Author: geoffspages

Skateraw and Barns Ness

On By geoffspagesIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Wednesday 6 August: a walk along the shore. Skateraw lime kiln is just a few yards along the rock slab shore from the Torness nuclear power station, a prominent landmark on the coast of East Lothian. A couple of miles to the north-west is another highly visible landmark, the lighthouse at Barns Ness. Dating from the turn of the 20th century, it was deactivated twenty years ago, and is now in use as holiday accomodation. The shore path is very pleasant, with fine views to sea and plenty of white waves – most enjoyable for an afternoon stroll.

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=373167&Y=676267&A=Y&Z=120

Flight!

On By geoffspagesIn NT and EH, PhotographyLeave a comment

Tuesday 4 August: Scotland’s National Museum of Flight is just down the road from Dunbar, at East Fortune’s former WW2 airfield. We’d better pay it a visit!

We’re not experts on things that fly, though we have taken to the air once or twice. Geoffspages’ first flight (and only one in a jet*) was many years ago, from Birmingham to Munich (a school ski-ing trip), in a BAC 1-11 – just like that one over there! Seemed very modern at the time… So did Concorde, a few years later, when it roared overhead during occasional family visits west of Heathrow. There’s one on display here! At the other end of the scale, there’s a home-made plane, based around a VW ‘Beetle’ engine (amazing!) – and just about everything in-between.

* the others: a propeller-powered cross-channel hop, a short spin (not literally) in a 2-seater Cessna, and a helicopter flight over our little corner of Shropshire. I guess I ought to try a hot air balloon one of these days, or maybe a hang-glider? Maybe not…

NMS National Museum of Flight

Windy Sunny Dunny

On By geoffspagesIn Dunbar, PhotographyLeave a comment

Monday 3 August: Dunbar is noted for its summer sunshine. After the early rain has passed, it’s certainly sunny, but with an amber warning for storm Floris and winds gusting to the mid-60mph range, the sunshine isn’t the most obvious aspect of the weather. I’ll take a careful walk out to see if I can capture something of the wind on the camera. Avoiding camera shake could be tricky… There’s a strong wall beside the path which provides some shelter for a few shots of the sea and the waves. Beyond, beside the golf course (no-one playing today!), the wind is picking up loose material from the beach – I’m getting sandblasted (and it won’t be doing the camera any good). I’ll turn my back to the wind and head for home.

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=367194&Y=678928&A=Y&Z=120

All’s quiet on the Edge

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, Walks1 Comment

Stretton Westwood and Bourton Westwood: we’ve been here before. The last time was in early spring – there were no leaves on the trees, the hedges were bare and there was no-one else about. Today, the trees are in full leaf, the hedges are laden with blackberries and sloes – and there’s no-one else about. A great afternoon for for a wander in this quiet part of Wenlock Edge – pleasantly warm with a light cooling breeze. Can’t ask for much more at this time of year.

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=360205&Y=297680&A=Y&Z=120

By Linley Brook to Nordley Common

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

A welcome leg stretch on a nondescript late July day… A bit of sunshine, then some cloud, neither warm nor cold, a light breeze – and a lack of colour in the landscape (have I just contradicted myself?). Haven’t walked this way for a while – the path beside the brook can be rather wet, but though there’s always a sticky spot where a spring runs across the path, it’s otherwise dry (and well-suited to limbo dancers). It’s quiet in the fields past the Albynes – and along Stocking Lane and across Nordley Common, where the breeze is just perfect!

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=367935&Y=297520&A=Y&Z=120

Flaxmill Maltings

On By geoffspagesIn NT and EH, PhotographyLeave a comment

Built in 1797 as a flax mill, from 1897 to 1987 it was a maltings. Disused for several years after that, it’s now in a fine state of preservation. Appropriately so – it’s the world’s first iron-framed multi-storey building – predecessor of the modern skyscraper. On the ground floor is an impressive exhibition making good use of hands-on multimedia displays, and outside, the attractive old buildings are well worth a few photos (taken on the phone. I haven’t lost my memory – simply forgot to put it back in the camera…)

EH: Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings