Perhaps not entirely appropriate – the light has gone from the lanes around Willey, but in the hedgerow there are lots of wild hops. Rub one of those flowers between your fingers, and sniff! Wonderful!
Corvedale cornfields
Tuesday 20 August: It’s harvest time – some of the fields have already been cut, with lines of straw or towers of bales in evidence. Not all – in other fields, the wheat and especially the barley look beautifully ripe and golden. We’re walking from Tigger’s Ickle Shop in Rowe Lane – we’ve stocked up with some plum tomatoes, an aubergine that resembles a black boxing glove and some pieces of cake… (There’s a second Tigger’s Ickle Shop at the other end of the lane, but we’re spent up!) Soon we’re approaching Holdgate, where there’s a chocolate seat with great views to Brown Clee; beyond, the lane is well-edged with ripe blackberries. It’s been a great walk, despite our sticky fingers…
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An Oswestry outing
…with Austin 1. Just published to Geoff’s Rail Diaries, an illustrated account of our visit and short train ride yesterday afternoon. Visit ‘Austin 1 at Oswestry‘ – now!
An hour with Austin 1
We’ve been to Oz (should that be Os?), better known outside the area as Oswestry. 
The Cambrian Railways Society has, most appropriately, had a base there for many years, but has struggled against the odds to operate trains much further than up and down a siding. A couple of years ago, it began running trains about 2.3km (sounds much further than 1.4 miles) down the old main line, to Weston Wharf. Here there are refreshments, in a static buffet car, and next door at the brewery tap. The train ride has a purpose at last! Today, we took a ride down the line, steam hauled by Austin 1 visiting from Llangollen (and just for the pleasure of it, we walked back). There will be a Rail Diaries entry in the next day or so, meanwhile, here’s a taster.
Wild chicory
I don’t think I’ve ever knowingly seen it before today! An unusual plant with attractive blue flowers – will Google know what it is? Yes, it did! We’re walking from the end of Hurst Farm lane, round the edge of the fields to Shore Pool, and back up the drive past Aldenham Park. The season is galloping along – the grain harvest is in full swing, and the blackberries are ripening well (inevitably delaying our progress, though there’s rarely any hurry)
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Shugborough and Great Haywood
A fairly laid-back day out in Staffordshire – a walk through the grounds of Shugborough Hall to the Clifford Arms in Great Haywood (lunch), a short wander along the canal towpath to the junction, then back via the servants’ quarters, the Tower of the Winds and Park Farm (ice cream…)
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Dudmaston and Comer
After a damp start, it’s a fine afternoon – maybe sunny later? We’ll head for Dudmaston, for a walk through the gardens, around the lake and back via the asparagus farm and Comer Woods.
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An afternoon with the Earl
That’s GWR no. 822 The Earl – one of the two 2’6″ gauge 0-6-0T locomotives built in 1902 for the Welshpool and Llanfair Railway. He’s hauling us from Llanfair Caereinion down to Welshpool Raven Square and back – a very pleasant outing in the good company of a friend and his 4-year-old grandson, both of whom seemed to enjoy the journey. Who wouldn’t, on this fine and (eventually) sunny afternoon?
Welshpool and Llanfair Railway
Cooler in the morning
It’s going to be warm this afternoon… We’ll have a quick walk around the Willey lanes – home again by lunchtime. There are signs of the season moving on – damsons, ripe blackberries, crab apples and hop flowers… Soon be autumn!
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Blowy Brown Clee
Friday 9 August: We’ve been stuck at home since Thursday morning with an electrician. He’s finished and gone – now we need to blow away our cobwebs. Brown Clee should be ideal – and so it turns out. The strong westerly wind at the summit is making it hard to hold the camera still, but it’s very pleasant up here, with warm sunshine, and the views extensive as they can be on a clear day. We can make out Pen y Fan, 55 miles to the south-west. Away from the summit, it’s calmer, and though the chocolate seat faces into the wind, we can have an enjoyable five minutes there. Not many minutes later, we’re through the trees and back on the east side of the hill. Wind? What wind?
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