geoffspages blog

I've moved!

2011-10-22T11:23:00.001+01:00

Gone to Wordpress... geoffspages.wordpress.com

This blog and its content will remain for a little while, but the new posts will be on the new blog, along with all the old content from this one.

Foxfield - last train of the day

2011-10-16T18:20:00.002+01:00

Foxfield - last train of the day, a photo by geoffspages on Flickr.

Another tremendous day at the Foxfield Railway - a real steam spectacular on the fearsome 1 in 19 gradient. Visit "Sunshine and Steam at Foxfield" on Geoff's Rail Diaries

Ironbridge Fireworks

2011-09-25T11:42:00.003+01:00

Ironbridge Fireworks, a photo by geoffspages on Flickr.

Seen from near Leighton. Ironbridge church - the tower is just visible bottom left - is about 3.5 miles away

Caledonian charm on the SVR

2011-09-23T18:45:00.000+01:00

Blue engines are the best, aren’t they? The Caledonian Railway 0-6-0, resplendent in its superb blue livery, was (for me, and I suspect for many others) star attraction at the Severn Valley’s autumn gala this weekend. Visit “Caley Charm” on Geoff’s Rail Diaries.

Ashes Hollow to Pole Bank

2011-09-21T18:50:00.002+01:00

I’d intended the walk to be circular – up Ashes Hollow to Pole Bank, returning by Callow Hollow, or possibly the ridge just to the south. But reality wasn’t as good as the forecast – the rain started half-way through lunch, and the clouds looked heavy and threatening. So I set off back down Ashes Hollow (at first down the shorter tributary that starts near Pole Cottage). Halfway down the hollow, the sky cleared and the sun came out again…

I’d seen the ledge path, above the stream on its south side, on the map. Perhaps it would provide a slightly different return route?
- it did. Clearly a made path, but used primarily by four-legged, woolly walkers. Not for the faint-hearted, but an interesting alternative with great views down into the Ashes Hollow.

View Ashes - Pole Bank in a larger map

Big skies – September in Shropshire

2011-09-17T10:20:00.001+01:00

One of those days when the sky seems bigger than usual – must be the height of those huge shower clouds that were drifting about, looking ominous. We managed to miss them all – just a few spots in the wind…

View Pole Bank (shorter) in a larger map

Fun with a Wickham

2011-09-11T19:23:00.001+01:00

Heritage Open Day 2011 – a return visit to Nantmawr – see “Riding the Wickham – Nantmawr” on Geoff’s Rail Diaries

Joffre reborn

2011-09-10T11:43:00.000+01:00

A newly-restored steam locomotive entered service this weekend, at the Apedale Light Railway’s “Made in Staffordshire” gala. The loco in question – Kerr Stuart “Joffre” class no. 3014 of 1916, had last steamed in public some 65 years ago, and when I met it at Gloddfa Ganol in 1979, it looked like a lost cause. Not so!

To see the outcome of this major restoration project, in action, visit “Apedale and the Joffre” on Geoff’s Rail Diaries

Wyre Forest Wandering

2011-09-04T15:10:00.000+01:00

Four miles in one of the quieter parts of the forest, with varied woodland and one or two attractive clearings. It is Walk 2248 - Wimperhill Wood and Longdon Orchard on the Walking Britain site. Do take the 1:25,000…

Wilderhope Wandering

2011-08-28T20:25:00.004+01:00

A Wenlock Edge walk, on an afternoon that threatened rain (we had to use the wipers on the short drive to the start of the walk) but improved as time went by. Excellent refreshments at Wilderhope Manor (NT / YHA), not far from the end of the walk.

