Countryside explorations
By Rhiannonw
As the title says, verse that has come out of various ambles, explorations, enjoyments in the countryside. They were in my 'Nature' collection, but as that has grown I thought it would be useful to form a specific collection for these.
- 2543 reads
A brown Christmas …
A brown Christmas, dead buzzard in the mud, fields a-flood, welcome sight of clearing sky a breeze up high to make clouds skud away awhile; still warm and bright the friendly smile,
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- 3082 reads
A clear autumn afternoon
The fog has lifted, autumn colours glow and warm, crisp, crunchy footfall on the ground, then far away glint pale grey silhouettes – Welsh hills against the golden clouds,
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- 2950 reads
A lovely walk ’til adrift in drizzle
A beautiful walk along the cliff path, sunlight on the ocean – glowing bands … drizzle blows in …
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- 10 comments
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- 3675 reads
A relaxed ramble
Along the lane from Arthur’s Stone [collapsed remains from times long gone, some ‘cromlech’ ancient burial mound once buried underneath the ground] to Merbach hill, with blue-domed sky:
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- 2234 reads
A Short Trip to Llandegley Rocks
Council-paid sitter has come to stay for 4 hours: time for us both get out away together , a break from the care and watching we share of our elderly pair.
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- 2913 reads
A sunlit autumn walk
Kington*, nestled among the hills, where footpaths meet at the edge of Wales. We take one leading to Castle Twt, a neat ‘look-out’ mound, – but keep to the foot-
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- 9 comments
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- 3180 reads
Along the Cat's Back
(at the edge of Black Mountains, Olchon valley)
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- 13 comments
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- 4396 reads
Autumn Shades
Multi-shades and shapes of brown scattered on the green, where the wind has blown and thrown – sun sparkles dewy scene. Green and yellow, brown and...
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- 12 comments
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- 3498 reads
Beauty on a Dungheap

Bobbing flight, dips out of sight, and up – ‘peep bo!’ then duck below. Perching on the pile of muck, wagging tail perfect stance to give a chance for photo-shot.
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- 3760 reads
Beauty: vast and tiny
(at a secluded spot in Radnorshire)
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- 10 comments
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- 3529 reads
Brecon Beacons Climb
Misty layers of mountain folds, tramping higher, new views inspire, and give excuse to stop, turn round, to stare, lift eyes up from the ground, and drink it in before more slog
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- 3133 reads
Bute Park, Cardiff (IP)
[cf Iolo’s Great Welsh Parks (1) BBC 2, 6.30pm 5/8/2013] From the castle and shops past flower beds ablaze, and sports fields; roam woods (… green...
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- 5 comments
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- 1601 reads
Deep in the Forest of Dean
Evening light in the afternoon, secluded valley with autumn trees above and around, but the sheep munch on as we walk along, startled pheasants erupt...
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- 10 comments
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- 2822 reads
Elusive Woodland Birds
Soggy wood, early autumn bounty: seeds and insects, spiders’ webs, mixed tall tree tangle, whistling tweets surround up high, social gathering; necks...
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- 6 comments
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- 1720 reads
Even on the dullest day …
A wishy-washy day: brown and tired-green, and grey, views are clammy, torporous, ruminations misty, vacuous … but … cheer in day austere …
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- 4508 reads
Footpath through a Herd!
Footpath through the field, a crowd concealed of cows young and frisky (any nursing young, or short-fused bulls?) – is it too risky? we can’t turn back: walk quietly forward,
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- 9 comments
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- 2907 reads
Hafren* Forest and the Source of the Severn
Babbling brook and tumbling river, damp decaying needles cover soggy, spongey forest floor, mossy clumps, tree trunks, tree stumps, sodden banks of greenery, quiet, placid scenery:
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- 8 comments
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- 2866 reads
Holywell Dingle in a Wet Winter
We went in the back end, didn’t know we’d have to wend through a field like a paddy, squishy mud to squelch and puddles to paddle, then, firmer ground where sunshine catches
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- 5 comments
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- 2084 reads
Hopesay Common, Shropshire, 27/11/13
Walking along, high over the views of hills, dips, valleys – grey-day hues, space all around, and breezy air; most of the trees are skeletal bare,...
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- 18 comments
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- 4852 reads
Hurricane Katia’s tail-edge
Llŷn peninsula, north-west Wales, September12&13 Lashing, dying hurricane tail, bashing, pushing, gusty gale: whirling map-bag – whipping, slapping; wrenching hat to make it rocket,
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- 7 comments
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- 2846 reads
Kyre pools
Clear blue sky, bright winter sun, fresh, crisp air, a touch of breeze, rippled patches, still reflections – tracery of the edging trees; none but us, and singers hidden
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- 11 comments
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- 2947 reads
Monnow Valley – early spring
Monnow valley – gentle, calm, whispering river, – soothing balm, hills enclosing, set apart, bird song, – shadows flit and dart; by the water, wagtail grey
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- 12 comments
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- 4588 reads
Nant Gwrtheyrn, and the Goldcrest
prompted by the IP, but it's not on the list!
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- 8 comments
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- 2882 reads
November Severn, and its Queen Swan
5/11/11 a bit above Bewdley Heavy, steady, Severn flow, reflecting banks of autumn trees, steam train chuffs and chugs, and whistles by, not disturbing ducks, and geese, and swans;
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- 10 comments
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- 3144 reads
on the headland, September 4
Spongy turf, bright, glowing gorse and heather – carpeting quilt of gold and red [prickly feather bed], with a sprinkling of harebells quivering,...
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- 11 comments
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- 2867 reads
Peaceful Ramble at Skenfrith
Hustling, bustling narrow stream tumbles into gentle Monnow gliding, flowing, slowly going on its steady way; round the bend a stony bed, – water rippling, sunlight stippling;
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- 2265 reads
Tandeming down the Herefordshire lanes …
… a relaxing back seat!
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- 8 comments
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- 3165 reads
To‘bottom’ing, at Caer* Caradoc (23:3:13)
[*Ki.r] Plunging, crunching through the deep, crisp snow – what fun, but, oh, so slow! then up the hill we go (the sky a-mist with floating drift), but when we reach the steeper bit
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- 1670 reads
View from Stac Polly, (Stac Pollaidh) (IP)

