What a lunch-spot!

Cherry

By Rhiannonw

Thu, 02 Oct 2025
  • 92 reads
9 comments
 

Walked out of Presteigne along Clatterbrook
(but it was empty! Plenty of room there for water,
and bridges over, but apparently
it is seasonal, and can have much water in winter,
but dry up tin summer – not yet flowing!).
Got stuck in undergrowth, with fence before us,
had to retrace and walk along the road before finding
the continuation of the path
(maybe the school nearby had closed that section).
Then along by the dry stream,
crossed over a road,
climbed a very steep stile in the opposite hedge
to walk half way up Harley’s Hill.
Not too far a climb, but what views!
Hills 180º around, and more peeping from behind, all before us,
and a handy log to sit on for a bit of lunch.
Suddenly notice a little crowd of beautiful late-floweting
harebells close by.

Crane flies (daddy-long-legs) in abundance in the grass
and on the track down, as on the way up
beautiful bright red haws and holly berries in bright clusters
and underfoot had to take care not to slip on the covering of acorns.
Earlier had been crunching through a carpet of beech mast,
and walking over a pattern of sycamore aeroplanes.

Early autumn:
the countryside seems to
have recovered
from the drought.

 

Certificate U
Poem
Countryside explorations
Nature
Autobiography

Comments

Submitted by Nolan on

Not too far a climb, but what views! " Sounds like my kind of thing Rhiannon! Just on the last stanza,when do you usually have your rain season? What do you mean there? Here on the Highveld we have summer rains, down to the further south, Western Cape it is meditearnean it rains in winter.

You are very fortunate with all this beautiful countryside so close.

& Nolan

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you, Nolan. I was thinking yesterday at how priviledged we are to have such variety to explore.

the last four lines are a reference to the rather severe drought there was in the summer in Britain, when so muchl dried up, and there was much concern, and desire for rain to come once more. Then it suddenly came in fair abundance!

We don't have a rainy season as such, it can and does rain at all seasons, though how much varies from year to year. We do probably have a bit more usually in the autumn, but get rain in winter, spring and summer.

Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

It sounds like a wonderful walk Rhiannon, thank you for sharing it. Did you take a picnic with you?

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you, yes, just a small snack, and an excuse to stop awhile and enjoy the views before going down. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Rhiannon,

isn't it great how nature always seems to bounce back after the dry summer we've had? Those photos and your explaination capture that beauty.

The views must have been spectacular while you were having your lunch. As always I enjoyed reading about your ramble.

Jenny..

 

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you, Jenny. yes, lovely to see it all so green, and all the autumn fruit. You can't tell from the map what the walk is going to be like, but so often surprised by the views disclosed. Especially after the false start, it was good to get out into the countryside! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you so much for the cherries! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

I like very much your description of all the abundance! this whole chunk is fabulous, "crunching through a carpet of beech mast,
and walking over a pattern of sycamore aeroplanes."

There are lots of berries here, too. On the radio it said this is a "mast year", and it has been good for apples, too. Though the lovely farmer in Herefordshire (that must be near you?) said his plums were not big and juicy as usual

Lovely photos, too!

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you. We did see some good-looking damsons on the floor I think! And a farmer from Lancarshire came to stay recently and brought us some lovely damsons! Rhiannon