Craven Arms

 Thursday 15 July 2021

After listening to the owl for much of the night until I dropped off to sleep, the morning broke with glorious sunshine again.

After breakfast I set off south towards Shrewsbury. My first stop was to be Attingham Park, a National Trust property I've not been to before.

A couple or three hours were spent there looking around. I didn't go inside, I think only the basement was open anyway. 

So I walked Louis around the grounds and took a few photos.

Next stop after some lunch was The Discovery Center at Craven Arms. 

It's a visitor center really with lots of information on the Shropshire Hills, lots of merchandise for sale and cafes, but importantly they allow motorhome overnight parking for a donation into the honesty box.

It's a great place to stay as well. Adjoining the centre is a vast meadow with riverside walks that Louis and I enjoyed before a brief walk around the town.

Attingham Park courtyard

Attingham Park walled garden

Attingham Park walled garden

Attingham Park walled garden

Attingham Park walled garden

Attingham Park walled garden

Attingham Park garden

Attingham Park

Attingham Park

Attingham Park

Attingham Park

Attingham Park

Craven Arms Discovery Centre river meadow walk

Craven Arms Discovery Centre river meadow walk

Craven Arms Discovery Centre river meadow walk

Craven Arms Discovery Centre overnight parking

Through Shropshire to Malvern Hills

 Wednesday 14 July 2021

Today I decided to head off into Shropshire, through the rolling hills and lush green Meadows of one of my favourite counties, towards the picturesque market town of Ledbury.

I don't know Ledbury or Malvern at all actually, but a bit of research suggests the area is well worth a visit.

The mid summer sun is doing thing as well so everywhere looks beautiful bathed in sunshine.

My first call is Colemere, near Ellesmere. The mere has a great circular woodland walk and a handy carpark where I've enjoyed staying many times before.

The Shropshire Union canal also runs next to the mere.

This time though a little old man on a pre-war vintage bicycle called round about 5pm. He very politely explained he was a volunteer ranger and that overnight parking was not allowed.

Fair enough, I don't want to offend the locals, but I doubt he'd return to check I'd gone but I moved anyway to another parkup a mile away but closer to Ellesmere which I'd seen on other visits to the area but never stayed overnight.

It was actually a great parkup and after a walk into the town I enjoyed a very peaceful night and went to sleep to the sound of an owl hooting in the tree next to me.

Colemere Nature Reserve

Colemere Nature Reserve

Colemere Nature Reserve

Colemere Nature Reserve

Shropshire Union Canal on the Colemere Nature Reserve

Shropshire Union Canal on the Colemere Nature Reserve

 

Colemere Nature Reserve parkup until the ranger visited

Colemere Nature Reserve

Ellesmere 

Ellesmere

Parkup no.2 at Ellesmere

Rudyard Lake Nr Leek

 

Thursday 8th July 2021

Another quick day out in the Peak District today, not far from home at Rudyard Lake and a paddle on the water.

                  I couldn't have got much closer to the water !

Ireland will have to wait .....

Today I should have been driving off the ferry and into Ireland at the start of my Wild Atlantic Way exploration, but the damn virus has put paid to that unfortunately. 

Apart from not wanting to go against government advice, I also became aware of a little t&c slipped into my motor insurance policy. If I travelled abroad against government advice my insurance would be invalid ! Good job I checked.

So instead I'm on an escape to the Peak District, just for one night, and the weather is fantastic. Warm and sunny, just how it should be on 1st July.

I'm going to get away later in July, not sure where yet, maybe Scotland ?

Back into Wales .......

Sunday 6th June 2021

After getting rained off on our efforts to get to Pembrokeshire in monsoon May, I decided to give Wales another opportunity to wow.

Actually, with options to go abroad still non existent, there wasn't much competition.

But I do love Wales and it seldom disappoints providing it doesn't rain all the time !

The weather has really turned a corner in the last week and actually feels like Summer now, so I set off for The Llyn Peninsula and Porth Lago, the little cove I found on my earlier trip out in April.

It's a really pretty cove and I enjoyed getting the kayak out and having a paddle in the surprisingly mild Spring sunshine.

I promised myself a return here and I hope the weather stays fine for some more kayaking. I hope my camera's working this time.
But the first night is at Porth Dinllean which has a wide Sandy beach and fantastic views. 

Tomorrow morning, I think I might do a circular walk I've found near Aberdaron, before I go onto the campsite at Porth Lago.

I did the circular walk to Aberdaron and found some spectacular views from the coastal path and Aberdaron is a pretty town.

It was a great few days stay at Porth Lago but unfortunately the sea was really quite choppy, unlike when I was here in April.

 

So, as I didn't fancy getting the kayak out on choppy waters, I limited myself to land based activities except for a paddle in the surf.