We checked out at 9am. A bright morning, the lake like a mirror from the balcony. We drove to the northern edge of Lake Vyrnwy and then took a tiny road north through woods and valleys and spectacular mountain scenery. The sky was clear blue and had white woolly clouds and the surroundings were green …
We drove the mile to the car park at the southern end of Lake Vyrnwy. There was a hide with feeders and flocks of Siskins and assorted other small birds. We walked the ‘blue’ trail through mixed woodland and only got slightly lost. We saw a Tree Pipit for the first time. Back at the …
Up the M5 to Gloucester then along winding A- and B- roads through the scenic Shropshire hills to Lake Vyrnwy Hotel. We explored the grounds and walked down a track to a chapel. Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush. Heard woodpeckers laughing and a distant cuckoo. Our comfortable room has a balcony overlooking the woods and lake.
We set off up Holford Combe, crossing the stream several times. At the top of the combe we climbed up to Dowsborough Fort. The woods were damp. Birds were singing. Oak trees were packed together, trunks cork-screwing up towards the daylight. According to local oddball folklorist and song “collector” Ruth Tongue, Dowsborough was a lookout …
We stopped at Steart Marshes on the way to Holford. No Spoonbills this time, just the usual ducks, etc. We went in a couple of the hides and then did the 4km loop. It was windy on the bank of the Parrett river. The wind made the pylons hum. The note they hummed was B-flat. …
On Christmas Eve (Sunday) we stopped at Stroud, en route to the Malverns, to experience the carols at the Prince Albert pub. For 23 years they’ve been singing traditional carols in the pub on every Sunday in December. It was quiet when we arrived at about 12pm, but it soon got very busy. We were …
In the morning, rain being forecast, we went to the Somerset Rural Life Museum in Glastonbury. It was quite interesting. We drove to the Avalon Marshes centre and got lunch from the cafe there, then spent the afternoon at Shapwick Heath reserve. Lots of Marsh Harriers. A Kingfisher. Swans and ducks. Then we went across …
We drove to Shapwick Heath reserve car park. The plan was to do a circular route including lunch at Glastonbury and back through Ham Wall reserve, but the fields alongside the road were so flooded we decided to change the plan. We walked through Ham Wall reserve along the raised path. Some of the reserve …
Nice pub, great food.
We set off unusually early, having got into a habit of rising late. It was just after 8am when we left Goathland. We got to Compton Verney Art Gallery and Park around 12:30 and had lunch in the cafe and then had a look around the “Making Mischief Folk Costume in Britain” exhibition. It was …
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