Mr C has recently retired and today, I managed to persuade him out of the house for a local walk around Apley Woods. After leaving the woods I led him back home taking the long way round. Although in a familiar place he wasn’t quite sure where he was until the local shops came into view. Then rather than take the direct route home he decided on the most scenic route home.

It is our intention to complete the Telford Coronation Walks but today wasn’t the day for one of those.

I recently obtained the North Telford Coronation walks booklet and I am hoping to tick off all the walks before the end of 2025.

I started with one of my local walks where I could walk from home. I started the walk from the pedestrian crossing rather than Leegomery Community Centre. Along the way I detoured taking in Apley pool and Leegomery pools extending my walk to around 4 miles.

A walk to Dothill Nature Reserve and back through Apley Woods taking the long way round.

I was home alone, the sun had its hat on and was calling me out on an adventure. I could only adventure from my doorstop due to my car being poorly. My car broke down a few days ago when I was driving home after visiting my mum who is currently in a care home recuperating from a recent (recurring) illness. I digress (I will save the car adventure for another post).

As I stepped out on my sunny afternoon walk, I realised why I have not been inspired to go for a local walk. Most of my walks take me past the hospital where on and off for the past year has meant mums hospital appointments and visiting mum in hospital.

The thought was hidden in my subconsciousness. Now that the thought has become unlocked, I will enjoy seeking out new pathways that link to my favourite places.

My sunny afternoon walk took me through Woodhenge, along the Silken Way to Apley Woods. I was surprised to find that the duckpond had overflowed onto the nearby pathway. Also, the felling of trees near to the new housing development has made that part of the nature reserve rather stark and exposed.

My walking route included two of my favourite trees which I share with you.

The weather was a little chilly and the sky rather overcast leading to a walk that blew away the cobwebs. Along the way a encountered two former colleagues and a Police Officer looking for a homeless person with an aggressive dog setting up a shelter in the woodland area.

I had a brief conversation with the Police Officer and confirmed that I hadn’t seen anything untoward. He bid me goodbye saying, enjoy the rest of your walk.

I continued my walk around Apley Pool where I saw several shelters around the pool that had been erected by fishermen just doing their thing.

Richard Feynman

My ultimate destination was Apley Woods and when I arrived, I was disappointed. I know at this time of year the trees are mostly bare with maybe a few buds emerging. This type of scenery has a beauty all of its own. On this visit I found that many trees and bushes had been cut down leaving parts of the woods quite barren.

On my way to the woods I detoured, taking a route from one of the newly mapped Coronation walks that I was unfamiliar with. I walked it from memory after reading the walking guide to the route. I found this an interesting small detour from the routes I am familiar with.

I also detoured to find a car park in the local hospital. On my walks over the years, I had observed the car park from below and was never sure if it was part of the hospital car park. During mum’s recent stay in hospital, I was able to view the car park from above. One of the rooms she stayed in had the perfect view over the helipad and the car park beyond. Thankfully mum is home now.

Before returning home I decided to visit Leegomery Pool only to find that it too was not what it used to be. A large ‘metal’ handrail added to the steps down to the pool now dominates the view.

Just before Christmas I noticed that the missing fallen lintels at my local ‘Woodhenge’ had been replaced. After seeing them my intention was to walk to them to provide a photo update.

Christmas was busy and in January lethargy set in, it was lovely and cozy at home and so easy to curl up with a book when I wasn’t taking my mum to  (suddenly more frequent) medical appointments.

Today the sun put its hat on beckoning me to go out for a walk! How could I resist…

I made the walk up as I went along so that I could end the walk by visiting Woodhenge. My walk took me through the hospital grounds to avoid the busy traffic and potential mud on the way to the Silkin Way and Apley Woods beyond. My choice turned out to be a mistake, there were more cars in the hospital than there were on the road!

The rest of my walk was uplifting apart from one tiny incident when a former colleague blanked me (not for the first time) as I smiled and said hello as we passed each other.

My arrival at the fully restored Woodhenge didn’t disappoint and I can see that in a few years’ time it will weather down to its former glory

PS: I need to explore the newly created Coronation Walks. Todays walk kept crisscrossing one of the routes.

I chose a local route to complete my memorial walk in honour of the late Queen Elizabeth II.  The walk was perfect with both sunshine and showers.

I will now retrace my steps on my virtual route from London back to Windsor (just under 29 miles), concluding with a ‘real’ walk along the ‘Long Walk’ from Windsor Castle to the Copper Horse statue of King George III.