View Wilderhope in a larger map

Westbury Court

2011-08-22T09:49:00.000+01:00

Dutch water garden in Westbury-on-Severn, Gloucs.
NT –Westbury Court Garden

Shelve Pool and Mucklewick Hill

2011-08-21T19:55:00.001+01:00

A walk from (delightfully named!) The Bog. It was a bright sunny afternoon when we left home; by the time we’d walked to Shelve Pool it was raining – I’m sure it wasn’t forecast. “It will only be a show” as we sheltered beneath the trees. It was only a shower, fortunately…
Great refreshments at The Bog Visitor Centre, housed in the old school

View Shelve Pool in a larger map

Colemore Green and the Severn

2011-08-19T09:53:00.002+01:00

A walk through Chestnut Coppice and the riverside path to Apley bridge, back via Astley Abbots and Boldings Pools

View Colemore Green in a larger map

Witley Court fountain

2011-08-17T18:22:00.001+01:00

A return visit (we went in February) to see the fountain being “fired”

February’s visit

Wightwick Manor

2011-08-16T19:04:00.002+01:00

A wander around the exterior (didn’t fancy the guided tour)

NT Wightwick Manor web page

On the moss

2011-08-14T18:26:00.001+01:00

A walk on the “Fenn’s, Whixall & Bettisfield Mosses National Nature Reserve”

Hampton Loade

2011-08-13T19:06:00.003+01:00

A walk from Hay Bridge, via Chelmarsh reservoir, to Hampton Loade – and back along the riverside path.

Curiously, the Yorkshire Dales poster uses a few lines of Housman’s “A Shropshire Lad” to extol their virtues…

Across the glittering pastures
And empty upland still
And solitude of shepherds
High in the folded hill

View Hay Bridge to Hampton Loade in a larger map

Loch Sneosdal

2011-08-06T16:43:00.002+01:00

We’ve seen eagles on previous visits to this quiet lochan – would we be lucky again?

…yes, only this time, not the golden variety, but a white-tailed eagle (we only realised on studying the photographs carefully), which circled lazily, high in the sky, for several minutes before drifting away and out of sight.

View Loch Sneosdal in a larger map

Caisteal Uisdean

2011-08-05T17:18:00.003+01:00

“Hugh’s Castle” – a walk along the shore near Cuidrach, Skye, to the ruins of a 17th century site of (inevitably) evil deeds…

View Caisteal Uisdean in a larger map

High tide at Camus Mor

2011-08-03T14:07:00.000+01:00

Evening: anglers on the rocks; a freighter passes in the Minch

An Aird, Braes

2011-08-03T11:49:00.001+01:00

Exploring a quiet peninsula with great views to the Cuillins, the Trotternish ridge and the Isle of Raasay

View An Aird in a larger map

Rubha Hunish

2011-08-02T19:06:00.003+01:00

A walk to the northernmost tip of Skye

View Rubha Hunish in a larger map

Score Horan

2011-08-01T18:31:00.002+01:00

A Waternish walk, through forest and across boggy moor to cliffs high above Loch Snizort

View Score Horan in a larger map

Later that day, looking west from Trotternish

Skye Shoreline

2011-07-31T16:29:00.001+01:00

Duntulm

Damp and windy…

Staffin

Over the hill to the rocky shore

Portree

“We walked the black rock
And we stopped by the loch”

Camus Mor, Skye

2011-07-28T10:46:00.000+01:00

Tranquillity in Trotternish

North of the border

2011-07-27T20:38:00.001+01:00

A selection of snaps, southern Scotland in late July

Steel Sculpture

2011-07-09T13:00:00.001+01:00

It’s difficult to know what to expect – bits of scrap metal welded together at random? The “Ironbridge Open Air Museum of Steel Sculpture” (one of the Telegraph’s four best sculpture gardens, as I discovered, with the help of Google, after our visit) definitely contains works that give one that impression (I’m sure they were assembled / constructed / welded / sculpted with care and forethought)…

…or something else entirely? Yes – some works did appear to have been forged in one piece from hot metal, some made clear reference to real things – and some were obviously created by an author with a sense of humour.

The museum is one of those places that we’ve passed many times, thinking “I wonder what that’s all about?” (and possibly coming to the wrong conclusions) and “must go there one day and find out”. It’s somewhat off the beaten track, though barely half-a-mile from Darby's furnace in Coalbrookdale. There are 79 permanent exhibits, set in steep-sloped woodland and grassy open space. The map provided at admission is a must – the site is a fascinating maze with surprises around every corner, and it would be next-to-impossible to find everything without it. We must have spent nearly two hours there – great fun, worth every penny of the £3 admission charge.

