FLY-FISHING IN THE TEME. 31 



bed. Of itself it possesses no special claim 

 to beauty or attractiveness ; but its surround- 

 ings are very charming. It has a lovely back- 

 ground formed by the village of Brampton 

 Brian, the handsome brick-built mansion of 

 Squire Harley, the owner of the estate, and 

 the ruins of an old castle, half hidden 

 amongst the abounding tall trees and lower 

 foliage which encompass it ; the pine-clad 

 heights of Brampton Brian Park limit the 

 view in that direction. It is to the courtesy 

 of the owner of this beautiful estate that I 

 am indebted for permission to fish in this 

 stretch of the Teme. 



Looking to the south and east, the wide, 

 open valley of Leintwardine is bounded by 

 the hills which surround the old town of 

 Ludlow, and the range which trends south- 

 ward to Bircher Common, Croft Ambrey, 

 and Pokehouse Wood. The grey tower of 

 Leintwardine church stands well up from the 

 village, which nestles in the north-eastern 

 corner of the valley. Just above Leintwar- 

 dine bridge the river Clun pours its waters 

 into the Teme, and thenceforward the Teme 

 becomes a large and important stream, 

 wending its crooked way among the hills, 

 beneath Caesar's Camp, past and amidst the 

 lovely scenery of Downton Castle, to Oakley 



