Tenbury Wells

On By geoffspagesIn PhotographyLeave a comment

We’ve driven through, but never stopped… Last week, after an unwieldy few minutes while she tried to remember its name, we learned where our friend had bought her fine summer hat. “We must go there one day soon”. Unusually, we did (and bought a hat). Tenbury Wells has a proper high street, an unusual little round market hall (where a round market is held!), and as for those pump rooms – wow! “Built in 1862 to promote the town as a spa for the working classes”, according to the town council. Wow again! The rooms are open to the public for a few hours on Fridays – which happen to be market days. We will be back!

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The woods on a warm day

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

They’ll be shady, cool perhaps… In the still and humid air, any sunshine would be uncomfortable, but in the event we saw little of the sun, and it was certainly very pleasant under the trees on the eastern slopes of Brown Clee. Colourful too – great masses of rhododendron here and there. It’s Cosford air show today – we might see some of the flying exhibits? We did, but just one big thing that circled for a time, never getting quite close enough for a decent photo. We didn’t see (or hear) the Red Arrows either – perhaps we’re just too far away. We did see a red kite, which on balance is a preferable alternative… And other than one group of chatty walkers, we had the hill to ourselves.
What does it sound like up here? Listen!

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The bee that did not buzz

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, Walks2 Comments

But the photographer did! Perhaps 30 years ago, a late neighbour told me he’d found a bee orchid on Wenlock Edge. I’ve been watching out for them ever since. In May, the early purple orchids are plentiful; now, the common spotted abound (as we saw yesterday), and we’re approaching the pyramid season. We were hoping we might find some of the latter today. We did – just a few, they need a week or two more. Then – there it was! Just the one, in bloom and eye-catching – a most remarkable find, the first I’ve ever seen! Still buzzing…

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By Climbing Jack Common…

On By geoffspagesIn Herefordshire, Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

…to Richard’s Castle.

Monday 5 June: we’re walking with an old (as in “we’ve known her many years”) friend, from Black Pool car park, through the forest and up the gentle slopes of the common to High Vinnals. The top (with a perfectly-placed bench) is a wonderful viewpoint, even on a hazy day, though it won’t be if the trees get much taller…
Descending now, we’re following a fairly straight route to the old part of Richard’s Castle – there’s very little left of the castle itself, but the redundant St Bartholomew’s church next door is worth a look – and provides some pleasant shade on this sunny afternoon.

Like the village of Richard’s Castle, this walk straddles the county border – we start and end in Shropshire, but much of the forest, including High Vinnals, is in Herefordshire, as are (by a matter of yards) the castle and church.

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