Monday 20 April 2026 - Church Stretton

After our successful visit to see Richard and Cathy in February, a follow up was planned. Meet for a coffee in Church Stretton, go for a walk, then visit aunt Jackie for a cuppa.

It didn't quite work out like that, as Jackie insisted on providing lunch. Who were we to refuse that kind offer? The 'walk' aspect of our gathering was further affected by some recent or pending knee replacements.

So it was just me and Sue, and Neil and Liz, for the walk. That followed leisurely refreshments at the Mayfair Community Wellbeing Centre. (I think Richard went to the wrong place, but never mind.)

A convenient ginnel led from near the CoOp car park to a path that headed steeply through bluebell woods towards Hazler Hill .

Sue admired this blossom as we ascended the steep slope.

Eventuallythe path leveled out, and we enjoyed passing through an open area before re-entering the woods.

Sticky Mouse-eared Chickweed

Back briefly on tarmac, and a pig was spotted in the hedge.

And piglets!

Then more woods, more bluebells, and a good view to the centre of Church Stretton.

Yellow Archangel

A final path through a field took us to a lane that led back to our cars.

Here's our 5.8km route. It seemed to suit the day perfectly.

Then a visit to Jackie, where Piers and Anna were helping with the catering. By now, Andy and Julie, and Richard and Cathy, were all there, so it was a jolly bunch of eleven who sat down to enjoy Jackie's lasagne and accompaniments, followed by a delicious pavlova provided by Anna.

A lovely occasion. We should meet up more often.

Good luck with the knees, ladies, and with your foot, Richard.

Note: who are these people? Well, Liz, Richard, Andrew and Piers are some of my cousins, and Jackie is our aunt (Piers' mother).

Thursday 12 February 2026 - A Visit to Shrewsbury

After a gap of some years, Sue and I arranged to see my cousin Richard and his wife Kathy at their house in Shrewsbury. Tea and cake was on offer to celebrate the occasion - Kathy had baked a delicious chocolate cake.

Before the afternoon with R & K, Sue and I enjoyed a 9 km stroll from the 'Love Plants' garden centre/caravan sales park at Emstrey. A giant sculpture of a dragonfly marks the entrance.

A field path led down to the River Severn, quite full after recent rain. We thought there might be a nicely surfaced walking route, but all we found was a muddy footpath.

After a couple of km we left the river bank in favour of footpaths towards the town centre. We soon passed Lord Hill's column, a 133 foot Doric column (the tallest in England). It looked splendid, apparently recently refurbished according to Richard, whose home is very close by.

Lord Hill (1772 - 1842 was a renowned British Army commander from Shropshire, famous as Wellington's trusted right-hand man during the Napoleonic Wars.

I have memories of enjoying the views from the column when I went up it as a 5 year old during a six month period when we lived in the nearby rectory with my grandparents. My grandfather was the vicar at nearby St Giles. I still remember going to my first day at school in Shrewsbury.

Sue and I continued past the abbey. Time constraints meant for a very brief visit, so we couldn't admire the stained glass windows and other features of this and other buildings.

After a while I spotted a route that avoided any roads. It was muddy.

 

As we were short of time, lunch comprised a couple of sandwiches from Greggs, before we returned to the car and made it to Richard and Kathy's nearly dead on time.

Here's our route - just 9 km, with 60 metres ascent, taking less than a couple of hours.

We'll be back. And we will arrange to see Richard and more of his family again soon.

Saturday 30 November 2024 - Bridgnorth

It was a pleasure to meet up again with my old university pal Peter and his wife Cassie. We last saw them on a sunny day in April last year. They are over here again from Calgary - on a fairly short visit mainly to visit family and friends.

We arrived in time for lunch (thanks Cassie and Peter), at the same cottage that they hired last year, then we enjoyed a 4km wander into and around Bridgnorth on a busy Saturday afternoon, with lots of Brummie accents amongst the visitors.

The small park in the upper town (the Castle Gardens) was decked with Rememberance Day poppies, and some box hedges had been neatly trimmed to represent an aircraft, a ship, and a tank.

The C12 castle's remains still tower awkwardly; their angle of lean is four times as much as the leaning tower of Pisa.

Sue and I posed next to a Saxon warrior that guards the signage for the Mercian Way, a long distance cycle route.

From the Upper Town, there are good views to the River Severn, which is fairly full at present thanks to some recent storms.

We took the Cliff Railway to the Lower Town. It's the only inland railway of this nature in the UK.

Back in the Upper Town, we did a little window shopping and passed the Town Hall, built on stilts to provide a covered market place for the town.

Back at the cottage, we enjoyed an ample tea before setting off home while Peter and Cassie headed for a nearby concert.

It was great to catch up, and thanks P&C for the lunch, tea and goodies. You are very generous.

Monday 11 April 2023 - A Visit to Bridgnorth

Easter Monday saw us meeting up with my old University pal, Peter, his wife Cassie, and his even older school mate Rod and wife Kate. Peter and Cassie are over from Calgary, and we all met up in Bridgnorth, recalling our previous meeting in Wales on 1 November 2017.

Anyway, whilst we spent most of the day chatting and enjoying a fine luncheon spread, Peter, Sue and I did, in between hefty showers, manage a 5km stroll around Bridgnorth. First we headed down to the river Severn on a good path under the Severn Valley railway viaduct and past Daniels Mill, which may have been mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086.

Soon the riverside path was gained, along which we walked into the low level part of the town.

The following pictures trace our route up to the high level and through Bridgnorth's well maintained antiquities.

Window tax!

Friary remains that used to be the site of a carpet factory

St Leonard's Church

The old grammar school

Inside the church, where lots of nice 'bric a brac' china and jigsaw puzzles were being sold

Town Hall - built on stilts to provide a covered market place for the town

Remains of the C12 castle, which leans four times a much as the tower in Pisa!

A view towards the railway from the lovely Castle Gardens

The church of St Mary Magdalene was designed by Thomas Telford and built in 1792-95

There's a good view to the river from the path below the church

We made our way down to the railway station, where the 'pre-Beeching' era is alive and well. My Iain Allan trainspotter's bible is in the loft, or I'd tell you whether I've spotted Pendennis Castle before (almost certainly 'yes' - I think I spotted all the 'Castle' class as they ran through Albrighton, where I used to go trainspotting after junior school.

After lunch, the sun came out and we were able to enjoy tea and cake outside Rod and Kate's house, where Jane, who had driven over from Denby Dale for a few days, joined the party.

L to R: Cassie, Kate, Rod, Peter Jane and Sue

Then Sue and I went home, via Great Grandma Dot (now 98) in Eccleshall. What a lovely day out.