Walking: Wyrley & Essington Canal 1 - Bloxwich, via Pelsall to Cannock

I would advise everyone to take this wonderful town-&-country walk from Bloxwich via Pelsall to Cannock: joining the Wyrley & Essington Canal at Leamore, up to the Cannock Extension, then through the lanes to Great Wyrley. These are from a few months ago, but it really is too good a half day (in any season) walk to ignore...

Walking: Llangollen

A few days walking in Llangollen - I didn't know the Eisteddfod was on! Camped at Wern Isaf farm, stunning views, well-managed, a short stumble from town.

Strapped on the boots to walk for a long circular walk on the limestone uplands of Eglwyseg & Trevor.

From the campsite, we skirted Dinas Bran on the Offa's Dyke path, & continued north along a very narrow, rising foothill path to World's End.

The final climb to the top of Eglwyseg scarp, offered great views, significant breathlessness, & a limestone pavement - I'm a big fan of'em!

Continuing south, we walked the scarp edge, above Llangollen, circling back down Trevor Rocks, to the foot of Dinas Bran once more.

All in all, a fantastic, taxing walk I would encourage folk to experience. The following day, we didn't leave the site - I have elderly knees you know!

A lovely 6 miler from Froncysllte: bus out, back along the canal, over Telford's flying aqueduct... I had knees again.

Llangollen, the surround countryside & hills are lovely. Too many of us simply drive through, maybe stopping for a pie or a pee, but missing an awful lot... Stop, sit, look.

Growing: Three sisters plus one

Getting away quite nicely... should've started beans later, & not too sure about sunflowers (altho' if they'd been started earlier, they might have provided a good framework for for the japanese squash).  Courgette could've taken a bit more space, just to make it easier to harvest.

Photography: a loose few

odd ones...

Photography: artsy from a walk

 Poppies in wheatfield

Canal bridge & lock

Walking: Cannock to Penkridge via Lodge Hill, Wedges Mill, Calf Heath, & the canal

A fantastic walk on farm tracks, country lanes, disused & current towpaths: starting at the Walk Mill clay pit (fishing pool), we headed over Lodge Hill into the lanes of Wedges Mills. A disused canal provided a peaceful, nature-laden trundle through the flat Staffs countryside to Long Moll's Bridge (no.76) on the Staffs & Worcs Canal.  

Early rain showers, it did get fairly damp, gave way to beautiful weather, which made the whole walk a joy; clear light & great visibility demanded a few photos.

Definitely a journey of two halves; with the walk to Calf Heath seeming very isolated, although we were but a short distance off (but out of ear-shot of) the A5. As we walked the canal, we encountered more folk: Gailey Wharf was pretty & busy! 

Up along to Penkridge, & the strollers & dog walkers. A pint in the Cross Keys on the canal. Into the village & down to the White Hart - which has an unusual beer 'garden' - for a swift'un, & just before catching the bus back to Cannock, one for the road in the Horse & Jockey. 


















All in all great stretch, with a big bunch o'nature, lovely scenery, & plenty to see. For the return leg, I'll probably leave the canal at the edge of Lower Gailey Reservoir & use the metalled roads of Hatherton to get back to Cannock; once we'd left the nature reserve of the disused Wedges Mills canal, there wasn't too much on offer along the Long Mile to Calf Heath.