Teas and Toys

On 10 Nov 2021 By geoffspagesIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

The visit to the toy shop in Ironbridge was planned in advance (a birthday is on the near horizon). We’ll make a walk of it – up the hill and past Woodside to pick up the path (a former plateway) beside the railway. Passing through the museum yard, the lights are on the tea shop – are we going to be tempted?

When we leave, the light has almost gone outside, and the Ironbridge shops have a welcoming appearance on this cold afternoon. A more successful outing than we’d anticipated!

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Down the lane, and back again

On 09 Nov 2021 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hillsLeave a comment

Enjoying some intermittent late-morning sunshine, with a walk down the lane to the top of the bank (and back). It’s a good place to pause and contemplate the view to the east, aided by a little chocolate…

On a grey day…

On 08 Nov 2021 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hillsLeave a comment

… there’s colour in the woods, and there’s a splendid bank of toadstools beside the path back up the hill.

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Is it snowing?

On 07 Nov 2021 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

Along Ned’s Lane, pale particles are sifting down through the trees. I should say from the trees… Larch needles, doing what they do in autumn, covering the path with a snow-like coating. Elsewhere, there are still plenty of toadstools, though most of the ‘Flying Erics’ are well past their best, and the puffballs have puffed!

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Dining out (again!)

On 04 Nov 2021 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, Walks1 Comment

We ate out on Tuesday – outside the Tea Emporium in Ironbridge. The ambience for today’s lunch was on a different plane – nearly 1500ft above sea level, beside Boyne Water on Brown Clee. A bit draughty perhaps, and just a plain wooden plank to sit on, but much superior views – a great place to dine! A little later, we’re enjoying our second lunch (a fine tradition is developing in these parts…) – biscuits on the bench near the Five Springs. With the Brecon Beacons in view, 55 miles to the south-west, and Cader Idris (57 miles) peeping over the Long Mynd, the views are even better.

View from the top - to the Black Mountains

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November at Church Preen

On 03 Nov 2021 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

When the sun shines at this time of year, it’s low and directional, restoring a dimension that’s lost in flat summer lighting. It brings out the colour too, and there’s no shortage of autumnal shades in the quiet country below the Wenlock Edge

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Clear blue over Coalbrookdale

On 02 Nov 2021 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

“We could walk from Bedlam, over to Coalbrookdale, then back through Ironbridge – pick up some tea at the Emporium”. Good idea, and we’ll go this morning – it will be cloudier after lunch, with showers. The timing was good too – it’s just lunchtime as we arrive in the Square. The bacon baps weren’t on the plan, but they were rather good…

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The Coalport Round

On 01 Nov 2021 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

It’s a regular destination – in the season we can have tea and cakes at the youth hostel. Out of season, we can use their benches for our chocolate stop. The forecast thinks it should stay dry, but as we reach the plateau on our way back, we can see there are one or two little showers around…

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It’ll rain!

On 31 Oct 2021 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

Strong winds and blustery showers – we could get soaked! Let’s risk it! Apart from a few drops in the wind (followed by a rainbow) it stayed dry, and with mostly bright skies and interesting clouds, it’s a very enjoyable little outing.

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The Cound Highlands

On 30 Oct 2021 By geoffspagesIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

I exaggerate, of course – we start, from the car park at Cound Guildhall, at about 200 ft above sea level. The highest point on the route is about 360 ft – but that extra elevation provides some wonderful panoramic views. The forecast says ‘sunny intervals’ – which means we will have cloudy intervals too. That’s one fairly long one, with just a few spots of light rain, and bright sunshine before and after. The sky is deep blue; the clouds look as though you could slice them and spread them with marmalade – an appropriate shade for this autumnal afternoon.