Where was Red Squirrel 12/8/2019

[whole diary]

[Red Squirrel]

So: Where was your furry fiend on Monday? Tintern - grahame

[johnneyw]

The signal looks a little corroded in parts so I'm contemplating the possibilities of a red herring here insofar as it's not on an operational line.

[Red Squirrel]

The signal looks a little corroded in parts so I'm contemplating the possibilities of a red herring here insofar as it's not on an operational line.

A very good start. As far as I can tell (and if I'm wrong about this then I apologise - I'm not seeking to mislead!), it may have been rotated by 180^o for decorative purposes, if that helps.

[Bmblbzzz]

Warmley?

[grahame]

I'm not understanding how you can have just a home signal for a main route and just a distant signal for a subsidiary route on the same poll / appearing to be applicable to the same track.  So concur "not operational" - not even heritage.   Museum piece.   Warmley (posted as I write this) could be quite hot, I suspect.

[Red Squirrel]

Warmley?

No cycle track here...

I'm not understanding how you can have just a home signal for a main route and just a distant signal for a subsidiary route on the same poll / appearing to be applicable to the same track.  So concur "not operational" - not even heritage.   Museum piece.   Warmley (posted as I write this) could be quite hot, I suspect.

Looking at a diagram of the area, I think there was a bracket signal close to this location - but it would have faced the other way. I suspect that the choice of colours for the arms may have had more to do with looking pretty than being authentic. There is some very lovely railway heritage in the vicinity though...

[johnneyw]

"Rotated 180 degrees for decorative purposes" to me implies that it is usually approached from one side which would suggest it's on an entrance path to something, perhaps something railway heritage linked?

[Red Squirrel]

"Rotated 180 degrees for decorative purposes" to me implies that it is usually approached from one side which would suggest it's on an entrance path to something, perhaps something railway heritage linked?

It's at the periphery, but it's facing into the site - if that makes sense! I suspect that some people might walk their dog as far as the signal and then, after a few moments of contemplation, turn back towards the main site.

The site is not primarily a railway heritage site - it is more a centre for walkers.

[johnneyw]

I suspect that some people might walk their dog as far as the signal and then, after a few moments of contemplation, turn back towards the main site.

Well the signal was indicating not to go any further! Could we be talking about somewhere Forest of Dean way but not the Dean Forest Railway itself?

[Red Squirrel]

Why, you are getting dangerously close..!

[grahame]

Why, you are getting dangerously close..!

Wye, I believe you took a metal can and rotated it!  I have seen the hints come together and confirmed by guess by finding the signal through (I admit) a Google Image Search!

[Red Squirrel]

Correct! It is at the northern end of the site, at about the point where the loop would have ended.

My daughter and I took the train to Chepstow on Sunday and walked along Offa's Dyke to the Beeches Farm campsite - a beautiful spot on the hill overlooking the Wye Valley. The next morning we walked down the hill to Tintern Station for a well-earned cooked breakfast. Thoroughly enjoyable (and heartily recommended); all the more so because we were very lucky with the weather!

[johnneyw]

Why yes indeed and I was there not 2 years ago.  BTW^▸ (by the way) must agree with you that the Offa's Dyke walk from Chepstow to Beeches Farm is rather splendid as is the campsite itself. A group of us managed to bag the "Stonehenge" pitch there a few years back.

[Bmblbzzz]

I've never walked along Offa's Dyke (how long does it take from Chepstow to Beeches?) but can add my voice to those recommending the site. I've stayed there twice (once at the "Stonehenge") and can feel a plan coming on now... 

[Red Squirrel]

According to strava we took about three-and-a-half hours to cover the route, which was just over 10km. Probably the first half-hour of that was taken up wandering around Chepstow trying to find something waterproof for my daughter, whose coat was by then on its way to Cheltenham..!

Edit: checking more closely, our 'moving time' was about two-and-a-quarter hours. We were each carrying about 10Kg on our backs - lighter camping equipment is, I am told, available!