(place of unexpected, strange, particular pleasure)
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- 7 comments
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- 2549 reads
View from Tre'r Ceiri*

Climbing up Tre’r Ceiri, high to where the old stone circles lie – suddenly the far off sight of overlapping mountain folds – Snowdonia greyscale,...
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- 10 comments
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- 2430 reads
Visit to Clun
Clustered village in a vale of sombre hills, high mound aside with towering ruin: gaping, ragged window voids that frame stunning views of drop to valley floor
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- 11 comments
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- 4021 reads
visiting Romers Wood, Bockleton
Breeze-blown ripples on a barley field, feathers waving, weaving: golden yield; whispy clouds across the vast domed sky, dips and dells and hilly swells nearby …
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- 7 comments
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- 2114 reads
Walking on the Dyke, above Knighton
Propitious weather window, favourable circumstances allow a few hours for a walk: stiff climb to the ridge, valley far below, narrow meandering ribbon-river, two-coach tiny train,
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- 7 comments
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- 2100 reads
Wigmore Castle
Herefordshire The grandchildren like walking up Wigmore castle hill: up and up, past ruined bits of tower, – steps, then level, higher, higher;
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- 6 comments
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- 1720 reads
Aber Mawddach*
( anglicized to ‘Barmouth’) The streams are flowing, the river growing, from mountain tumble to lowland amble that slowly wanders and meanders, until an estuary with tidal range,
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- 4 comments
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- 1567 reads
Holiday Destinations
Overheard in a Post Office queue – “We’re off to Majorca, what about you?” … I’m hugging inside a thrill of my own – excitement which these may never have known
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- 5 comments
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- 1589 reads
Late Spring
Warmth is creeping, touching sheltered nooks where plants are sleeping – an opened primrose promises delicate bouquet to come, a celandine spreads narrow petals
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- 11 comments
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- 3259 reads
Soggy November Day
Saturated hedges drip, visibility murky, thick, misty haze obscures the views, greying out familiar hues; hands in pockets, slither, slip, oozy puddles, wellies stick,
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- 4 comments
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- 1821 reads
Rural and Urban Night
Darkest black of winter night, far away from man-made-light scattered dusty stain like milk, glittering jewels on black silk like a giant dot-to-dot – join them up somehow to plot
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- 6 comments
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- 2090 reads
January trees
Stark, dark sihouettes, clean lines unencumbered
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- 4 comments
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- 1545 reads
New Year’s Day Tandem
Blue sky, crisp air, glinting floods, reflections of reversed bare-boned trees; refreshing breeze; dashing down dips (he’s in front, hope he’s taking care) struggling up hills
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- 13 comments
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- 4047 reads
Interlude
A dome of heavy cloud, oppressive shroud … here and there a thinning glow – and seachlights fan out, show a dappling on the valley floor … torn rags...
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- 12 comments
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- 3039 reads
Aldon Gutter and Stonehouse Pools 22/1/14
Disgorging clouds retreat: lull, brief leisure to explore out into the myriad hidden nooks of the beckoning, great outdoor: A small, secluded, valley...
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- 8 comments
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- 2421 reads
4 day holiday 14-17/2/14

