Last couple of days in Ludlow

On Saturday morning, after our long walk the day before (!), we decided on a stroll by the river and across the common. Had to nip out to the market first and buy meat and veg for dinner - that's the beauty of this town, you don't have to use supermarkets - everything is fresh and local. So, we set off along the river  - The Bread Walk. So called because workers used to be paid in bread so they didn't fritter their money away on booze.

 It's a lovely walk, and the sun was shining. At the end by the river there's a coffee shop, so we had to stop for a drink. Then a steep climb up onto Whicliffe Common, where's there's some fantastic views over the town.

Of course, Stuart took pictures. Then at the end we happened upon The Charlton Arms again, and had to call in for a sit down. Well, we had walked about 2 miles! The river terrace was great in the sunshine, but still not a heron or kingfisher to be seen. Not hungry, despite it being lunchtime because we'd got up late and had a cooked breakfast about 1030. So, just a drink!
Then back up to the town, and a good mooch around the clothes shops. Tried lots of stuff on, but didn't buy anything. Back to the cottage where we sat in the garden, knitting, Guardian crossword and glass of wine in the sunshine. What could be better!

Cooked a meal in - lamb steaks, rhubarb crumble and cheese. Fab!  Stayed up late playing Who's in the Bag, a name guessing game. Let's just say some of us where better than others!  Bed late, and up for another cooked breakfast. Sunday morning is the flea market, and I managed to buy a lampshade and a china bowl. Both of which has to be carried home on the train. Didn't help that Stu had bought a big box of lego pirates. Nice lunch at the Rose and Crown, and then back to the cottage to pick up the cases and walk to the station, Uneventful journey till we got to Stockport where we missed the train, as ours was late getting in.

Great weekend as always.

Weekend in Ludlow

Another weekend away - this time with a few more home comforts, in a cottage in Ludlow where we've stayed before. Travelled on the train as usual, and managed a swift glass of Bucks Fizz, and got there in time for lunch in our usual pub, The Church. Nice glasses for the local brewed Ludlow beer. I'm still trying to lose weight, so no beer for me, on the basis that white wine and soda has less calories.  No chips either (I've not eaten chips for 10 weeks.....), but a good lunch anyway!  Then a trip  to Tescos for the weekend shop - we're very domesticated.

Some of us managed a quick walk after sorting the cottage out, Stuart stayed behind to practice his banjo. down to the River Teme, and the Horseshoe Weir, where we didn't see a heron, or a kingfisher. Someone had obviously forgotten to book them. The Charlton across the bridge looked inviting and we needed to book a table for a meal, so we popped in there for a little rest!  Lovely pub, with a great terrace over the river. Then back up through the town, and a trip to the local butchers for proper sausages to go with the mash for tea.

After a meal, we made it out to the The Wheatsheaf for a drink, and then bed.

Saturday we walked to Bromfield. Lovely walk, by the river, across some fields, and through the estate of Oakly Park. Oakly Park looks lovely - it's a shame we have to stick to the edge of it as it's private. Lovely clear day, very different to the fog last time we did the walk. Lots of primroses and daffodils out along the way, and great views of the castle.



There's an old derelict mill along the way which we've looked at many times, and thought how good it would  be to restore it, it would make a fantastic house. Was really pleased last time we came past to see that it was being renovated, and was part of a scheme to put some hydroelectric power generators in, utilising the mill race. Great idea, and the work is really coming along now, the original weir has been restored.

Just past Bromfield is The Clive, where we stopped for lunch, and then visited the Ludlow Food Centre, a great place for shopping, with most of the food actually made on the premises or sourced locally.  The walk back is usually very wet, so we decided to catch the bus - it was late, and some of our party had a nap in the bus shelter!

Back in Ludlow we looked round the market and the shops. It's a lovely town, beautiful Georgian architecture, and the market is a mixture of craft, food and plant stalls. We went to a wool shop, not for me, but I found myself buying wool and needles and deciding to knit a scarf. Not sure why! Back to the cottage (via The Church....), and a couple of aperitifs before leaving for a meal at The Charlton Arms. Excellent food, and a great view over the river from the conservatory style restaurant. Lovely evening, and then back to the cottage.

Home

Eggy bread for breakfast to use up everything that was in the fridge then Julie and I went round the flea market, while Andrea and Catherine went to mass. The  market is always good, with lots of little stalls with a variety of antiques. Bought a couple of necklaces, a wedgewood cream jug, a silver ladle, and a silver serving spoon with the initial C on it.

Lunch in the Rising Sun, back to the cottage to finish clearing up, and then the walk to station. Rather bizarrely we saw a bishop, complete with purple frock, flowing cape and crook walking past the cottage. Of course, we had to ask him if he was real or in fancy dress. He assured us he was real, as was the crook, and he turned out to be the Bishop of Hereford.

