Category: Photography

Just photos – no particular theme

Knighton to Bucknell

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, Walks1 Comment

We left the car at Bucknell railway station, and caught the 1052 train to Knighton, all of 4.25 miles away (though we’ll walk more than twice that to get back). That ought to be “Knighton International” – the platforms are in Shropshire, the town (and the first few yards of our walk) in Wales. Crossing back into England, we’re soon looking down on the Teme valley, beside Offa’s Dyke, before turning right at an upland crossroads (crosspaths?) to head through high breezy grassland which ends at Bucknell wood. The descent through the woods towards the village (every bit as quiet as Clunton and Clunbury, Clungunford and Clun, apart from the occasional train) is much more pleasant than might be imagined – a good walking surface and lots of variety. There were showers about, which we mostly managed to avoid – it didn’t feel at all like early August, but it was a good day to be out on these lonely hills.

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=332260&Y=273831&A=Y&Z=120

Going up

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Sheldonian man…to Oxford – a day out by rail, and a wander around, trying to see the dreaming spires through hordes of tourists (not easy). More to follow; in the meantime, here’s a chap who looks rather startled to find himself featured on geoffspages blog.

Summer sunshine at Foxfield

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Railways..., VideoLeave a comment

DSC_0828…and despite the warmth, there’s plenty of visible steam*. It’s the weekend of the annual summer gala, and the weather forecast suggested Sunday would be the best day. It was – an excellent day out. Visit “Foxfield summer gala” on Geoff’s Rail Diaries for more photos and a short video clip (remember to turn up the volume!)

*I know – steam is invisible. The fluffy white stuff coming from the chimney is water droplets, suspended in the air, which don’t always form on warm days…

Going to the Wyre

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Railways...Leave a comment

Out with a railway friend – travelling to the Fylde on a Northern Rail day rover. Our objective is to cross the Wyre from Fleetwood to Knott End – our reward, a pint at the Bourne Arms – and some wonderful extensive views across the shimmering (despite it not being particularly warm) sands. The train takes us to Blackpool North, a smart new tram to Fleetwood – and what must be the shortest ferry crossing in the British Isles to Knott End jetty.

For more railway and tramway photos visit “By rail to Knott End” on Geoff’s Rail Diaries

Beside the Skell

On By geoffspagesIn NT and EH, PhotographyLeave a comment

The river Skell is perhaps best known (if at all) for flowing through the valley of Fountains Abbey and the Studley Royal water gardens (a world heritage site, on account of the latter). It rises on the moors east of Nidderdale, and joins the Ure on the eastern edge of the city of Ripon (which is half the size of Beverley, the third-smallest city in England). We’ll start at the latter, for lunch down by the cathedral, followed by a visit to the restored canal basin. The canal, which takes its feed water from the Skell, closed in 1956 – forty years later, it had been re-connected to the inland waterways network.

It’s only a short drive to Fountains. The ruins need little introduction – the abbey is one of the largest and best-preserved of its kind, and particularly photogenic, even on a dull grey afternoon. There’s plenty to explore, and afterwards we walk the length of the water gardens, a very pleasant stroll which is concluded by fine views as we approach the abbey once more. Little more needs to be said – visit the NT site (below) for more.

Fountains Abbey (NT)

Beverley, briefly

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Wednesday: We’re in Beverley, in the old East Riding, looking for somewhere to eat*. It’s an interesting old place, worth a longer look and closer attention than we were able to give. Holidays as a child, in Bridlington, too many years ago, were distinguished by the dark blue and cream East Yorkshire buses – with white, pointed roofs. How odd! The reason lay in Beverley – they had to get under a low, pointed arch. It’s still there, though the buses no longer have pointed roofs. Beverley has a magnificent minster, grander than many cathedrals – but it’s not a cathedral, so Beverley is a town. Round the back of the minster, there’s a “Lurk Lane”. Its phone boxes are a funny colour and there are fish embedded in the pavement.

* We find the Tudor Rose, whose menu offers Polish specialities. We’d better try it. Potato cakes with slow-cooked beef, and pork cutlets – excellent (won’t need anything else to eat today…)!