[Bitter storm …sunshine … full waterfalls … coal tits]
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- 11 comments
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- 3215 reads
On Hergest Ridge 18/3/14
On Hergest Ridge, vast wide blue sky … relief-map, below, unfurled
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- 9 comments
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- 2805 reads
Welcome Sunshine (IP)
Sun is bright, and hot and cheery after wintry weather dreary; triggers vitamin for bones, shading skin to bronzing tones. Extreme exposure isn’t...
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- 8 comments
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- 2501 reads
Where the 2 rivers meet
Lingering by the lapping Lugg longing to glimpse another flash of Kingfisher blue in the leaning willows fringing and shading the earthy banks, sooty...
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- 7 comments
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- 2044 reads
Dingle through the seasons
We went in the winter, just after the floods*, we went in the spring when the opening buds of the trees, arching towers stood high over surges of sparkling flowers …
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- 9 comments
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- 3068 reads
East Dinmore and Bodenham Lakes

Burning sun, sheltered, silent wood, quiet stroll (one patch of squelchy mud), then hot open ride awhile, and back into dappling sunlight, butterfly...
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- 7 comments
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- 2137 reads
Mid-Wales – (in August)

Humpy hills, all ups and downs, with glowing purple heather crowns, paths of turf between fern patches, bilberries, lichen, moss and rushes. Skylarks...
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- 12 comments
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- 3845 reads
Down by the riverside

(river Wye, near How Caple, 10/9/14) Sunshine dapples river ripples, leaves drift down and float along the current’s steady onward flow. Bankside...
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- 8 comments
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- 2464 reads
Ysgyryd Fawr/Skirrid …

… sliced off the Black Mountains, solitary sentinel, rocky berg anchored at the edge of the rolling, green waves of the cultivated plain. Tough pull...
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- 4878 reads
Water Break-its-neck.

… viewing through the screen of trunks sunshine bands across the slope dark long shadows afternoon autumnal light …
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- 14 comments
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- 3725 reads
Snowfall Ramble

Melting in the valley down below but the higher up the hill we go boots squeaking through ... second-hand tablet seems to say …
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- 8 comments
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- 2560 reads
Aston on Clun Ramble

28/01/15 Gusts of whirling hail-balls white, surround, then drift away, sun peeps through and glitters bright upon the little brook, runs through the...
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- 8 comments
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- 2405 reads
Scramble Ramble

… slipping, gripping grassy clumps …
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- 8 comments
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- 2266 reads
Millhalf Brook

… peaceful, no-one around but us.
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- 6 comments
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- 1827 reads
Wye Trail Sheep

Wye trail through field of quiet scattered munching sheep “Meh! Meh! Me-e-eh! Me-e-eh! Who goes there? Meh! Meh! Me-e-eh! Me-e-eh! Meh! Meh! fellow-...
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- 6 comments
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- 1937 reads
Little Almeley Amble 18/0315

Primroses and sunshine, a blaze of celandine … finding the sounds of birds, and tumbling water so soothing …
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- 12 comments
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- 2904 reads
Catching the eye

Patchwork views of greeny hues – blot on the landscape, gaudy rape; verge splash – stitchwort stars bright, tippex-white, forget-me-not haze …
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- 11 comments
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- 3967 reads
Dress for the weather!

Spitting rain, sunshine – glittering lush growth bejewelled; whirling wind, billowing crop, large field, swaying, waving trees; skylarks, darting...
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- 7 comments
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- 2928 reads
Up to the Wind

Burrow Fort, Shropshire 17/6/15: Hills around us, patchwork scene – farm fields, woods in hues of green; meadow rippling in the breeze, and sound...
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- 12 comments
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- 4006 reads
Disgwylfa* Hill

* Diss-gooil-va [the word means ‘waiting expectantly for something/someone’, but we weren’t, just enjoyed what was there for us.] …
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- 13 comments
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- 3945 reads
Gwaun* valley (Pembrokeshire) in May

Gwaun* valley quiet, lush, green, munching sheep by a glittering stream, bird song and baas (but very few cars), narrowing down til the grass has...
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- 10 comments
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- 3495 reads
Unexpected Harvest (2/9/15)

Picking early blackberries, rain drifts in, tumble into car, explore a maze of lanes. See a new path … the rain has stopped a-while. … ‘Shouldnt we...
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- 10 comments
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- 2929 reads
Lost! (Poetry Monthly??)

or how to add 3 miles to the end of a short walk …
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- 11 comments
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- 3284 reads
On the Mynd

Bright, crisp, gingery bracken, bilberry clumps, and heather, spread of fields below, folds of hills beyond, fringe; net of sunlight beams fan out...
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- 13 comments
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- 4866 reads
November Arboretum

… murky and dark, a splash of blood-red, a pattern of peach … … yellow stars outspread on a background screen of conifers’ drab
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- 3029 reads
… The Bright Day Interlude following