Ironbridge Open Air Museum of Steel Sculpture

Brown Clee

2011-07-03T16:41:00.000+01:00

The easy way up – just the thing for a gentle stroll on a warm afternoon. Much of the way uphill is through woodland, providing interest and shade. The return route follows the surfaced road part-way down the old railway incline, until a track through the woods provides a gentler descent

View Brown Clee direct in a larger map

7¼” Standard Gauge

2011-06-20T11:28:00.001+01:00

Just published to Geoff’s Rail Diaries, the full account of yesterday’s trip, fully illustrated. Visit “Echills Wood”.

Echills Wood

2011-06-19T20:59:00.001+01:00

Standard gauge models…

The Echills Wood Railway is an extensive 7¼” gauge miniature line at the Kingsbury Water Park, about 4 mile south of Tamworth. This weekend, the line would be running exclusively with models of standard gauge prototypes – with all proceeds going to the G&WR’s appeal for funds following their disastrous embankment failures. More to come – soon – on “Geoff’s Rail Diaries” – in the meantime, here’s a taster – rather a nice model of a GNR O1 2-8-0.

6024 southbound from Shrewsbury

2011-06-11T20:59:00.001+01:00

6024 southbound from Shrewsbury, a photo by geoffspages on Flickr.

Fun and games at Bridgnorth station, and 6024 "King Edward I" southbound from Shrewsbury. Visit "On a Western Theme" on "Geoff's Rail Diaries" for more pictures and video

Ffestiniog “Linda” – at Statfold!

2011-06-04T11:01:00.000+01:00

A rare event indeed – one of the Welsh railway’s mainstays visiting another line – the Statfold Barn Railway, for its 4th June open day. See Linda, and another eleven narrow gauge locos in action, in “A Statfold Dozen” on Geoff’s Rail Diaries

Rhyl Centenary

2011-05-29T13:15:00.001+01:00

Just published to “Geoff’s Rail Diaries”, the full(ish) account and pictures of yesterday’s visit to the celebrations at Rhyl. Visit “Rhyl 100” now…

The Rhyl Six

2011-05-28T20:15:00.001+01:00

This weekend the 15” gauge Rhyl Miniature Railway celebrates its centenary. At first it was operated using Bassett-Lowke / Greenly “Little Giant” 4-4-2 locomotives; from 1920 a fleet of six larger and more powerful 4-4-2s was built, in Rhyl, by fairground engineer Albert Barnes. The story of the subsequent 91 years is complex; suffice it to say that, this weekend, the six Barnes Atlantics were on display, together, for the first time.

More photos to follow, in due course, on the “Rail Diaries” pages – in the meantime, here are the six, lined up in numerical order. Front (from right to left): 101 “Joan”, 102 “Railway Queen”, 103 “John”
Rear: 104 “Billie”, 105 “Michael”, 106 “Billy”

Wroxeter

2011-05-24T14:29:00.001+01:00

We saw the new Roman Villa a little while before the Channel 4 documentary was aired – “Was that there last time we came this way?…”

An 8F on the North and West

2011-05-21T16:42:00.001+01:00

Heavy freight steam on a heavy passenger train – shame about the sunshine… 48151 made a great sight and sound this morning.

For more pictures and video visit “Heavy freight on the North and West” on Geoff’s Rail Diaries

Wenlock – Presthope – Bourton

2011-05-19T18:41:00.003+01:00

A Wenlock Edge walk on a pleasant and bright afternoon

View Wenlock - Presthope - Bourton in a larger map

Cosford Museum

2011-05-18T20:07:00.001+01:00

An afternoon at the RAF Museum. We’ve been before – but the last time was perhaps 17 years ago. It’s changed a bit! Most impressive – free admission too.

Black 5s at Knucklas

2011-05-12T22:29:00.000+01:00

Black 5s 45407 and 44871 at Knucklas, on day 7 of the “Cathedrals Explorer”. More photos and video – visit Knucklas on Geoff’s Rail Diaries

5s at Knucklas, a photo by geoffspages on Flickr.