Uneventful journey back, someone sitting in some of our seats who told us that they'd been treble booked, but didn't believe him! Great weekend as always.

Retail therapy and history

Today was still misty but not as bad as yesterday. Got up even later, and after a fairly full English breakfast, went for a walk round the town. Walked down to the river, saw the restored horseshoe weir.

and up past the Broadgate and the Wheatsheaf.

Into town, and visited some lovely food shops, and bought meat and game to bring back with us. Then back to cottage for soup lunch. After lunch we did the Ludlow Town Trail, purchased from Tourist Information, which took us round the town, mainly to places we knew, but some we didn't. Ludlow is a beautiful town, full of half timbered buildings and Georgian houses. It's also a foody place, with gourmet restaurants and food shops. Went in the lovely old church of St Lawrence, and bought some Christmas Cards. Heard the local choir rehearsing for the evening concert which was quite atmospheric.

Had a good mooch round the shops, and then finished up in the Church Inn where we tried the beerbat:

and then  a glass of mulled wine.

Back to the cottage and watched Strictly Come Dancing and then out to the Charlton Arms for a meal. The pub had been done up a lot since last we went there, and we had a great meal. Andrea and I called at the Wheatsheaf for one last drink, then back to the cottage.

Foggy Walk

Woke up latish on Friday, about 9am, to thick fog. Could hardly see across the road. Had a good English breakfast, including some huge mushrooms we'd bought from the market yesterday. Andrea and I left the others clearing up,  and quickly walked up to the market to buy the veg for tonight's meal.

Then we set off for a walk, except for Val who didn't think she could walk that far. First we had to negotiate the market square where there was a nice market, and we stopped to look at some interesting stalls. One in particular caught our eye, it was selling wind chimes made out of old silver knives and forks, and pendants made out of farthings While I was looking at this stall I noticed my glasses didn't feel right, and realised a screw had come out. Luckily there was an optician nearby, and I took them in, felt a bit stupid when they noticed the lens was also missing, and I hadn't noticed. After some frantic searching round the stall I assumed I'd lost it, and opened my glasses case to put the broken glasses away. And there was the lens. I'd obviously put them on in the morning with a lens missing and hadn't noticed!

From there we set off on the the walk. Very misty and atmospheric, but not cold and it was pleasant walking. The castle looked very spooky in the mist.




Walked for a couple of hours, with me in charge of map reading, and only got mildly lost once.

Had a coffee stop where embarrassingly we realised we had more hip flakes than coffee flasks





Ended up at The Clive for lunch. Very nice place, and we managed a local pint, bottle of wine, crab sandwich and chips.

Next door was Ludlow food centre, a sort of glorified  farm shop which obviously we had to look round, but that made us a bit late setting off to get back, and it began to get dark, as well as more foggy.

For about a mile we walked through a very muddy lane, without the lovely views of Ludlow castle we normally get. The mud was worse than usual  and we all ended up very wet,

but soon made it back and into the Bulls Head for a drink. We'd walked 6 miles and the route's here:



Then back to the house for firelighting and food preparation. It was Children in Need night so the TV wasn't  brilliant, but we had a good time, a good Christmas dinner, including one of my mum's Christmas puddings and crackers

After dinner me, Julie and Andrea went for a walk and end up in the Wheatsheaf, a pub under one of the gatehouses.
Then came back, and made the traditional soup of all of the leftovers, managing  to fuse the kitchen lights in the process. Late to bed, about 1am.

Girls go to Ludlow

Off to station for girls weekend in Ludlow - wonder how old you have to be to be to stop referring to yourselves as girls? Lots of police about, thought they might be after me after the twitterjoketrial stuff, but then remembered the Queen is visiting the University and arriving at the station. Had to leave before she got there, and caught very packed train to Stockport. Quick change of platforms and onto train to Ludlow. Andrea and Julie managed to wind a skein of wool, and we all managed a couple of glasses of Bucks Fizz.























Arrived about 12.30, walked to lovely cottage, Emily Place, dumped bags, and we were in one of our favourite pubs, The Church Inn by 1pm. A pint and some lovely food, and then outside to the market square, where it was raining. Lots of great shops, so we had a good look round, bought some meat in the local butchers which has lots of fresh game hanging outside.




Then to Tescos. Halfway round with a trolley full of booze we remembered that we had to carry everything.

After shopping, back to house. A martini, a rest, a read of various books and newspapers, and then busy again - cooking tea ( sausage, mash and broccoli with cheese sauce), and lighting the wood burning stove. Bit hard as there was only one fire lighter, but managed it with lots of paper.
Finished tea with mince pies and cream, and then watched TV until bed time. Didn't go out for a change. Too tired.