[near Whitney Toll Bridge, near Hay-on-Wye] … Good to get out when the weather is dry, with breeze that will freshen …
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- 3500 reads
Mud, mud, mud …

Away from the flood there’s abundance of mud to slip and slide, slither and glide, enrobing our boots in dark chocolate goo, and smattering … a spatter pattern scattering, of syrupy brown mixture –
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- 4 comments
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- 2246 reads
Mid-winter wander

[Gaunt brooms scratching blue sky … embedded spear heads, spiky patches … wild snowdrops are coming!]
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- 8 comments
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- 2774 reads
Up Brown Clee Hill

… highest hill in Shropshire (20/1/16) At home, hoar-frosted trees against the milky, misty fog, drive north, the scene clears, blue sky; venture...
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- 16 comments
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- 5933 reads
Surprise Crop

and up to the ridge … Two big fields hold surprise at the top …
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- 10 comments
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- 3698 reads
Pembrokeshire in April

Bank-lined lanes – slopes spattered with soft-pale primroses, and celandine sparkles, clumps of scurvy grass, tippex-white; carpets of golden...
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- 18 comments
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- 6864 reads
Visiting Bury Ditches

Thick netting of cow parsley borderng the narrow lane, waving in the wind, frothy hawthorn trees scattered on the hillsides, fields of buttercups,...
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- 10 comments
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- 4348 reads
The Hare in the Middle

A bridge reflected … tiddlers and dragonflies, a swish of large fish, walk through buttercups – glittering gold … 'Haring' out of the rape …
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- 12 comments
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- 5215 reads
The Begwns*

… dramatic northern scarps of the Black mountains and Brecon Beacons …
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- 10 comments
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- 3018 reads
Habberley Valley

Soft, lumpy sandstone outcrops …
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- 4 comments
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- 1477 reads
Above Knucklas
Strolling up into the green and humpy hills – views close, and further off; cotton-wool clouds above like a perforated ceiling a little lower than...
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- 6 comments
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- 1787 reads
Shady Skenfrith

Shady Skenfrith, Monnow gliding, sunshine glinting, rippling burble, from white water tumble edging small pool where family laughter splashing to...
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- 6 comments
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- 2485 reads
Visiting Aberedw Rocks

Leaving home in the milky mist, blue sky emerges as we travel west, park in a village close to the Wye, little river Edw bubbling by to meet the big …
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- 9 comments
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- 2857 reads
Late Blackberrying

Late for blackberries, missed it this year - let’s go up Wort Hill – ‘look-out point’ over Shropshire dips and ups, and on to Edgton – enjoy the air...
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- 6 comments
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- 2105 reads
Bright November Late Afternoon
[The photo is of another day, and time of day, and weather, but the same place]
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- 8 comments
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- 2675 reads
Preparations!

Base vest layer, shirt, fleece, sturdy anorak with large hood, waterproof (and windproof) trousers, walking socks and boots, scarf, woolly hat,...
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- 2 comments
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- 946 reads
Up Mortimer’s Forest 12/2/17

Early morning – a sprinkling of snow shining in the sun, children out chattering in the garden before school; soon melting, drive north, icing...
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- 4 comments
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- 2423 reads
Still January around White Castle, Monmouthshire

A misty walk to White Castle … but the hills not totally obscured … Remember the banks of violets seen before; now all around suspended growth … a beautiful ivy spread …
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- 6 comments
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- 2829 reads
River Clun Wander - Mud and Wild Snowdrops

Rushing, bulging river flow, sodden spongy tussocks, mucky mulch, slithery, squelchy mud; drizzle curtain passes over, buffeting, refreshing wind, sodden sheep …
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- 4 comments
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- 1350 reads
February Wander

Furry pussy willows peep, buds begin to crack, dog’s mercury pokes through the dead leaf mulch, and celandine leaves make pools of green beside the track.
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- 6 comments
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- 1811 reads
Wild Daffodil Wood

Delicate wild daffodils scattered on the woodland floor … With the onward march of March more buds grow and swell, unpeel, sunbeams falling through bare trees a lemon host reveal.
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- 11 comments
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- 4315 reads
On Little Mountain, near Bredwardine

Little Mountain where once we got lost* (wrong path curves far, as we found to our cost) amongst dead bracken with a blue dome sky glimpsing far down...
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- 2 comments
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- 985 reads
Bringsty Common

Three-dimensional dips and ups, carpets of dead bracken, wide-open violets peep out here and there, and the stark, bare Malvern Hills rise high: crown the horizon …
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- 1023 reads
Walk along the Wye

Among the humpy bare hills of mid-Wales, we walk by the Wye out of Builth* …
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- 9 comments
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- 2551 reads
On the Stiperstones*

