Category Archives: Landscape

Spurn Head

Thursday 26th January 2012, 11.50am (day 154)

Spurn Head, 26/1/12

From Mike Parker’s book, Map Addict (2009, Harper Collins):

Page 3: “I’m the one who will annoy anyone I’m sharing a flight with by repeatedly jabbing at the window and telling them which town we’re flying over, just because I recognised its shape and road pattern from decades of map scrutiny…”

Page 81 [referring to Spurn Head]: “Driving down this tiny thread of land is like walking a tightrope in a gale. The concrete road is poor and rutted, with drifts of sand blocking the way and sea spume whacking your windscreen like a scorned lover. At times, the road is virtually all there is between the two banks of angry, choppy sea falling away on either side. There is no safety net…. It is one of the ugliest, rawest places of beauty I have ever experienced. And it is quite wonderful. Twenty years it had taken from running my eager finger along my first Ordnance Survey map to standing on the point itself, but it was worth every minute of the wait.”

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Latrigg, early morning

Monday 16th January 2012, 8.30am (day 144)

Latrigg, 16/1/12

Fourth and final day in the Lake District, with glorious weather throughout – a stroke of great luck, seeing as we booked the weekend months ago, taking a gamble. Just proves that the British weather can do pretty much what it wants, at any time. Today I set off early, wanting to get one more walk in but still needing to be home at a reasonable hour. The sun came up as I made my way round the southern slopes of Blencathra and caught this view of the half moon over Derwentwater and the little hill of Latrigg: one I still have to bag for my project. 154 done now, 60 to go.

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The saddle of Blencathra

Saturday 14th January 2012, 12.05pm (day 142)

Clare and Joe on Blencathra, 14/1/12_low-res

Taken at about 2,800 feet up. (You want that in metres – work it out!) I was very proud of Joe for having got up his first really substantial mountain. I also note, on this shot, quite how tall he is getting.

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Not the Lake District, but so what

Thursday 5th January 2012, 1.10pm (day 133)

Ladder stile, 5/1/12

Today was one of those miraculous days of brightness after days of rain (and more forecast). Let’s not dwell on Virgin Trains’ inability to get me to the Lake District, as I had planned. I had to turn back at Preston. It didn’t matter. I went out walking at home instead, up Stoodley Pike and round to Cragg Vale. Windy, but spectacular day. See all the best photos from it on my Flickr site.

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Phone mast, late afternoon

Wednesday 28th December 2011, 2.40pm (day 125)

Phone mast, Hebden Bridge, 28/12/11

Few chances to take a good photo today until the sun began to go down. When you live in a valley the sun drops earlier than elsewhere and today the mast that is otherwise a minor blemish on the view marked the point at which it dipped below the horizon. Stonehenge – mobile communications mast – same thing? (From our house on Dec 28th each year, at least.)

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Morecambe, Christmas Eve

Saturday 24th December 2011, 2.05pm (day 121)

Morecambe Bay, 24/12/11

And so this is Christmas…. we effected a transfer to the in-laws’ this morning. They live in Morecambe, a strange place, quite run down in many ways but located on a slice of genuine physical beauty, the bay to which it gives its name. I’m happy with this pic but I suffered for it – this was taken into the teeth of a vicious gale.

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Moon over Hebden Bridge

Thursday 15th December 2011, 8.30am (day 112)

Moon over Hebden, 15/12/11

I don’t feel I’ve been here much lately. However, I’ve now got four weeks at home – more-or-less – so get used to photos of this place (and occasionally Manchester). On mornings like this, it’s no hardship – though the rest of the day was rather worse.

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Reindeer run, Bramham Park, near Wetherby

Sunday 4th December 2011, 11.10am (day 101)

Reindeer run, 4/12/11

So called because all contestants were supposed to go round in a pair of novelty antlers and a flashing red nose. Except that anyone taking it remotely seriously, like these two guys (who finished 3rd and 4th I believe), ditched the accessories before they even started: though the guy in front does appear to still have the nose strapped to his forehead. Maybe it’s even still flashing.

It was damn cold today. And muddy. I know I am in no position to criticise, having spent Friday 3,000 feet up in the first snowdrifts of the winter, but you’ve got to be pretty dedicated to have run round 10km on this rather fierce December Sunday morning. Joe & I said ‘sod it’ after about 15 minutes and waited it out in the car. It was the wife (and assorted in-laws) who took the plaudits today.

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On Helvellyn, looking south

Friday 2nd December 2011, 11.25am (day 99)

Helvellyn, 2/12/11

Do I need to add any commentary, really?

I’ll just make an observation – don’t think the whole country is like this. In fact, this was about the only bit of the Lake District that was like this. There are several more photos up on the 214wainwrights blog, which will give you the full flavour.

Also, tomorrow’s the 100th day of this blog so there’ll be another ‘best of the rest’ selection going up.

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Midgehole Road woods, Hebden Bridge

Saturday 19th November 2011, 1.25pm (day 86)

Midgehole woods, 19/11/11

Glorious day today. Even the Boy wanted to take a walk. No other comment necessary.

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