Wenlock Edge 23-May-2015

The weekend of May 22nd-25th saw us have a few days in the Shropshire countryside camping out at a very quiet campsite in the village of Rushbury, right under the WENLOCK EDGE. The walk we did was straight from the tent's front door, through the farm and up the lane past a small caravan park next to the old farmer's house and up into Coats Wood on the Wenlock Edge

Our route of about ten miles

Coats Farm from the tent door

Through the farm towards Wenlock Edge

Straight path to Coates Woods

Looking back towards the farm and the Shropshire hills

Coats Wood

The weather was quite overcast but on the warm side and as the day progressed the sun made a welcome appearence. The path was easy to follow and we decided to make it a circular, following our nose as we drifted in and out of the woods and fields just taking our time. Quite a few bluebells in the woods and also RAPESEED in the fields adding a good dash of colour along the very green colour of the woods

Coats Wood

Small patch of blubells in the wood

Rapeseed field

Farm track

Horses with nets on their heads to keep the flies at bay

Back along fields next to the woods

Back in the woods

And rest

We came out of the woods and headed off along the lanes and through small villages that reminded me of the TV series "The Darling Buds Of May" Empty country lanes full of fields, bird song, farms and country cottages. We did come across one farm that had some sort of bird sanctuary attach to it and to my surprise had a SNOWY OWL a very rare sight that is only normally seen in the UK in zoos or private collections. A pleasure to see one but I did wonder why it was here. Perhaps a show bird??

Out of the woods and on the quiet lanes

Eaton it is then

Nice and quiet

In need of a bit of renovation

Snowy Owl

Peacock

guinea fowl

Snowy Owl

Farm and the bird sanctuary

Back along the lanes with high hedges, the odd building, and keeping Wenlock Edge to our right as we headed for the village of Rushbury where we had a look round the Church before making our way back to base for a well earned drink, BBQ while sat round the campfire while we watched the sun go down, perfect :-)

Rushbury village seating area

Rushbury Village

Rushbury Church

On the approach to the farm and campsite

Campsite with Wenlock Edge as the backdrop

Tea for two :-)

Yaaayyyyyyyy

Watching the sun go down on another great day :-)