Craggy rocks along the crest, short pull up to walk the ridge, or clamber on each ‘dragon’ pile. In sweeps curtain of fine rain – mysterious now the...
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- 4 comments
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- 1311 reads
Mynydd Troed

(Munith - [hard ’th’] Troeed,) Black Mountains
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- 17 comments
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- 8271 reads
Path blocked

Along the low ridge, blue skies and white clouds – Clee hills to the left, Wenlock Edge to the right; then on to the lane … cows, calves and a bull moved to greet us, squashed up close – inquisitive? should we squeeze through …
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- 8 comments
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- 2284 reads
Nordy Bank Fort 5/10/17

“Blow-your-hat-off” wind blustery, bustling, dying bracken rustling, boots crunching, sheep staring, silently munching – up to the fort, flat peak ‘...
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- 19 comments
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- 5737 reads
Merbach Hill, again

End of flat grass ridgetop, vast sky, Dore valley meets meandering Wye far below. Hay Bluff sharp sliced off finger of Black Mountain range...
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- 2 comments
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- 860 reads
Above New Radnor

… Radnor Forest humps and dingles – empty land, ideal for fighting training … for the rambler views afar – Pen-y-fan, Beacons’ double peak, clear and stark on the horizon … and south-east – spread below, like a raised relief map …
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- 9 comments
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- 2307 reads
Path of Bovine Mud

Lovely wide, quiet, green cultivated valley behind Wenlock Edge: bridle path runs alongside the cowshed – heads out, eating from the trough; soft mud...
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- 4 comments
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- 1189 reads
Near Kilpeck, February

Leaves slip through the mud – unnoticed – anonymous to untrained eye, ‘til the flowers … first the pioneering buds appear …
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- 7 comments
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- 2328 reads
Visiting the Dingle after early March snow

… we sink to our ankles, splash, wade, frequent suck-glugs as haul-pluck at mud-clasped boot …
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- 9 comments
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- 2408 reads
Effort & View

Black Mountain Ridge sweeps down to quiet Olchon valley – dead end, springing to life! ‘Our path’s up there.’ “Oh! maybe we’ll have lunch half way up...
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- 11 comments
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- 3047 reads
The Malverns

Bare, windswept hills… iconic skyline of the Malvern hills, peaked ridge, seen from afar – natural ‘dyke’ between two cultures …
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- 12 comments
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- 3070 reads
Ramble by the Severn

Pink wild roses, and fields of ox-eyes, bees drinking from purple comfrey, and poppies in the corn …Picnic ‘gallery seat’ on the river bank… entertainment laid on – swallows … a flash of peacock blue? …
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- 8 comments
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- 1863 reads
Discovering Craig y Cilau*

… feel a beautiful cool updraft as from a deep-freeze. …
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- 7 comments
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- 1756 reads
Ross on Wye and Chase Wood 15/11/18

Full Wye flows around the town – town sitting on its cliff; with wooded slopes behind. Walk along the Wye out west of town, then turn towards the hill …
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- 9 comments
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- 3742 reads
Losing the planned path

We hadn’t a large-scale map. The path looked “straight-ahead” from A to B, but on the ground, with missing arrow-signs, and new …
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- 4 comments
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- 1188 reads
“Stonking Views”, it said

… a sign to the castle (divert up for “stonking views” …
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- 10 comments
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- 2574 reads
Circle from Craswall 11/1/19

Soggy day and squelchy ground, but rain has gone, far views have cleared, air is fresh, we circle round through ups and downs east of the Bluff*...
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- 25 comments
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- 7565 reads
Above Clun

(7/2/19) A sharp shower as we climb out of the village, then steeply up the fields into the wind and sun, high above Clun, with the green waves of...
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- 13 comments
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- 3091 reads
Walking Part of the Herefordshire Trail

Mellow Herefordshire trail, mist lifting … warm sunshine, crisp air, lunch at Bache Camp with ground dropping …
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- 9 comments
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- 2353 reads
On Pippin’s Hill

… a sense of depth and space …
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- 9 comments
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- 2701 reads
Wild daffodils of field and meadow*

* south of Dymock, north Gloucestershire, 21/3/19
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- 23 comments
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- 10211 reads
Way?-markers

When walk instructions are unclear, and arrow-signs the worse for wear – why does the colour disappear? – they might, if shaped to point the way...
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- 7 comments
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- 1629 reads
The Puzzles’ Enigma

Walking along Hergest ridge, comfortable, spongy turf, burbling melodies pour down from skylarks unseen, high in the blue; enjoying the freedom of a...
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- 6 comments
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- 2456 reads
Symphony of green

Driving westwards, symphony of green – hillsides’ soothing concert chorus of the spring: fresh foliage unfurling in fragile hues, bronzings (maybe...
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- 4 comments
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- 1049 reads
Up Carningli