East Yorkshire

2011-05-01T19:55:00.000+01:00

A few photos from a brief trip to the old East Riding over the May Day weekend

Saturday:

Sunday:

Nunney at All Stretton

2011-04-22T13:54:00.001+01:00

Steam in Shropshire on a glorious spring day - 5029 "Nunney Castle" works steadily up the last couple of miles of the climb from Shrewsbury to Church Stretton, on day 7 of the 9-day "Great Britain IV" tour

A day on the Mynd – Bridges and the Portway

2011-04-20T11:49:00.000+01:00

Warm sunshine, clear skies – perfect for an outing in the south Shropshire hill country. An 8-mile walk from Bridges, up beside Darnford Brook and onto Betchcott Hill, then along the top of the Long Mynd to Shooting Box, and back down the quiet track to Coates. Visit Bridges and the Portway on Walks with a Camera.

Hopesay

2011-04-17T16:43:00.002+01:00

A short (3 miles) but very pleasant walk in the hills on the western side of the quiet Shropshire village.

View Hopesay - Burrow in a larger map

Jonathan’s Hollow

2011-04-02T15:56:00.002+01:00

A walk on the Long Mynd from Cardingmill Valley – ascending via the Batch Valley and Jonathan’s Hollow, then back down Mott’s Road for a cup of tea in the company of a cheeky chaffinch

View Cardingmill and Jonathan's Hollow in a larger map

Statfold

2011-03-26T08:46:00.000Z

Smoke and steam with Saccharine, a photo by geoffspages on Flickr.

The contrast between this outing and the Stableford afternoon couldn’t be greater. Eleven locomotives – all very different* - in steam and in action on the mixed-gauge 2’ / 2’6” gauge railway at Statfold Barn. And the weather – yes – sadly, that was very different too… Nevertheless, an excellent day – we were there for six hours, which seemed to go by in the blinking of an eye. For a full account plus pictures and video, visit Statfold – the March gala on Geoff’s Rail Diaries

*Jack Lane and Statfold are, of course, virtually identical twins – though they bear different liveries, and Jack Lane has no cab. The other locos are all really different – 0-4-0, 0-4-2, 0-6-0, 4-4-0, 0-4-4-0 Mallets, some with tenders, others without, of British and German manufacture.

Watching the trains go by

2011-03-24T20:07:00.001Z

Another warm and sunny day – too good to stay at home. After yesterday’s walk, something gentler was in order – a couple of hours watching the trains go by at Stableford, Staffs. Lots of trains – very little variety…

Visit Stableford on Geoff’s Rail Diaries

Spring beside the Severn

2011-03-23T20:11:00.002Z

Spring is really here – I walked most of the route in shirt sleeves… Broseley – Linley Green via the Honeypot, then down to the river, walking the bank as far north as Ballsfoundry, before climbing back up to Broseley via Inett Farm and Caughley Road

View Linley and the Severn in a larger map

The Chasewater Gala

2011-03-20T18:57:00.001Z

Full set of photos and 5 minutes of video on Geoff’s Rail Diaries – visit Chasewater Spring Gala now!

Colin McAndrew

2011-03-19T18:55:00.000Z

Colin McAndrew a photo by geoffspages on Flickr.

It's spring (more-or-less) - the daffodils are in flower, the sap is rising - and small steam locomotives are coming out of hibernation. This weekend the Chasewater Railway held a Gala - four locos in steam, passenger and freight working to an intensive timetable. Here's a taster - the diminutive Barclay "Colin McAndrew" on the brake vans shuttle. More to come...

South Telford

2011-03-13T16:55:00.002Z

Coalport – Madeley – Ironbridge – Jackfield – on an afternoon which felt positively springlike.

View Coalport - Madeley - Ironbridge in a larger map

Sunny afternoon on the Mynd

2011-03-07T18:53:00.003Z

Not a cloud in the sky, just a breath of wind. The air was cold - could have been clearer, but a great day to be out on the hills of Shropshire

View Pole Bank in a larger map

Museum of Iron

2011-03-06T20:33:00.001Z

Coalbrookdale

The Duke in the drizzle

2011-03-05T19:09:00.001Z

71000 “Duke of Gloucester” came to Shropshire today – sadly, the weather forecast was spot on. Dull, misty, light drizzle… At least there was no wind. Seen near Allscott (opposite the sugar factory that’s no longer there…)

Willey, Linley and the Honeypot

2011-03-02T20:42:00.001Z

A walk near Broseley, on a cold sunny afternoon.

View Broseley to Willey, Linley and the Honeypot in a larger map

Moving pictures…

2011-02-27T19:38:00.000Z

I started putting up video clips in the late 1990s – very short, very small and pretty low quality – those were the days of dialup connections – and analogue video – and a video capture card... Not to mention the time it took on my old 486 to process each clip.

