Portree: loch and harbour

On 29 Oct 202229 Oct 2022 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Skye1 Comment

Tuesday 18 October: A morning in Portree. As tends to happen, I’m on chauffeur duties, taking the household authorities in to the island capital so that they can visit shops, the bank etc. Fortunately, my presence is not required (quite the opposite!) so I’m free for an hour or so, to wander with the camera on this fine cold morning (what a difference after that dismal Monday).

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Eilean a’Cheo

On 28 Oct 2022 By geoffspagesIn Photography, SkyeLeave a comment

Monday 17 October: A rainy day on the misty isle. The rain stops for a while in the late afternoon – I’ll stretch my legs as far as the village hall. It’s raining again by the time I get back…

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Flodigarry shore…

On 28 Oct 202228 Oct 2022 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Skye, WalksLeave a comment

Sunday 16 October: Stones and seals! Silhouetted against the southern horizon, I thought they were rocks, until they began to wriggle…

We arrived at our ‘northern office’ yesterday, after driving more than 300 miles, from Dunbar to the northern end of Skye’s Trotternish peninsula. I need a leg stretch – I’ll aim for the shore near Flodigarry. The route down to the sea is clearly marked and easy; the shore itself is very stony – bouldery for long stretches. It would be easy to turn an ankle, and there’s no-one else around. So progress is very slow – just under a mile taking just under an hour! Admittedly, I stopped to watch the seals for a while. Ascent from the shore isn’t easy either – the ground is steep and uneven, to put it mildly. Possibly one of the longest short walks I’ve done for many years! Nevertheless, it’s been a most enjoyable outing, just what was needed after that long journey.

The rainbow's boiling the sea! (or perhaps it's just those rocks)

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Belhaven Bay

On 26 Oct 202226 Oct 2022 By geoffspagesIn Dunbar, Photography, WalksLeave a comment

Friday 14 October: Dunbar. A fine sandy dune-backed beach, accessible (except at high tide) by Dunbar’s ‘bridge to nowhere’. If the tide is in, there’s an alternative route (which I’ll have to follow on my return) via the John Muir Way, past tidal marshes, home to numerous wading birds.

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I like lichen

On 21 Oct 202221 Oct 2022 By geoffspagesIn Photography1 Comment

A closer look at some of the past week’s sights…

Lyth Hill

On 11 Oct 2022 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

As a hill, it’s barely there – the highest point is only about 170m (less than 600ft) above sea level. As a viewpoint for the south Shropshire hills, especially those around Church Stretton, it’s a grandstand! The grassy and almost level top is popular with dog-walkers, but down past the venison farm and along the unsurfaced track through Exfords Green, it’s much quieter. Returning by the pine-topped hill towards Lyth Bank, the views are opening out a little towards the west, to the Breidden hills and the Berwyns beyond.

Hill and sheep (they'll run away when they see us)

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Dudmaston and Comer in October

On 10 Oct 2022 By geoffspagesIn NT and EH, Photography, WalksLeave a comment

It’s another fine, bright and breezy autumn day – warm in the sunshine, cool in the wind. We’re walking through the Dudmaston Hall grounds, out through the fields of the asparagus farm and into Comer Woods. There are lots of cars parked at Dudmaston, but there don’t seem to be many people out and about. Are they all in the tea room? (On this occasion, we’ll never know)

Dudmaston NT

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Cavemen (and women)…

On 09 Oct 202209 Oct 2022 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

Not so many years ago, people lived in caves along this part of the Severn Valley. There’s at least one house in Bridgnorth that has a quite significant cave behind a more conventional exterior. These cave dwellings, between the old railway track and the river, haven’t been used for many years – except by the sheep, who probably find them quite cosy on cold wet days.

Next year's crop; this year's fallen leaves...

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Long Mynd landscapes

On 08 Oct 2022 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

A fine, sunny day – perfect for a walk on high ground, with extensive views in all directions… In other words, the Long Mynd’s Portway (approximately), from Robin Hood’s Butts to the Pole Cottage pools. Many others have similar ideas – I’ve never seen the top so crowded (“crowded” is a relative term up here…). Some people are trying to place their small dog on the trig point, so that he can appreciate the view. On the path, some walkers pretend we’re not there as they pass by, carefully avoiding any eye contact. Just smile and say “Hello”, folks! Only yards from Pole Bank, no-one else is interested in those reedy pools behind Pole Cottage, where there’s some welcome peace and quiet. Retracing our steps, a grouse calls out as he flies low over the moor – “go back, go back, go back”. Yes, that’s what we’re doing!