Beeleigh

The weather today is appalling  - heavy  rain and high winds . Yesterday there were a few sunny spells between the heavy showers and we did a run from the Well of Seven Heads  around Loch Oich . It's a good route especially if the weather is bad- enough hills to add interest but mainly on good trails so it is not technically demanding . This time of year the beech trees look amazing and at the highest points there are tremendous views down the Great Glen.
So far no running today instead I've been finishing some watercolour paintings, one a mountain scene , the other of an oak tree overhanging the canal near Beeleigh in Essex. Beeleigh is a magical place an oasis  of calm a refuge from the roads and housing estates that are now sprawling out of Maldon. There is the beautiful house built on the remains of the abbey,the Grange where Landseer once stayed, a scattering of cottages and the tidal river that joins the canal . If one is lucky a sparkle of turquoise will indicate a kingfisher- surely one of the most exquisitely beautiful British birds. Following the canal to Ulting leads to the quaint old church which in medieval times was the site of an important Christian Shrine.Whenever I go to see my parents I run to Beeleigh at the earliest opportunity . It never changes and probably has barely changed since the canal was dug in the 19th century-

Canal near Beeleigh

Mountain sunset