(north Pembrokeshire 7/5/19) Beautiful lush green peaceful Gwaun Valley: walk up through woods of birdsong on to the heathland – bilberry, gorse, heather beginning to green … scramble up the path through the highest pile of rocks to the ‘crow’s nest’ with 360° views … :careful!
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- 1023 reads
Scenic Variations of the Wye

Curved meander of the Wye, cow parsley waving fringe, field of meadow buttercups, Canada geese here, swans there – then a bevy, one upending, then...
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- 5 comments
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- 1400 reads
Little-used public footpath

a vast sea of wheat … try not to wobble on unsteady feet!
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- 6 comments
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- 1228 reads
Day on the Heart of Wales Railway

Chugging along through the heart of Wales, one or two coaches hugging the rails … lush fertile fields, and soft hillsides surround, bridging bright rivers … After four hours journey, we’ll savour the sight of Singleton Park, and the sea and the sand, and return up the line by the evening light.
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- 927 reads
Peace Around the Golden Valley

12/7/19 The ‘Golden Valley’: dappled greens and fair ripening crops [‘golden’ – a mis-translation of the river Dore – not from the Norman ‘d’or’, but...
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- 2 comments
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- 820 reads
The Long Mynd, Shropshire (12/10/19)

On top of the Mynd with its autumn brown, soft waves and humps and troughs reaching down; glider takes off flung high to drift round for bird’s-eye...
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- 9 comments
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- 3029 reads
Bodenham lake, Herefordshire

Disused gravel pit became wild life haven, deep waters. Working now to make reedy shallows on the lake edge and islands: more habitats, more...
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- 2 comments
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- 565 reads
Travelling down the Wye Valley 28/10/19

and high above Chepstow, the ‘Eagle’s nest’ looks out … heavy, heavy rainfall in Wales now nearing the estuary to join the ocean. …
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- 13 comments
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- 3053 reads
The End of a Brighter November Day

Long shadows, low glinting golden winter evening sunshine …
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- 15 comments
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- 4071 reads
Water-Break-its-Neck, Radnor Forest

Moist and mossy humid glade, crystal stream from waterfall shooting over cleft’s cliff end – heavy rains the tumult swells.
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- 8 comments
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- 2012 reads
Grey-Day rambling

… around part of Wenlock Edge Squelchy mud – don’t slither, slide, slippery stile – its steps not wide enough for muddy boots to stand securely …...
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- 18 comments
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- 6396 reads
Up from Titley (2/3/20)

Blue sky and sunshine (though …) … boot-sucking mud-goo paths …snagging, tripping bramble-snakes … glorious far views
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- 2 comments
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- 560 reads
March 10, Herefordshire.

… soggy … boggy … soft primroses …
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- 2 comments
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- 687 reads
A revisit to Aberedw

Last time it was autumn, now in March, but a beautiful day, a beautiful drive over westwards to meander amongst the humpy, bumpy mid-Wales hills into...
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- 7 comments
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- 1608 reads
Evening Exercise

Short walk, bit of exercise before it gets dark; boots on, down our short lane, passing the magnolia (just beginning to drop its petals) over the...
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- 4 comments
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- 1037 reads
Spring in Full Swing!

Farm track verges wave in the breeze, crowded abundance shining overflowing variety: campion red and campion white, buttercup and big yellow daisies...
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- 2 comments
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- 584 reads
Dream with the breeze

Evening sunlight, escape and rise … – breeze waves the barley …
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- 8 comments
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- 2191 reads
The benefit of a short walk

A short walk at last from village out to weir …
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- 7 comments
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- 1080 reads
Near Mortimer’s Cross, Herefordshire 12/12/20

Big sky, evening light, full Lugg churning on, meandering …
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- 9 comments
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- 1767 reads
Good Friday Stroll, 02/04

Sparkling celandines and deep-hued violets shining in the sunshine amidst the new rich green ground cover. Hawthorn leaves squirting out of buds,...
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- 12 comments
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- 3118 reads
Finding the Castle in the village of Richard's Castle.

Waves of ox-eye daisies shaking in the breeze … up the old steps to the top of the ruined keep
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- 15 comments
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- 2875 reads
A sleepy mid-July mid-afternoon

Azure sky green leaves lie against the blue, and puffs of white float by. All is quiet except a wood-pigeon’s constant thrusting note. A car sweeps...
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- 17 comments
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- 2680 reads
Westope Wood Hill

(30/7/21) Steep up the hill ’til reach the woody crown, and see so far; stop and stare, let your eyes take their fill; stroll round the wood to the...
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- 9 comments
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- 1208 reads
Separating West from East

Bare ridge, stark, striking iconic horizon silhouette – not high …
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- 15 comments
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- 2375 reads
Out of the Marches*