Broadband and YouTube, and the advent of digital camcorders, have revolutionised online video, and for the last 18 months or so I’ve been uploading video to the YouTube site. More recently, I found time to digitise all the old Video8 tapes, recorded between 1994 and 2000 (I was worried that they would be deteriorating). Having done that, I began to replace all the remaining “old” WMV clips on the “Rail Pages” and “Rail Diaries” sites – and this evening, the last old clip was replaced by its YouTube equivalent*.

The full set of videos (many of which never made it to Geoff’s Pages) can be found (in fairly random order) on the “Geoffspages Channel” on YouTube; alternatively, look for the “V” against Rail Diaries menu entries…

* I think… There could well be one or two still lurking, forgotten

Witley Court

2011-02-24T12:37:00.000Z

The weather has been dull and grey for days – ever since the Cardiff trip. Today was a much better prospect – we paid a visit to the ruinous Witley Court, in Worcestershire. We may have to go again in summer, when the fountains are in operation.
The interior of the church next door is amazing…

Cardiff Bay

2011-02-12T19:28:00.001Z

A walk from Penarth, across the barrage to the cluster of restaurants at Mermaid Quay. Lunch was the purpose; the photos were incidental. We caught the water bus for a ride back to the car.

Aberystwyth

2011-02-08T10:11:00.000Z

A day out – a very pleasant journey on the train, and a bright and breezy stroll

Shirlett

2011-01-31T22:36:00.002Z

High ground in the centre of the triangle formed by Bridgnorth, Broseley and Much Wenlock – a walk on a cold frosty afternoon

View Shirlett via Hurst Farm pools in a larger map

Ironbridge (and Coalbrookdale)

2011-01-28T16:26:00.001Z

A sunny (but cold) afternoon – some nice light for a few photos, although the light wasn’t entirely cooperative…

Ludlow – quiet streets on a dull day

2011-01-23T12:16:00.000Z

More sunny afternoons

2011-01-20T11:22:00.001Z

Tuesday: Blists Hill

Wednesday: Benthall

The Wrekin

2011-01-17T18:51:00.002Z

Blue sky and sunshine, after a very wet weekend – the path up the Wrekin ought to be as good as any when the ground is waterlogged. It was – but cloud obscured the sun and took away the blue sky…

The herd of deer on the hill’s western flank was a bonus.

View Wrekin in a larger map

Snow’s all gone

2011-01-03T17:53:00.002Z

It's still cold though - below freezing all afternoon on the south Shropshire hills. Nice light for a stroll at the southern end of the Stiperstones ridge

Frozen Severn

2010-12-26T17:09:00.001Z

Boxing Day – a walk around the Shrewsbury riverside, beside the frozen waters of the Severn. I’m not sure how thick the ice was – there was open water in places – but elsewhere the ice went right across the river – a sight I’ve not seen before.

Down by the river

2010-12-23T19:34:00.001Z

A walk in the snow, at first along the old railway track, from Ironbridge to Coalport and back.

More snow

2010-12-22T20:37:00.001Z

Not much – perhaps another inch or two. With the snow that fell a few days ago, it was deep in the fields – more than six inches. A clear sunny afternoon was forecast – I thought perhaps I’d better get into position with the camera. It didn’t happen – the sky gradually cleared as the sun dropped, so it never actually shone. Nice light though…

It’s not getting any warmer

2010-12-20T11:52:00.001Z

Friday was bright, feeling pleasant in the sunshine – good to be out. However, In the early hours of Sunday morning, the lowest temperature in the UK was recorded by the Met. Office at Shawbury, Shropshire – a minimum of –19.6°C. That’s around 15 miles away. It didn’t feel much less cold (I don’t think it was…) when we had a wander in the snow after lunch. At least there was no wind.

