Severn Valley Railway

Instead of walking, I took a trip on the Severn Valley Railway - a friend's birthday, and an opportunity to investigate future routes!
It's a real trip back in time.

I should have taken lashings of ginger beer!

It's a fabulous experience. 

  
Even the Tourist Information was in an old carriage.

Railway sidings and signal box.

At Highley there's a small museum with engines in.

This is the view from the cafe. (Mental note: restart diet tomorrow).

Approaching Bridgnorth (table lamp from the restaurant car in the corner of the shot).

Closer to Bridgnorth.

The Bypass.

Returning to Kidderminster.

Our return train.

The station shops were traditional. 

Evocative luggage trolleys.

Well worth a visit.

Now I've been, I can plan some walking, getting on and off at various stations. Sorted: a plan for the future.

Kingsford walk - Drakelow and Kingsford Lane

The North Worcestershire Path continues past the somewhat mysterious Drakelow Tunnels, a three mile underground tunnel network built originally as a factory during World War II. Later, it became a nuclear shelter

...and later still, a source of local speculation, gossip and rumour. The sign says keep out, but the doors are wide open.

Possibly a ventilation shaft.

This "old" house has only just been built, but in a traditional style. 

I crossed Kingsford Lane, and turned into Lower Kingsford Lane, which runs roughly parallel with it. 

The hedgerows were full of flowers - the first flowering foxgloves I've seen locally this summer.

Speedwell, I think

This might be purslane - let me know if you know better (I won't be offended!)

There's a beautifully neat caravan park...

...with lovely gardens. (I always love little bridges) 

Many of the houses are enormous, with extensive grounds

Crossing back into Kingsford Park, I climbed back up to the top of the Edge, with a view towards the Sheepwalks

The three way signpost pointing back to the car park

I "had" to stop at the Farm Shop/Cafe for some of the cherry and almond cake.  (Runkeeper said I had burned 788  calories doing this rather hilly walk.)

Click here to see the first half of this walk
Today's walk: From the Blakeshall car park, follow the N Worcs Path signs to Kingsford Lane. Cross it, and shortly, leave the N Worcs Path , by turning right along Lower Kingsford Lane. Follow this to Castle Hill Lane/Kingsford Lane junction, and then take the path directly opposite. Keep on this path, and don't deviate, and you will come to the N Worcs Path once, more: follow this back to your car. About 5 miles NB the route is harder than it sounds, because it's very difficult to tell where you are on the map. (Trees everywhere!) Luckily, the signposting is good.

Kinver Edge and Kingsford Forest Park

I post lots of pictures from Kinver Edge, showing the extensive views: this walk shows a different, more wooded side, mainly in the adjacent Kingsford Forest Park. Starting at the Blakeshall car park...

...I followed the North Worcestershire Path in the direction of Bewdley

This is a walk of tall trees

...and lush vegetation. Here's a foxglove almost ready to flower 

Native trees all mixed in together

Soon, I reached the junction with the Staffordshire Way. From here, the section of the N Worcs Path used to be called the Worcestershire Way, but that now starts at Bewdley. Confusing!

Along the wooded top of the Edge, there are not many views, because the trees are in leaf. I call this the Poppy Bench View. 

The signs make the path very easy to follow

The trees are just so very tall!

I soon met these steps. They are steeper than this picture makes them look (and more numerous: this is about a third of the way up!)

Finally, out of the trees, and a view towards Clent

The meadow grass is quite long.

The path goes down this lane

... although the signs have almost disappeared into the greenery .

The lane becomes a narrow path

Ferns on the sandstone outcrop.

The walk continues to Drakelow and its fascinating secrets - of which, more tomorrow. Click here to see.

Today's walk: From the Blakeshall car park, follow the N Worcs Path signs to Kingsford Lane. Cross it, and shortly, leave the N Worcs Path , by turning right along Lower Kingsford Lane. Follow this to Castle Hill Lane/Kingsford Lane junction, and then take the path directly opposite. Keep on this path, and don't deviate, and you will come to the N Worcs Path once, more: follow this back to your car. About 5 miles NB the route is harder than it sounds, because it's very difficult to tell where you are on the map. (trees everywhere!) Luckily, the signposting is good.

Saundersfoot - a murky day

Last week I had a day out at Saundersfoot in South Wales.
It was cold and fairly miserable, but there were plenty of happy families on the beach...

...and even in the sea.

Further out to sea, there were over 70 sailing dinghies taking part in racing as part of Saundersfoot Sailing Club's annual Coppet Week. Coppet is the name of one of the beaches here.

They were just finishing as we arrived 

It was quite a spectacle

The wind was very strong - we saw a few capsizes!

Saundersfoot is on the Pembrokeshire Coast Path - we walked this years ago, and I'd quite like to re-visit it. Surprisingly. in terms of feet climbed per mile, it's tougher than the Pennine Way!

This bit's easy though: man-made tunnels through the cliffs, linking the various bays.

This was from Coppets Beach

I'm sure the sand looks lovely on a sunny day!

Back at the harbour

We saw this rain coming in, and headed back to the car! (It was very heavy when it arrived.)

Resolved to return in the summer, with decent weather

Today's walk: about 4 miles along the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, walking east - 2 miles out and then return. Walking west is very hilly!