Where shall we go to explore and escape? North to the Shropshire hills (Long Mynd, Caer Caradoc, Stiperstones …)? East to Bringsty Common, the...
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- 6 comments
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- 938 reads
Turn of the year ’scape

Scrawny trees stark on pale clear sky tangled twigs and mistletoe orbs; jaded damp sodden turf, wintery stillnes ’til sudden stormy shake of blasting...
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- 19 comments
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- 2672 reads
Near Upper Kinsham

(28/12/21) Out into the soggy countryside such a thrill after so long confinement when somewhat ill. Feeling the freshness of air and breeze, hearing...
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- 13 comments
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- 3922 reads
near Orcop

4/1/22 Circling the hill, half way up, soft mud track high above the Herefordshire plain lumpy hills criss-cross it here and there and far north the...
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- 16 comments
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- 2744 reads
Roam with me to the footbridge by the ford

A short walk from the ruined castle half-way up the hill (– the rain had stopped!) up the lane to Hanway common on the Aymestry ridge ; (cows lean...
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- 17 comments
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- 3690 reads
Wonderful Ludlow View

Look over the river Teme with its weirs, circling below; at the castle rooted firmly above the water, on the other side with the nowadays town...
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- 17 comments
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- 3919 reads
Three-dimensional landscape around Bache Camp

(19/02/22) Bright late afternoon sunshine, long shadows, ups and downs of hills all around and the grassy mounds of the hill-fort to clamber up and...
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- 6 comments
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- 814 reads
More Snowdrops ! (hidden away)

Is that a drift of snow peeping over the top of the bank? …
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- 10 comments
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- 1340 reads
February Shropshire Woods

In the copse’s sere tangled undergrowth, mulch and crumbling ginger bracken below bare brown branches splashes of bright white snowdrops – burst –...
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- 11 comments
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- 1354 reads
Sheep, flowers and sunlight

Park the car, hungry excited sheep and lambs run down to the gate …the conical steep wooded hill … what is that odd stick-stalk at the side of the way? Soon a troupe of them –
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- 15 comments
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- 2271 reads
Climbing up from Minton

15/4/22 Rolling Shropshire hills ‘little Switzerland’: humps and valleys with Caer Caradoc standing sentinel on the east; Stiff climb up, but...
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- 8 comments
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- 1422 reads
Evening peace

Barley swaying in the breeze, stricken sentinel stands stark, no scarecrow but a symbol bold of strength and beauty, permanence – impermanence...
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- 11 comments
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- 1327 reads
Mid-Wales Haiku?

Soft green lumps of hills …
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- 13 comments
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- 1693 reads
Going on a Way-hunt!

“ Can’t go under it, can’t go through it, we’ll have to go over it … or variations!”*
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- 9 comments
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- 1239 reads
Near Titley

Path mown through the bracken, up the slope, over the humpy field – sky so large – …
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- 21 comments
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- 2645 reads
Above Old Downton Lodge

– nice to so quickly get on top of the world! …
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- 17 comments
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- 1897 reads
Golden Valley* in October

“ Golden Valley*”: wide, bright green fields, but misty mysterious, atmospheric this day. Far hills, sentinels, peer over from beyond. Up on the...
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- 11 comments
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- 1067 reads
by Craven Arms

(18/11/22) Bright November afternoon: on the Onny, late low sunshine glints, river flowing full (border rain) tumbling sound, trees still holding...
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- 20 comments
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- 2008 reads
Afterglow

Twigs stretching high to scratch the sky, sun’s remaining red hue across the deepening evening blue …
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- 17 comments
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- 1663 reads
Wind and squelch and far views

4/1/23 Blasting wind on the Shropshire hills squelching down beside the narrow wooded Lydehole Dingle looking northwards over Cove Dale to Wenlock...
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- 11 comments
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- 1061 reads
Silver Path on the Green, Green Grass

… sunlight catching fine wispy cobweb carpet, glistening, shaking, shimmering in the breeze.
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- 19 comments
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- 1858 reads
Coxall Knoll

Feeling well enough to go out. Mist has cleared, sunshine back and fore. Not too late, afternoons longer now. Let’s go out – where? Quick look at the...
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- 13 comments
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- 1141 reads
Midsummer Hill, southern end of the Malverns

Up the lane towards Midsummer hill, soon such views westwards – … out on the fort top – on top of the world …
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- 15 comments
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- 2934 reads
A few early wild daffodils in the woods

Trees above seem dead and dun; fragile …
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- 9 comments
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- 1251 reads
Above Clunton

One pleasure of woodland in late autumn, winter, and early spring is the views visible through the skeletal trees, especially in the hills of the...
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- 9 comments
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- 828 reads
Up Disgwylfa Hill again

Steep climb up, gorse bushes and dead bracken – most gorse bushes dusty and flower-less but a few full of flowers. Sky larks (singing their hearts out); below us …
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- 9 comments
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- 905 reads
Above Upper Hill