Friday

Sunday

Icy river

2010-12-09T17:59:00.001Z

Ice floes on the river Severn at Ironbridge – haven’t seen ice like this on the river since the early 80s

Colder still on Hope Bowdler Hill

2010-12-08T20:18:00.001Z

The car said it was -3°C, when I left it below the Gaer Stone. Unlike yesterday’s calm, there was a strong northerly wind. I don’t know what the effective temperature was with the wind chill factor, and I was well wrapped, but I can’t remember it feeling so cold anywhere for a long time…

Freezing – no fog…

2010-12-07T16:37:00.001Z

Today’s forecast was for freezing fog, lasting most of the day. There were one or two wisps around, briefly – but for most of the day the sun shone from a clear blue sky. Very cold though – the met office says it was -9°C at 9.00am – and that it rose by 1° each hour to 3.00pm. I don’t think it’s still rising though…

Freezing fog

2010-12-06T18:20:00.001Z

Fog and frost: perhaps a chance that the sun might break through on higher ground…

Near Bourton

Wenlock Edge

Shirlett

Attingham Park

2010-12-05T18:38:00.001Z

It was their “frost fair” this weekend – quite appropriate really. Took a few snaps too…

Another warm(ish)day

2010-12-03T20:59:00.001Z

The photos taken in July 2008 at the Trevithick 200 event in Severn Park, Bridgnorth, have been lurking on my hard disk for over two years. I had a few busy weeks immediately after the event, and they ended up on the back burner, so to speak. I think the gas must have gone out. Anyway, here they are – the event that marked the 200th anniversary of the building of “Catch me who can” in Bridgnorth, and the first public appearance of the (nearing completion?) working replica. Visit “Catch me who can” on Geoff’s Rail Diaries.

Warmer weather – a day at Beamish

2010-12-02T16:39:00.001Z

The forecast suggests temperatures as low as -12°C tonight… Here’s a page from one of the hottest days of the year – a visit to Beamish museum. I never quite got around to publishing this one at the time – too many other things going on…

Visit Beamish on Geoff’s Rail Diaries

Snowy Stiperstones

2010-11-28T20:27:00.001Z

It’s cold in Shropshire! A little way down the road, on our way home at 3.45pm (just before sunset), the car thermometer read -6°C.

Snow on the road

Linley Hill

The Rock

View to the Berwyns

Corndon Hill

Alpaca
They don’t seem to mind the cold…

Lane, The Bog

Where is The Rock? The Bog?

View South Stiperstones in a larger map

November mud

2010-11-25T20:43:00.002Z

A walk from Much Wenlock to the hamlet of Barrow, out via Arlescott and back via Atterley. What was that about farmers being the custodians of the countryside? The path near Arlescott had been made up again after work in the fields (well done, that man!) – unlike the path through the field half a mile south of Barrow. We carried most of that field away with us, stuck to the soles of our boots…

View Wenlock - Barrow in a larger map

Broseley Lights

2010-11-24T12:38:00.001Z

20 November 2010 – the annual switch-on event…

A foggy day

2010-11-20T11:50:00.001Z

Friday: it looked like the fog would clear. It didn’t, apart from a few brief moments…

Shirlett Lane:

Two sunny days

2010-11-20T11:33:00.001Z

Monday and Tuesday…

Coalbrookdale:

Blists Hill:

Ironbridge:

Caer Caradoc:

The Duke

2010-11-14T11:53:00.001Z

Re-opening to Cauldon Lowe - 71000 "Duke of Gloucester" lays a smokescreen near Ipstones, with the first public train.

For more photos and the full(ish) story visit “Cauldon Lowe reopens” on Geoff’s Rail Diaries

Stiperstones

2010-11-10T20:24:00.001Z

A bright but very cold day walking the Stiperstones ridge. There’s snow on the Welsh mountains…

Crowsnest Dingle

Stiperstones silhouettes

Black Mountain view

Snow on the Berwyns

Rough grazing

Red kite

I’ll take the low and winding road

Spotlight on Stiperstones village

My route:

View Stiperstones in a larger map

Pen y Gwely

2010-11-07T18:53:00.001Z

A pleasant, if somewhat muddy, walk in the Welsh border country hills between Oswestry and the Ceiriog valley.

Gyrn Moelfre

Apparently, Gyrn Moelfre is featured in the film "The Englishman who went up a Hill but came down a Mountain"

View to Foel Rhiwlas

View with larches

Spotlight

The Ceiriog valley
There’s a light dusting of snow on the Berwyns, just visible left of centre

Our route:

View Pen y Gwely in a larger map

Ironbridge and Blists Hill

2010-11-01T16:50:00.001Z

Nice autumnal light and colours in and around the Ironbridge gorge.

