Is it alright to have a favourite road? I've got one and I know it might sound a bit odd but here goes anyway. Its not a dramatic coastal drive or a twisting mountain descent but a simple country lane. 
I've known it for years because it drops down from the scenic route to town from my parents village over the hills.
What is really exciting is that my favourite lane is now the quickest way to get to their house, about 4 miles away. At least once a week we climb up this steep road with a stream at its foot, creep around the many bends and keep our fingers crossed that we'll reach the top without having to snuggle into one of the pull-ins or reverse downhill!
Coming back home there are glimpses of the view across the fields to our new village and we skip along the peculiarly named Shaffalong Lane, past B's school to home. 
I love the high banks that are home to primroses and daffodils and later in the year they're smothered in bluebells and foxgloves. Buzzards soar above the gnarled old trees and kestrels dive over the hedges. I've even seen a hare race across one of the fields. 
The lane feels like a secret tunnel between my two family homes; the one where I grew up and discovered my love of the countryside, and the one I've brought my own little family back to, where hopefully they'll discover the joy of nature too. 
"Mummy's lane", as B calls it, is quite dark and drab at this time of year, especially on a miserable day like today, but I still think its beautiful.
Any chance I get I sneak up this lovely lane and I'm going to start a new section on my blog to follow how it grows and changes over the year. I promise, it will look a bit better than this!
23 comments:
Hi just found your blog I love the pictures of your fav lane. Your right it does look special it will be nice to see the pics of the changing seasons. Mine would have to be the little lane we live on although we live in a big town our quiet lane is my piece of the countryside it's quite hidden away. And I forget the hustle and bustle of the town.
Sarahx
It's absolutely alright to have a favourite road! And yours is lovely - I will look forward to seeing it change with the seasons (especially the bluebells and foxgloves)
Hi steph,
That looks like a lovely drive..I love wiggley,hedged lanes,especially the ones that are like tunnels with the trees growing over,so like you I have a favourite lane that winds round the wooded parts of the hills where I live. I always want to go that way home, even if it is a bit longer! Look forward to seeing your lane change with the seasons..roll on the warmer weather!
Such a lovely post - your favourite lane has the most amazing views too!
Have you tried reversing uphill yet?...I have to do that to get to a friend who lives down an unmade road...meeting tractors is an absolute fear of mine as reversing up a hill negotiating boulders and potholes is enough to make me cry! x
I think it's very cool to have a favourite road too- I like the name! The photos are lovely, despite the weather being dull at the moment. Looking forward to seeing it later on with some wild flowers bobbing about!x
Oh I do miss living in the country!
Fabulous lane.
Rosie x
oh! That is so wonderful - it looks very like a lane in Cornwall near my parent's house. I think that I might bookmark this post and travel up and down your road whenever I feel like some country air. Looking forward to the first primroses and bluebells!
I imagine in the summer the trees enclose that lane. How lovely. You may be interested in contributing to my 'cheating at motherhood' item over on my blog, although goodness knows you probably don't cheat lol! First childless day in 2 years. what are you at!!!
It looks so idyllic where you live, I'm not sure if this is near to you but I have friends who go up to Ashbourne (Weston Underwood) a couple of times a year, Ive been with them a few times and its a beautiful part of England to live!! Your very lucky, I haven't ventured with my boys there yet but hope to do so this year!!
What a lovely road to travel. I imagine it looks wonderful changing from season to season especially the arrival of bluebells and foxgloves which I love!
It's a lovely lane.I hope you'll show us more through the year.It's a reminder that the best things in life are free!Sal;-)
Hi Steph, what a beautiful lane - I adore it when the cowparsley is out in abundance and the elderflowers on the trees - roll on summer! Actually, just a bit of sunshine instead of this awful rain would be nice! Kathy
What a lovely post and such a good idea. I too have a favourite road from childhood which I walked everyday to and from school, it led from our house down into the village past the farms, the church, the pub and the post office/village shop. I go back occasionally now to tend to mum and dad's grave in the churchyard, it has changed a lot over the years, now there is no shop and post office. Your lane looks lovely and I look forward to seeing it change through the seasons.
Hi Steph,
Loved your pictures, I bet it will look gorgeous during summer. We have our preferred walk to nursery, lots of gorgeous old houses and gardens, Ella even asks to walk that way home :)
xFaye
I think I love that road too! It reminds me of some of the paths at the bottom of the Downs (where I saw a hare dash across the path a couple of week ago too!). Love the name Shaffalong Lane, we have some wonderful old names don't we?
Kimx
hiya
just discovered your blogg - love the lane, and the lane name, I think this country had the best lane names! we have one nearby called 'jolly tar lane' and another that at one end is called 12 acres lane, and at the other is called 8 acres lane, I often wonder what happened to the 4 acres between ends!
Kath
x
What a lovely lane- think it's a great idea to show us pics through the seasons. Hasve a lovely weekend
Lisa x
What a sweet little charming lane!
It would be my favorite too if I were you!
I just love it! Thanks for sharing.
Hugs and Blessings,
Rebecca
I love your secret tunnelbetween family homes! it really sounds like you are enjoying your new patch. The pictures are lovely and I am really envious! Enjoy every moment.
Carol x
Lovely post, I am looking forward to seeing more of your favourite lane as it changes through the seasons.
Racheal x
Love country lanes just like yours, wonderful.
Steph,
that was a very sweet post thanks for taking us on that child hood walk/drive.
It's great that you stiil feel the same about that lane are all these years.
Your a true family girl, never change hun.
Hugs.
Catherine x
We have lanes rather like that around here (Carmarthenshire). I love to see them in the changing seasons, but especially the spring when each flower is so special after a long dark winter. We moved here 20 years ago and the first thing I learned was how to reverse well because of the single track lanes!
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