Appleby, Cumbria

On Sunday 28th July I visited friends and we went to Appleby in Cumbria. Unfortunately the castle there was shut for the day, but we enjoyed a walk along the river. Rain the night before had swollen the river and the water was rushing past, and quite brown. The day however was lovely and having admired the garden and fountain at the Hospital of St Anne's enjoyed a walk along the river banks and through the wood. I also rather loved the carving near the play area, whilst the children enjoyed the swings and roundabout.

Ross-on-Wye, River walk.

Town centre

Fish statue

Rowers racing on the river Wye

Little girl feeding swans

Ducks statue by river

View back towards Ross

                                Today I walked along the river Wye from Ross. Parking in Ross is free on a Sunday, otherwise I recommend the long term car park which is pay and display. The town centre is a mix of Tudor and more modern buildings. Horatio Nelson once stayed here and there is a plaque commemorating this. 

Following the brown tourist signs to the river walk, which is an absolute delight. When I was there the local college team were practising rowing on the river whilst children were feeding the ducks and swans.

The trees along the river were dotted with spiders web nests. these curious nests were dotted with hundreds of baby spiderlings whilst a mother spider in the centre guarded them. Quite beautiful but rather scary.

Spiders webs

Panoramic view

Upton Ham, Upton upon Severn, Worcestershire.

River view

A beautiful sunny day is perfect for a walk along the river. Upton Ham is a site of special scientific interest, it is a wild meadow full of flowers and alive with the buzz of insects and the song of birds. A popular place to go for a walk and to take a picnic.

River Severn

Morris dancers at the Swan pub

On the way back we stopped for a drink at a local pub in Upton town and were delighted to see traditional Morris dancers.

Wild flower meadow

Upton Upon Severn and the Severn Way Path

Marina entrance at Upton

 Today I walked along part of the Severn Way Path and around Upton. The river Severn is one of England's longest rivers and as it passes through Upton it is majestically wide and serenely beautiful. There are many boat tours you can take along the river, but just walking along\side it is enough to appreciate it's quiet beauty.

Dotted alongside it are numerous pubs, and a warm welcome, cool drink and something good to eat is never difficult to find.

The river here has often flooded, but the new flood defences have so far held and as they are made of glass. when the flood waters rise up t\hem the views of live within the water are fascinating

Upton itself is a quaint little town, full of amazing old historic building. Well worth a visit is the amazing looking Pepperpot Museum, which is full of things from the English Civil War. Just across the road from it is the Tudor House Museum. I have been to many museums, but this is the most curious and intriguing collection of things you never have thought about collecting and until now didn't realise had disappeared.

New flood  defences

Friendly ducks

The Pepperpot heritage centre

The Tudor House Museum