Tag Archives: walking

Nov 27 2025
Leave a comment
Daily Post, Landscape

A very large hole indeed

Tuesday 25th November 2025, 1.00pm (day 5,206)

Gigantic hole, 25/11/25

These impressive crags would grace any mountain in the Lake District or Scotland, but instead can be found, perhaps unexpectedly, in Leicestershire — specifically on Bardon Hill, the County Top of that territory. However, as is probably obvious, they are not natural formations. Instead this is the gigantic artificial hole of the Bardon Hill Quarry, source of, apparently, some 15% of the UK’s entire output of crushed stone (for roads etc). From the summit of the hill there is an immediate, and fortunately fenced-off, drop of at least 400 feet straight down to the quarry floor, as seen here. Is it ugly? I honestly don’t know. Interesting, anyway. (For more pictures from today see the latest County Tops blog post.)

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,
Nov 10 2025
1 Comment
Daily Post, Transport

Bridge across the Mersey

Saturday 8th November 2025, 12.15pm (day 5,189)

Silver Jubilee Bridge, 8/11/25

Before embarking on its final spread into its estuary, between Widnes (on the north bank) and Runcorn, the River Mersey narrows significantly. This convenient crossing point, known as the Runcorn Gap, has been exploited for hundreds of years, but it was only in 1961 that a proper road bridge was opened, and given the ‘Silver Jubilee’ name 15 years later. And, well, here it is, seen from the Widnes side. The second longest bridge I have walked across as part of my little walking project (after the Humber Bridge). Pedestrians take a rather exposed and vertiginous walkway that dangles off the main arch to the left, by the way.

Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,
Sep 09 2025
Leave a comment
Daily Post, Interior

Drying out day

Monday 8th September 2025, 2.10pm (day 5,128)

Drying boots, 8/9/25

However you interpret the title of this post, as I get older the idea of a Day of Recovery is becoming more appealing. I needed it — and the boots certainly did, after Friday’s sogginess and then, two days stuffed into a pack. I think they’re feeling better after a day sat around doing very little. As am I.

Tagged , , , , , , , ,
Sep 06 2025
Leave a comment
Daily Post, Landscape

Sunshine and showers

Friday 5th September 2025, 1.10pm (day 5,125)

Rainbow, 5/9/25

I would have preferred more of the sunshine and less of the showers, but at least this is a combination known to produce some pleasing atmospheric effects. The mountain behind is called Stob nan Coinnich Bhacain — please don’t ask me to pronounce that — but my destination for the day was Ben Vorlich, County Top number 107. More photos are therefore on the other blog.

Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,
Jul 30 2025
Leave a comment
Daily Post, Landscape, Sport

Stromness and Ward Hill: a combination of pleasures

Tuesday 29th July 2025, 7.05pm (day 5,087)

Stromness FC and Ward Hill, 29/7/25

The first part of my day was spent up the hill in the background, Ward Hill: not an easy lump of sandstone to get up or down, thanks to its steep sides (evident in this shot), but worth the bother. The second part of my day was spent at the easier-to-reach environs of Stromness FC, members of the Orkney ‘A’ League, and their match against Dounby (here in blue). I couldn’t decide which one was worth making Pic of the Day so let’s just choose one that accommdates both these pleasures.

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,
Jun 14 2025
Leave a comment
Daily Post, Landscape

The last climb, for now

Friday 13th June 2025, 1.50pm (day 5,041)

Clare on last climb, 13/6/25

As part of the contract that is Being Married to Drew, Clare occasionally gets dragged up remote moorlands, like Meikle Says Law in the Lammermuir Hills — the top of this (a County Top) being somewhere in the vague brown moorland to top right. This was the final stage back to the car. I call it the ‘last climb for now’ because I assume she might be motivated to do another one or two in the future before one of us dies…. though who knows for sure?

This is the last of the shots from the current road trip in Scotland, a passage of time which has seen it overtake Australia as the second-most depicted country on here after England.

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,
Jun 12 2025
Leave a comment
Daily Post, Landscape

3,000-foot staircase up Big Hill

Tuesday 10th June 2025, 10.00am (day 5,038)

Ben More path, 10/6/25

The lump to top right is Ben More. Its Gaelic name literally means “Big Hill”, and it can join the ranks of places that have clearly been named for their physical characteristics. On the left of this shot, the start of the path up it, and it’s representative of the whole — a 3,000-foot climb, all like this. Imagine climbing one of the staircases up the Eiffel Tower, three times in succession. Do I do these things for fun? Yes, I suppose I do. (See also the other blog.)

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
May 25 2025
Leave a comment
Daily Post, Landscape

Yr Elen

Friday 23rd May 2025, 2.30pm (day 5,020)

Yr Elen, 23/5/25

At 3,156 feet/962m, Yr Elen — it may just mean Helen or Eleanor, or it might mean “The Leech”; you decide, that’s Welsh for you — is apparently the ninth-highest mountain in Wales. The last of five biggish lumps of rock that I negotiated today. More details on the other blog, as ever.

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , ,
May 19 2025
Leave a comment
Daily Post, Landscape

The Clyde

Saturday 17th May 2025, 1.20pm (day 5,014)

The Clyde, 17/5/24

When I realised the weather forecast was going to stay much the same — that is, warm and sunny — throughout our visit to Scotland, a walk became by far the best choice for a Saturday activity. It wasn’t too hard to rearrange things accordingly, and I did not regret doing so. Below, the River Clyde, winding its way from Glasgow, over in the distance, to the sea, and crossed here by the Erskine Bridge. More photos and details of the day are on my County Tops blog.

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Apr 08 2025
Leave a comment
Daily Post, Landscape

Sisters’ Peak, from Green Mountain

Sunday 6th April 2025, 12.10pm (day 4,973)

Sisters' Peak, 6/4/25

Ascension Island is greener than I expected, although this is mainly due to the spread of an invasive weed, Mexican thorn, which authorities are trying to control (with some recent success it seems). But the peak in the centre of the island has long been known as Green Mountain for good reason. It was on this mountain that, in the 19th century, botanist Joseph Hooker embarked on a giant horticultural project to plant a forest and bring more rain to the island — and the jungle in the foreground of this shot is evidence that he succeeded. In fact, as far as I can tell this view is shrouded in cloud most of the time — some more is just visible drifting in from the right, but I nabbed the shot in a rare clear spell on my Sunday morning walk up to the island’s summit. Note also the Perfect Crater — that’s its official name — visible to the right of the cone of Sisters’ Peak.

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
← Older posts