Flamborough Head is an obvious feature of the east coast map; just a few miles further north is a lesser promontory. Flamborough’s cliffs are white chalk; Filey’s Brigg is mud… The popular walk from Filey to the Brigg is an easy stroll, on this occasion after a false start – a passing shower caused a diversion to the café…
No, we’re not in far-flung foreign parts! Clee Burf is the southern summit of Shropshire’s Brown Clee, and the Toot? That’s how it’s labelled on the OS map, but why is anyone’s guess. It’s a quiet bit of scrubby hillside on the southern flank of the hill. This was a pleasant walk – a fine afternoon, with air washed clean by yesterday’s rain, and a fresh breeze – perfect! An easy ascent takes us past Nordy Bank hill fort, and the heather is in bloom on the higher ground. There are one or two other walkers out; we didn’t count them, but we’re talking in single figures. No tea rooms or ice-cream vans on Brown Clee – could that be why?
Tuesday: We’ve had a very pleasant overnight stay in Ludlow, and now we’re looking for some not-too-energetic entertainment – it’s a warm morning, though the weather is gradually changing. The view from the top of Titterstone Clee could be good, and it’s a gentle stroll up from the car, parked on the old quarry level (it was, and it was…).
The tea-room at Croft Castle would be good for a lunch break – afterwards, we would walk up to Croft Ambrey, where the hill fort provides fine views of the Welsh border hills. The chestnuts in the park are increasingly decrepit; replacement saplings grow nearby. We’ll return to the car by the wooded Fishpool Valley. There’s not much water in the pools – I suspect that’s going to change over the next couple of days.
We’re wandering around Attingham this afternoon – the walled garden provided colour, the rest of the estate just shades of green.
…in the company of Isabel, Jennie, Sybil Mary, Paddy, Peter Pan and Woto! Six super little 2’0″ gauge steam locomotives enjoying themselves at the annual steam gala. For more pictures and (a little) information, visit “Amerton’s Gala” on Geoff’s Rail Diaries
A warm Wednesday afternoon at the National Trust’s north Cotswold garden. Its style is described as “Arts and Crafts”, with “colourful and intricately designed outdoor ‘rooms’”. It’s deservedly popular – and clearly on the Cotswold tourist trail (between Stratford, Chipping Campden and Broadway), evidenced by the hundreds of visitors, many from distant corners of the world. They’re not all visible at the same time, of course – it’s easy to lose most of them – and oneself – in the intricate landscape.
We were in Cardiff on Friday – a trip to St Fagans was in order, though on this occasion it could only be a flying visit. There are new developments in the pipeline here – will have to come again before too long.
St Fagans National History Museum
A wander around Blists Hill on a warm and pleasant afternoon, followed by a wander around the darkroom on a quiet evening…
The first time I found the tiny bottle kiln, abandoned and apparently forgotten, in a quiet corner of Broseley, I was amazed. It had been used for firing the clay tobacco pipes made in the small factory alongside. With the industry in decline, it was closed and left to decay nearly 60 years ago. It’s now part of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum, one of their lesser-known sites. Other than necessary safety measures, the factory is preserved as found – a real “time capsule”. Well worth an hour’s exploration.
… a breath of fresh air and a change of scene. Following 48 wet hours, the sky tried to clear on Saturday evening, and the sun broke through. Photos taken between Brockton and Much Wenlock.
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