Seen from near Leighton. Ironbridge church – the tower is just visible bottom left – is about 3.5 miles away
Caledonian charm on the SVR
Blue engines are the best, aren’t they? The Caledonian Railway 0-6-0, resplendent in its superb blue livery, was (for me, and I suspect for many others) star attraction at the Severn Valley’s autumn gala this weekend. Visit “Caley Charm” on Geoff’s Rail Diaries.
Ashes Hollow to Pole Bank
I’d intended the walk to be circular – up Ashes Hollow to Pole Bank, returning by Callow Hollow, or possibly the ridge just to the south. But reality wasn’t as good as the forecast – the rain started half-way through lunch, and the clouds looked heavy and threatening. So I set off back down Ashes Hollow (at first down the shorter tributary that starts near Pole Cottage). Halfway down the hollow, the sky cleared and the sun came out again…
I’d seen the ledge path, above the stream on its south side, on the map. Perhaps it would provide a slightly different return route?
– it did. Clearly a made path, but used primarily by four-legged, woolly walkers. Not for the faint-hearted, but an interesting alternative with great views down into the Ashes Hollow.
Big skies – September in Shropshire
One of those days when the sky seems bigger than usual – must be the height of those huge shower clouds that were drifting about, looking ominous. We managed to miss them all – just a few spots in the wind…
Fun with a Wickham
Heritage Open Day 2011 – a return visit to Nantmawr – see “Riding the Wickham – Nantmawr” on Geoff’s Rail Diaries
Joffre reborn
A newly-restored steam locomotive entered service this weekend, at the Apedale Light Railway’s “Made in Staffordshire” gala. The loco in question – Kerr Stuart “Joffre” class no. 3014 of 1916, had last steamed in public some 65 years ago, and when I met it at Gloddfa Ganol in 1979, it looked like a lost cause. Not so!
To see the outcome of this major restoration project, in action, visit “Apedale and the Joffre” on Geoff’s Rail Diaries
Wyre Forest Wandering
Four miles in one of the quieter parts of the forest, with varied woodland and one or two attractive clearings. It is Walk 2248 – Wimperhill Wood and Longdon Orchard on the Walking Britain site. So there’s no Google map this time (it’s almost impossible to see the path for all the trees) – do take the 1:25,000 though…
Shelve Pool and Mucklewick Hill
A walk from (delightfully named!) The Bog. It was a bright sunny afternoon when we left home; by the time we’d walked to Shelve Pool it was raining – I’m sure it wasn’t forecast. “It will only be a shower” as we sheltered beneath the trees. It was only a shower, fortunately…
Great refreshments at The Bog Visitor Centre, housed in the old school
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