Foxfield Autumn Steam Gala

2010-10-26T18:06:00.003+01:00

Just published to Geoff's Rail Diaries - the illustrated account of Sunday's superb day out. Visit "Foxfield Autumn Gala".

Foxfield

2010-10-24T19:56:00.002+01:00

No. 2
Originally uploaded by geoffspages

“The Autumn Steam Gala”: Sunday’s weather looked a better prospect than Saturday’s – and so it proved, the kind of lighting that makes for a touch of drama.

More will follow in a "Rail Diaries" page...

Cardingmill Round

2010-10-20T19:50:00.001+01:00

We parked in the Cardingmill Valley, Church Stretton – and immediately left, on foot, heading via Cwmdale to the Batch Valley. Long Batch takes us to the top of the Mynd – then via the Boiling Well (almost) and back down the Townbrook Valley, cutting across the foot of the Burway to return to Cardingmill.

View images as slideshow

The Route:

View Cardingmill Circumnavigation in a larger map

The Lawley

Batch Valley – towards the bottom

Batch Valley – View to Long Batch

Looking back on Long Batch

Sunlight on the ridges

Mynd Pool

Mynd view

Caer Caradoc

View to the Wrekin

Hawthorn

Caer Caradoc (again)

Townbrook valley

Cardingmill – sunlight on The Pike

Croome

2010-10-17T21:11:00.001+01:00

A National Trust property near Worcester. The park was Capability Brown’s first landscape design, and Croome Court’s most recent occupants were the Hare Krishnas.

South Mynd

2010-10-11T18:30:00.002+01:00

Another fine, sunny day – just a bit too hazy for the views, but great weather for a walk on the southern Long Mynd. Start at Priors Holt (Malcolm Saville’s “Witchend”), follow forestry tracks to the top of the Mynd, then turn southwards to Plowden, and contour back via Church Moor.

Hen Batch

In the forest

Out of the forest

Lunch beside the pool

Handless

South Mynd sheep

Hazy day

Plowden

Mushroom with a view

Another fine specimen

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Wenlock to Wyke

2010-10-04T20:55:00.002+01:00

Out via the old railway track, back via Arlescott. The weather was far too good to stay at home…

Much Wenlock

Arlescott

The path ahead

Harrowed Ground

Parasol Mushroom

Elderberries

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Leander

2010-10-02T20:06:00.001+01:00

The “Severn Valley Limited” on its way to Blackpool from Bridgnorth – seen near Shifnal, several hours after departure, and running early – but still less than 10 miles (as the crow flies) from its starting point.

(Two) More photos at "Leander" on Geoff's Rail Diaries

Clee Hill

2010-09-30T18:58:00.002+01:00

A walk on the Brown Clee, starting from the parking space below Nordy Bank hill fort, up to Clee Burf then along the ridge to Abdon Burf. The return route was via the top stretch of the incline, then contouring around the hill back to the road near Cockshutford. The weather forecast was optimistic…

Clee Hill Sheep

The road to Clee Burf

Toadstools…

Nice spot for lunch

Dog walkers at the summit (the only other people I saw)

The top of Shropshire

Remains from quarrying days

Top of the incline

More sheep… Contouring back towards the car

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Coffee Pots at Keef's

2010-09-25T20:09:00.004+01:00

It’s the annual open day at the works of Alan Keef Ltd, near Ross-on-Wye – always an interesting event (not to mention the hot pork baps). Star attractions this year were vertical boilered “Chaloner” and “Taffy” – built in 1877 and 1994 respectively – not forgetting the widely-travelled “Peter Pan”

Visit "Coffee Pots at Keefs" on Geoff's Rail Diaries for more...

We're open!

2010-09-18T18:28:00.002+01:00

Paddy at Apedale
Originally uploaded by geoffspages

The Apedale Valley Light Railway, constructed by the Moseley Railway Trust, officially opens this weekend. For more pictures etc. visit Apedale - open for traffic on Geoff's Rail Diaries

Wrekin

2010-09-16T19:53:00.001+01:00

A walk up the Wrekin on a bright, breezy and showery afternoon