Category: Photography

Just photos – no particular theme

Trams and Lowry

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

   

A little trip to Manchester, by rail from Shropshire, and by tram from central Manchester to “The Lowry”, the gallery established on the derelict docklands to display, among other things, the works of L S Lowry. Can’t say the “other things” were quite my cup of tea – World Cup photography and football art (!), but it was great to see the originals of those “matchstalk men and dogs” which we’ve been familiar with for many years.

The new(ish) Metrolink tramway through the docklands is great fun – lots of ups and downs and tight curves. The rail journey? – bang on time both ways, but the crammed conditions in two- and three-car trains are hardly going to tempt motorists into greener habits…

   

Skye

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1-5 August – and perhaps the cloudiest spell we’ve spent on the island. I don’t think we had more than 20 minutes of sunshine the whole of the time we were there. And when it wasn’t sunny – well, not much actual rain, but the constant threat of it in the distance – grey curtains of mist drifting about and obscuring the landscape. On our last day – murk and mist, no views at all. Can’t complain really – the last few trips have had uncharacteristically good weather. And as for the journey home – we caught up with the rain that had passed in the night and followed it most of the way back. Just the thing for the M74 / M6…

      

Heatherslaw and Berwick

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

30 July 2006 (continued)

Our other visit on this very pleasant afternoon was to England’s most northerly tourist railway – the Heatherslaw Light Railway, about 9 miles south-west of Berwick. The 15″ gauge line follows the meanders of the Till for almost 2 miles between Heatherslaw Mill and Etal village. The locomotive, “The Lady Augusta” is a little 0-4-2 built by Brian Taylor (better known for the Kirklees Light Railway). She seemed a tad underpowered for our 8-coach train (or perhaps we were just taking it easy through the very pleasant countryside)

We spent the evening, as planned, in Berwick – a stroll along the breakwater seemed a good idea on this fine evening.

   

Northumbrian wandering

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, WalksLeave a comment

Just returned from five days in Northumberland – coinciding with (to date) the hottest July day ever*. Ideal walking conditions? Not quite…

Monday 17th July – outward via Hadrian’s Wall

Before the weather warmed up, we had thoughts of a longer walk along the wall – but in the event, Housesteads to Once Brewed proved quite sufficient – and scenic too.

Tuesday 18th July – the coast

Our main intention for this trip was some walking in the Cheviot hills – but with temperatures soaring, it didn’t seem a good idea. So, armed with the bus timetable, we drove to Seahouses, caught the bus to Longhoughton, and walked back along the coastal path and the rocks and firm sands below the high water mark – about 14 miles altogether

Wednesday 19th July – Farne and Lindisfarne

This would be the hottest day – with the forecast in mind, we drove once again to Seahouses, this time for a trip to the Farne Islands and the opportunity for some bird photography. We nearly didn’t go – it was cold and foggy in the little coastal town – we couldn’t see the end of the harbour wall. “Let’s go for it anyway”. We did – and it was a great little trip.
In the afternoon, we took a trip to Lindisfarne, for an interesting and pleasant (once we escaped the crowds) wander around the southern part of the island

Thursday 20th July – at last – the Cheviots

Thursday dawned grey and cool – much better, though the cloudbase could be a problem…
A truly long and winding road leads to the upper reaches of the Coquet valley, and the hamlet of Blindburn. A little-used bridleway – the Border Country Ride – took us to the main Cheviot ridge, the border between England and Scotland. We walked on via Lamb Hill, Beefstand hill and Mozie Law to meet an old cross-border track – “The Street”, and followed this back to the Coquet. A very pleasant stroll, about 11.5 miles – and, other than a few spots of drizzle, no problem with the clouds – it even brightened and became warm later.

Friday 21st July – home again

Another warm day, and a long drive home – and little inspiration for a walk. In the event, we pulled in at Brimham Rocks – a spectacular little bit of gritstone moorland above Pateley Bridge in Yorkshire, and a good place for a half-way leg stretch, before crossing the Pennines to the M6 and the inevitable stop-start traffic

*36.5° in Wisley, Surrey – and about half that on Staple Island…

Enjoying the sunshine

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Thursday: a fine, warm, sunny evening – just the thing for a trip out with the cameras (not to mention a quick pint afterwards…).

Started down at Ironbridge, trying to get some new angles on the (perhaps?) most photographed piece of ironwork in the UK.

Later, as the sun lowered, we spent half-an-hour a few miles upstream beside Cressage bridge – where, as well as the usual crop of riverside vegetation, including the specimen on the right, there is a patch of teasels, just begging to have their picture taken…

   

Blists Hill

On By geoffspagesIn NT and EH, PhotographyLeave a comment

A brief visit to Blists Hill Victorian Town, the chief site of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum in Shropshire. It’s always an interesting place for a wander round on a Sunday afternoon – there are plenty of subjects for the camera (just wish I could find them!)

The three photos depict a (very) short road – “Foundry Alley” – which leads, oddly enough, to the iron foundry (not in use on this occasion); the toll house which once stood beside (Thomas) Telford’s Holyhead Road, and a view from the garden to the locksmith’s and the baker’s.