Long Walk

After completing my rabbit-feeding duties for our neighbour's bunnies this morning, I set out for a long walk through Shipley Country Park. Setting out along the Nutbrook Trail as usual, the colours of Autumn were lovely.

Then it was up and over Shipley Hill, passing the old Hall's Suffragette Wall.

My path then led a short way along Bell Lane before turning off towards the visitors' centre - avoiding several Hornets in the hedges. I have never known there be so many of these rather terrifying wasps about as we've seen this year. Soon after the visitors' centre, I veered off the old paths and onto the new routes which have been laid out where very recently, open-cast mining was devastating the landscape. All a bit different now!

There are some wonderful new paths here and lots of great views too.

Malcolm and I have trodden this section a couple of times, but there was another path which we'd not taken before, so I decided to investigate. Some nice views across the wide-open spaces here too, calling for a panoramic picture.

This new path eventually took me all the way to the village of Smalley, but on the Heanor side, so after turning left along the main road, it was a walk of about half a mile through the village to the southern side, where I rejoined Bell Lane to start my return journey. The first thing which greets the traveller on Bell Lane, is the lovely sight of Smalley Dam.

Then it was past Smalley Lodge...

All the time enjoying the autumn colours.

Soon it was time to change direction again and take a detour through Mapperley Wood, taking me round the reservoir - avoiding more Hornets, this time after the fallen crab apples.

From here, I was back on more familiar paths through Mapperley Village and along Slack Lane back towards home and much-needed sit down. All together, a walk of a little over 9.5 miles.

Turning Leaves

The colours of autumn are building nicely. A few very chilly nights have made the trees think it's time to prepare for bed for the winter and many are looking absolutely gorgeous in their new and colourful get-up. We passed these beauties yesterday while walking through a rather cloudy and dull Shipley Park.

As always, the Maples are showing just how it should be done - even in drab weather.

Elsewhere, those other markers of Autumn the fungi, are also putting on a show of their own.

Winter wildfowl are appearing on our waterways too. Already we've seen Gadwall on Shipley Lake and there are reports of Widgeon and Teal as well. On Mapperley Reservoir, a small, but brilliantly coloured group of Mandarin have taken up residence and although we didn't get to see them yesterday as we passed by, we did manage to get a distant glimpse of some of them a few days ago.

They almost seem too good to be true when viewed at close quarters, like this little chap which I 'snapped' some time ago on Osborne's Pond.

 Magnificent!

The Autumn colours are also in evidence around Straw's Bridge and here too, the Maples are leading the way.

A little digital manipulation adds a bit of 'bloom'.

As it's only the beginning of October, we look forward to much more to come.

Autumn Shades

It was decidedly nippy as we set out for our walk this morning. The thermometer had dipped to 2 degrees C over night and a light frost glinted on the car roof first thing - the chill has arrived unusually early it seems this year. Out and about, the signs of Autumn are showing everywhere. Leaves are turning to fiery reds and golds and fungi are popping up all over the place. We spotted these among the trees on Shipley Hill a few days ago.

As it was a dark morning and the woodland floor was even darker, a little flash was required which gave the scene a rather spooky look.

All is now quiet on Shipley Lake and even the Coots had stopped scrapping with one another - almost!

Around the lakes of Straw's Bridge, Spindle Trees (Euonymus europaeus) are fruiting, producing their brightly coloured orange seeds from within a shocking pink husk. They look almost unreal.

The wood of these trees is very hard and was once made into spindles for the wool industry as well as butchers skewers - hence the name.

Returning home this morning, through some of the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust's farmland, the morning sun was slanting through the trees, leaving dappled shadows on the ground.

A little digital 'bloom' gives it an even softer appearance. All rather beautiful...

... and still plenty more of Autumn to come.

Autumn's Coming

Much to Malcolm's chagrin, Autumn is well on its way. The Autumnal effects are beginning to be seen in the countryside. Around the lakes of Straw's Bridge, some of the trees are showing their true colours.

Looking south across the world towards the power station of Ratcliffe on Soar - some nine miles away, it's all starting to look a little more drab.

Of course, the bushes and trees are busy filling their branches with bright berries. The Hawthorns are particularly good, as are the Rose Hips - like these...

and these...

Some flowers are managing to put on a second flush of colour after the ravages of a such a hot, dry summer. This Lucerne (Medicago sativa)for example.

A few days ago, we were pleased to see a small stand of Buckwheat flowers (Fagopyrum esculentu).

This is not a familiar plant in the UK, but sometimes escapes from gardens and cultivated fields, where it is grown primarily for its seeds. But with flowers like this, it makes a quite a show.

A few late butterflies can still be found too. This Red Admiral, was enjoying those Rose Hips too.

Plenty more Autumn to come before winter gets a grip!

Gardens at the end

At the end of our walk around and over the Great Orme, we decided to take a look at the gardens of 'Happy Valley'.

This was a lovely, quiet spot to wander around and enjoy the well-cared-for gardens. A sure sign that summer was coming to an end, were these wonderful  Autumn Crocus.

The Fuchsias were still looking good...

and we had some fine views through the palms and pines to the sea beyond.

Well, that was about it for our little break away in Llandudno. We'd had a great time and enjoyed some spectacular views...

Glimpsed distant Castles, like Conway - here covered in scaffolding a mile and a half across the estuary.

We had seen some rare flora (wild Cotoneaster here)...

those wonderful Kashmir Goats...

and marvelled at the cheek of the Herring Gulls as they attacked fish-and-chip eaters on the sea front and on one occasion, snatched an ice cream from the hands of an unsuspecting pensioner! This one was undeterred by the anti-bird spikes on our hotel windowsill.

I manged to snap Malcolm taking pictures...

and he got his own back on me too! (Don't look at the wrinkles.)

That's it! Time to head for home for a rest after walking about 40 miles during our three and a half days away.

Great Orme 2

Having only completed half of the walk around Marine Drive on Tuesday, we decided to reverse our tracks and do the other half on Wednesday afternoon. We began by climbing up along the tram tracks, a task which had been much easier the day before when coming down!

Despite the thigh-aching climb, the views back down to the town were good.

Eventually, we made it onto the grassy slopes near the top, and across the farmland.

Way out to sea, the Gwynt y Môr off shore wind farm was visible and a with a good zoom, you could make out the Dublin to Liverpool P&O ferry and a huge gas rig with flame burning.

A perfect way to spend an afternoon.

From here, it was back down to rejoin Marine Drive at the point where we left it the day before and to continue back round below the cliffs.

We were treated to the sight of a Peregrine Falcon as it pursued a pigeon and the sound of Ravens among the rocks too.

Soon, the Pier came back into view, marking the end of Marine Drive and a return to the town.

We didn't head straight back to the hotel though. As were passing, we decided to divert and take in the gardens of 'Happy Valley' - but more of that tomorrow!