Tag: avenue

October 2nd – The return from Derby was long and leisurely. Lots of stops to graze, take in the view and just enjoy the atmosphere of a gorgeous golden hour, made more sweet by the knowledge I’d caught what was probably one of the last such days in the year.

The avenue in Shobnall Park in Burton is like a film set, and as the sun set over the Trent at Wychnor, I reflected on how rivers had been a recurring feature of the ride.

And Minster Pool in Lichfield is always worth a good night shot or two.

A great ride, that I was very lucky to enjoy.

September 25th – Tixall, the supporting village for the Shugborough Estate, lives in the shadow of its stately brother. But the little hamlet – not much more that a set of converted farm buildings, a huge, folly gatehouse, pepper pot lodge and chapel is beautiful, mores at this time of year.

The grand avenue – stretching across the lane – is still gorgeous, with a sense of sad, melancholy Ichabod as cows browse over the once neatly cut fields around the stone gazebo. 

The pepper pot lodge – designed to mimic the towers on the gatehouse – is a lovely, peculiar curiosity.

I haven’t been here for ages. I forgot how lovely it is.

June 5th – The track around Shire Oak Hill trough Home Farm and Lime Kilns is, sadly, a private road. It would make a great route around the hill for cyclists and the weary wanting to avoid serious hills getting back to Brownhills from Lichfield and the east. 

Sadly, it’s not to be and this lovely avenue of trees must only be observed from the Lichfield Road at Sandhills.

In summer and autumn, it’s gorgeous.

October 22nd – The trains were lousy again, so I opted for a day in Darlaston instead, so I didn’t have to catch any. The commute was evil – raining, wet with really, really bad visibility. I was shocked to see so many drivers without lights – which makes spotting them over your shoulder in these conditions difficult. At Scarborough Road, in Pleck, the trees of this interwar period avenue are beautifully golden, and they cheered me. But the day remained grim.. I think it’s in for the week…

28th August – It was bright and sunny, in complete contrast to the day before. I commuted to Darlaston, which has been far too irregular of late – I love the journey and the place, and miss it when I’m not there. On the way, I travelled down one of my favourite Walsall residential streets – Scarborough Road. Consisting mainly of inter-war council houses, this wide, tree-lined street is a testament to a more socially concerned time. There’s always someone here who waves as you pass; a pensioner stood in their garden, school kids or folk just pottering about their business. I always feel comfortable here.

July 11th – Acocks Green. I’ve discovered that taking the train to here, rather than Tyseley, rewards me with a nicer ride to my destination. Tyseley is very, very industrial, yet bordering it is a perfect, interwar Metroland of Victorian and Art Deco townhouses, on wooded, somnambulant streets. There is great, but modest architecture in these backways, and little traffic. The sun came through this morning, and lit the whole thing up – it felt like I was in an episode of Mr. Ben, or possibly ‘Keep the Aspidistra Flying’ – I couldn’t make my mind up which was more applicable. A lovely place. I think I’m in love.

May25th – Also wearing a fine summer coat is the avenue to Home Farm and Lime Barns at Sandhills. Last time I pictured this, the trees were bare and stark; today, on a fine, arm summer evening, it was a green tunnel, the leaves rustling beautifully in the breeze. How I’d love to cycle down here… but sadly, it’s a private road.

June 19th – Rolling up from Milford, over the River Trent, one comes to the delightful village of Tixall. There are several great architectural features here, the Gatehouse, Stables, Pepperpot lodge, church and more than one beautiful home. I like the avenue best; a long, straight, tree-lined lane terminating in a lovely little observatory overlooking the Trent Valley and Shugborough Estate.

England doesn’t get much better than this.