Misty morning – a woodland walk

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

It looked like it would be brighter earlier in the day, if not especially sunny. We’ll head for Benthall and the woods along the Edge. The woodland path passes through a wonderful 3D landscape, created partly by the trees but largely by Benthall Edge itself, with a steep drop to the left and numerous remnants of old quarries.

At the troll’s bridge, all we can hear is birdsong and the gently glugging of the tiny stream below – listen to the sound clip below…

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Blue and yellow – a walk to Wyke

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Thursday 20 April: The sky is blue, the fields (several of them anyway) are bright yellow – the oilseed rape is in bloom. It’s not quite a classic English landscape, but it’s dramatic. The brilliant yellow makes it feel like the sun’s shining on the cloudiest of days. We’re walking from Barrow, across the fields to Wyke and back, on a very pleasant afternoon.

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Green man and yellow fields

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A minor variation on a regular route – up Scots Lane and down the track past Linley church, visiting the green man on the north wall. The oilseed rape is coming into bloom – we can smell it (and no, ‘scent’ wouldn’t be the right word) as we cross the field to Bould Lane. Further along, the blackthorn blossom is brilliant white against a clear blue sky. It’s a colourful walk today!

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Uamh Oir – the gold cave

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Skye, WalksLeave a comment

Skye: Thursday 6 April (continued): Our last day – and it’s a beautiful Skye day – bright, breezy, blue sea and sky. I’m going for gold – walking from Kilmuir village hall to the Gold Cave, via the Bornesketaig cliff tops. The gold’s all gone, of course. There’s a full moon – the tide is as low as it gets, and at such times the cave can be entered – but I’m on my own (and there’s no-one else about), so the risk of a fall on those slippery rocks is worth avoiding (I’ve been in it before, some years ago). I’ll return along the shore to the Camus More campsite, then back up the reed-lined road. There will be times on the long drive home that I’ll think of this afternoon.

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An hour in Portree

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Skye, WalksLeave a comment

Skye: Wednesday 5 April: I’m wearing my chauffeur’s cap today. “Can you run us into Portree this afternoon, then amuse yourself for an hour or two?”

Not for the first time, I’m wandering with the camera. On a similar outing, last October, I was blessed with a beautiful still morning of blue sky and sunshine. This afternoon, it’s showery – can I dodge the rain? Yes, for a while. Down Bayfield Road, up onto the path around ‘the Lump’, down to the quay, then up to Bosville Terrace. I could perhaps get as far as the Black Rock? No chance – a view from the terrace reveals another shower bowling down from the Cuillins… Back to the car!

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