(20/4/23) Just a little time to go out, and a beautiful day before the rain returns tomorrow. Quick look at map, and find a suggestion – up the hill...
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- 16 comments
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- 1617 reads
The Green 'Sea'

Green seas, billowy hills, froth of flowers here and …
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- 13 comments
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- 1140 reads
Around Longtown, upper Monnow Valley

27/5/23 Black mountain ridge sweeps up above us on the west of the beautiful Monnow valley: majestic, gentle. Walk a little way up and turn along for...
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- 8 comments
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- 831 reads
Boisterous Youth

Large field, herd of frisky bullocks (or heifers?) far off the other side; inquisitively they start moving together to see who we are; a noise behind...
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- 11 comments
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- 1304 reads
A riddle?

A bench with a view … but what does it say?
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- 13 comments
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- 1282 reads
Answer to the ‘Riddle’
ORE STABIT FORTIS ARARE PLACET ORE STAT = O rest a bit for tis a rare place to rest at [ spaces removed and repositioned] [ A riddle? | ABCtales ]
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- 4 comments
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- 702 reads
Up to the Hoar Frost

The sun is shining, hardly a cloud in the big blue sky. Drive up the steep hill from Church Stretton, (a bit icy, careful – precipice to the right … white ‘flowers’ on the dead ferns …
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- 19 comments
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- 2709 reads
Tumbling river and tangled footpath

Near Gladestry (11/12/23) The sun was shining, we scrambled down the squelchy leaf-mould, mulch-carpet sloping floor of the riverside wood. (There...
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- 12 comments
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- 1325 reads
Above Weobley

(26/01/24) Late afternoon low January sunshine bright glinting on the wet grass and squelchy mud, dazzling in the westward walk – so blundering in...
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- 19 comments
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- 1553 reads
Up on the Mortimer Trail

After so much rain our lanes are full of potholes hidden under puddles. We had to drive carefully cross-county to a point where we wanted to climb up...
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- 14 comments
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- 1589 reads
Titterstone Clee (533m)16/02/24

Scrambling up the old overgrown quarry cliff to see more of the far (though hazy ) 360º views wandering around in the blasting refreshing gale. Brown...
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- 10 comments
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- 1049 reads
Clehonger to Ruckhall Circular

24/2/24 I do like 3-dimensional walks, with ups and downs (though the ups not too long, but bringing new views throughout the little walk). We hadn’t...
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- 10 comments
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- 1005 reads
Above Pencombe, a cold day

23/3/24 Ramble around Hegdon Hill in the cold, views over gentle country east to the Malverns, west to the far Black Mountains, sunlight rays...
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- 9 comments
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- 927 reads
Above Peterchurch, east of the Black Mountains

30/3/24 Clear lovely views of the Black mountains as we travelled west to Peterchurch [in the Golden Valley – the river Dore, thought of as D'or, 'of...
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- 11 comments
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- 1237 reads
On top of the world again!

(Hergest Ridge, west of Kington, Offa’s Dyke Path, 23/5/24) Cold and overcast, but clear – blustery, blasting … northward humps and dips of mid-Wales – a bit of light catches the new bright-greening fern fronds emerging,…
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- 13 comments
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- 1068 reads
More Offa’s Dyke views and Nosey young cattle @ Knighton

29/5/24 South from Knighton Offa’s Dyke path (not Kington this time, further north) Steep uphill through shady green woods, mossy tree bases. Out to...
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- 8 comments
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- 808 reads
Bannau Brycheiniog**

(1/7/24) Stark and striking Pen-y-fan’s double peak* towers up on the Beacons wall-backdrop behind the Visitors’ Centre. We walk along the paths mown...
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- 13 comments
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- 909 reads
Above CravenArms 29/9/24

Bright September Saturday Lunch at the Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre, Craven Arms: (Veggie lasagne and lemon and oat slice!) Then walk out over...
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- 10 comments
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- 954 reads
The Better Bargain!

Full river – soothing progress steady slow gentle ripples in the flow clear waters: still and quiet all around — not like the ‘Saturday Black Friday...
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- 13 comments
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- 596 reads
Above Bishop’s Castle

(Shropshire 15/0125) A lovely day at last and opportunity to get out somewhere. Chose to do a short walk from Bishop’s Castle as felt nice and remote...
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- 8 comments
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- 199 reads
Bringsty Common, again

… and another spring first! 31/1/25 Not such a bright day as had been forecast but fresh air and a three-dimensional walk with views – Malvern Hills...
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- 6 comments
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- 165 reads
Above the Teme and Ludlow

18/02/25 Park by the teeming river Teme that semi-circles Ludlow below the castle ruins. Walk up the steep path and steps through the woods opposite...
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- 5 comments
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- 181 reads