Brown Clee and Boyne Water

On 18 Sep 2016 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

Perfect for a fine and sunny afternoon, with just a pleasant breeze. Taking the direct route to the summit, there are others about, but as we continue towards Boyne Water and the track down through the estate lands, we realise we’ve left the crowds (perhaps a dozen in total?) behind. We followed this route back in the spring, but today we’re doing it anticlockwise for subtly different views.

As we near the equinox, the sun is noticeably lower in the sky. Those shorter days of misty distances are getting closer.

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=359955&Y=285891&A=Y&Z=120

Watercolour days

On 12 Mar 201612 Mar 2016 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

Friday: spring is in the air – and there’s a spring in our steps. It’s not warm, but this is the first day we haven’t needed gloves, scarves, hats etc. With the change in weather has come a haze, shortening our horizons and fading them to shades of watercolour. We’re following a new (for us) route, using a permissive bridleway and gentle gradients to reach Boyne Water, an attractive pool which is larger than one might expect, so near the summit ridge of Brown Clee. Minutes later, we exchange the eastern view – pleasant gentle countryside, for the western view – the indistinct pastel-blue ridges of the border hills. It’s good up here on a day like this, but we can’t stay, and we’re soon threading our way back down between moss- and lichen-clad trees, towards the car and the short journey home.

Or view OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=360140&Y=285876&A=Y&Z=120

January skies

On 09 Jan 2016 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, Walks1 Comment

We’re out on Brown Clee, enjoying some drier weather, though it’s very wet under (and at times, in) our boots. There was a spot of light drizzle too, early on (the 0.1mm threatened by the forecast) but we coped. Once on the ridge, all (extremely minor) discomfort was forgotten as we took in the drama of the skyscape and the misty distant border hills. What a great place to be on a day like this! It’s a shame to have to come down again, but the hours of daylight are short.

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=359990&Y=286571&A=Y&Z=120

Late September on the Clee

On 26 Sep 2015 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

We’re walking up to Clee Burf this afternoon – it’s fine, bright and sunny, and though there’s a chill in the air, we’re warm from the ascent. It seems a shame to come down again – it’s a great place on a day like this. The hills to the west seem to go on for ever.

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=358410&Y=284786&A=Y&Z=120

Brown Clee from the phone box

On 30 May 2015 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

We’ve done this one before (the phone box in question no longer contains a phone – instead, it’s now the “Little Red Book Stop”) – see “A clear day on Clee Hill” . It was clear this afternoon, warm when the sun shone – which wasn’t often, nor was it for long – nevertheless, it’s a good place to be.

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=359005&Y=286906&A=Y&Z=120

A breezy day on Brown Clee

On 12 Apr 2015 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

Saturday afternoon: we started out up the eastern slopes, where woodland (despite recent felling) and the hill itself were sheltering us from the breeze. On top, that breeze was an icy blast – what a contrast after a balmy Friday evening. The view to the west was extensive – the Brecon Beacons clearly defined to the south-west, some 55 miles distant according to the toposcope on Abdon Burf – but we didn’t stay long, cutting back through the woodland edge at the col. Once we were just a few feet lower, in the lee, it was a warm and pleasant afternoon again – perfect for wandering slowly down through the estate and back to the car.