the sunshine was warm and the light was bright – one of the afternoons that should go on for ever.

We walked around the “Starboard Way” – the cutely-named alternative to the Port Way through the gliding field – and followed the fairly level path , along the western edge of the Long Mynd, southwards to Black Knoll, just over two miles distant. Here, the path descends to Plowden –  we would now retrace our steps (with a slight detour). The temperature began to dropping noticeably with the sun – until, as we arrived back at the car, it dipped into a bank of cloud. Perfect timing!

It was still foggy at home…

We walked much of this route, around and through Much Wenlock, a few weeks ago. It was even worse underfoot on this occasion (though we did manage to stay on our feet – a close-run thing). Enough said – at least the views are pleasant and, to the east, extensive.

A dry afternoon – brighter in the Marches than further east, according to the forecast. How about a walk over to Hurst Farm and Aldenham? The skies were certainly very promising, but there’s a certain inevitability about that bank of heavy cloud that rolls in from the north-west, outstaying its welcome on the still afternoon. Inevitable, too, is the sky clearing again as we arrive back at the car in the gathering dusk.

We’ve been here before – it’s a good place for an afternoon wander at this time of year, and generally good underfoot, apart from the lane below the hill on the way out. Hardly surprising after all the rain – we could see, away in the distance, the floods beside the Severn over near Melverley. There was a bit more cloud than the forecast had promised – even a brief unexpected shower. The rainbow was a bonus, I suppose.