sb4444: Portishead

After the bitter railings-related disappointments of the last few weeks, I decided to treat myself to a walk in the country.
I took the bus out to Portishead, a small town situated about ten miles from Bristol on the coast.
The main street is level but behind it there is a steep hill where most of the people seem to live. From the top you get good views of the Bristol Channel and Wales. Halfway across the estuary lies Denny Island (above); a tiny place, but it marks the border between England and Wales.
Denny island. Denny island

Inland from Portishead is the marshy Gordano valley. The M5 runs through it, just after the Avonmouth Bridge heading south. Apart from that, it's a very peaceful place.

The old straight track. This footpath runs under the M5 to come out in Portbury.
The willow is the first to shed its leaves.

Teasels.

This is what people call cracked mud. At least some people do.

I chanced upon some farm buildings.

I couldn't see anybody around. Perhaps they were all hiding and watching me. They do that a lot in the country, I've seen it in films.

Over in the distance, these beasts roamed the earth.

Then to Portbury village - not to be confused with Portbury dock. A different place altogether. Portbury was an important place in Anglo-Saxon times. There aren't any remains from that era, but some buildings seem very old. For example, this priory below.

There is an old earthworks there, but it didn't seem accessible to the public.

And the manhole covers!! They have to be seen to be believed. Such variety!

This isn't all of them. Only highlights.