I think that the flower meadows at Muker have been the best for a few years; certainly since I found a base in the Yorkshire Dales. Whilst wandering about with my camera I made the most of some different paths in order to find some new angles and this blog shows my favourite photographs from the morning.
A week in Skinningrove
I fancied a change of scene this January so I booked myself a week’s stay in Skinningrove. It is a quiet village at the bottom of a deep gorge but the coastline and the sands are fabulous and a well kept secret.
The weather wasn’t brilliant but there was only one day that was a complete washout and the cloud and rain certainly added atmosphere to the my photographs.
The Galapagos Islands
After visiting the citadel at Machu Picchu I flew to Baltra Island and boarded the Santa Cruz II for an 8 day exploration of the Galapagos.
We visited 9 of the islands and it was incredible how the flora and fauna changed between each island. Most days we visited two islands and the daily explorations involved nature walks, panga boat rides and snorkeling.
Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu was built by the Incas in the 1400s on top of a mountain ridge with incredible views that span far and wide and offer stunning panoramic vistas and I have always been fascinated by the skill required to build a city high up in the Andes above the Urubamba river and why anyone would construct such a citadel there at all.
RPS Landscape Group Workshop - Ribblehead
A couple of months ago I signed up for a day out with Lizzie Shepherd on behalf of the RPS Landscape Group at Ribblehead and Kingsdale. I’ve had a base in the Yorkshire Dales for a few years now but I only get over to the western reaches a few times a year. This was an ideal opportunity to explore a couple of new photography locations. I’ve been to Ribblehead quite a few times but both the Cheese Press Stone and Thorns were new to me.
Yorkshire Dales in Autumn
This year autumn has been truncated for me as I’m off to the Galapagos so I’ve been busily taking autumnal photos in the past couple of weeks. I’ve mostly been to my favourite autumn haunts but thanks to OS and Mr Google’s maps I have discovered a couple of new footpaths which have proved fruitful and interesting.
Arkengarthdale
Most people visiting the Yorkshire Dales will go to the well known dales where the views are bigger and more dramatic. However, I have discovered the joys of Arkengarthdale and I’ve spent much of the year exploring this quiet but intimately beautiful dale.
Borrowdale
I love my week in Borrowdale and whilst I’m not keen on relentless rain photography is a challenge with wall to wall sunshine. Early morning conditions weren’t conducive to providing mist on Derwentwater so I had to make do and just enjoy the hills.
Coquet Island
I love visiting the Northumberland coast, particularly the areas around Amble, Low Hauxley and Cresswell Beach. Those of you that have looked at my coastal photographs know that I prefer to stand looking out to see where there is no sense of location. My photographs try to capture the mood of the sea without any distracting features.
However, at Amble and Low Hauxley it is impossible to ignore the island out to sea with it’s distinctive lighthouse and profile.
3 - Greenland Icebergs
The aspect of my voyage around the Greenland coast that excited me the most was the icebergs. A few of them calved off glaciers in the many fjords but most of them originated from the ice fjord at Ilulissat which is 250 miles north of the Arctic Circle.
2 - Greenland Settlements
There are many small settlements on the coast and they are truly fascinating as they are completely different to what we know in the UK. Or anywhere really! The towns vary in size from 30 to a few thousand and even the capital city, Nuuk, has a population of less than 20,000. It isn’t possible to drive from town to town so boats or Greenland Air planes/helicopters provide transport over and round the ice sheet.
1 - Greenland Glaciers
Those of you who have been hiding under a stone for the past 3 months will know that I have been on an expedition cruise around the west coast of Greenland. I didn’t know fully what to expect when I got on the ship other than all the reviews and comments I had read said that the scenery was spectacular. And it truly was.
Yorkshire Dales: Summer Flowers
The flower meadows at Muker are the most well known and photographed in the Yorkshire Dales but there are other locations where the display is just as lovely and the environment more interesting.
May in Borrowdale
Leaving the caravan behind I recently enjoyed my annual trip to Borrowdale. In addition to my usual haunts I also travelled to Grasmere and had a rainy trip on the Ullswater Steamer. These are my favourite images from the week.
Lamb Project - Raydale
This year I was given permission to visit a farm in Raydale, Yorkshire Dales, which enabled me to freely wander around the lambing sheds and fields. The farmer and his family were extremely informative, helpful and welcoming and in total I visited the farm four times this season.
January in the Yorkshire Dales
I would love to be in the caravan when there is snow but unfortunately there are problems that I haven’t been able to work around to make it a safe and workable option. These include the cost of heating two properties, freezing pipes and slithering about in an automatic 2WD car.
Winter in Amble
I scheduled my usual winter week in Northumberland a week earlier than normal to pick up the best tides. This meant I couldn't stay in my favourite cottage but I found a delightful place in Low Hauxley which was only 100m from the beach. There were building works across the way which could have been a nuisance but weren’t at all. In fact the chaps working there couldn’t have been more helpful when I needed help clearing snow and de-icing my car.
Autumn Woodland
On a wet day in November I was determined to get out and enjoy the last of the autumn show before all the leaves were battered and destroyed by the winds and rain.
I visited a woodland I had visited last year but as the road to my parking place was flooded I have to approach the wood from a different place.
Moray Firth - Woodland
I was amazed at how much woodland there was to explore in the area around Nairn and I must have spent as much time investigating inland as I did on the coast. Being 300 miles further north than Yorkshire the Highland autumn was well under way although there was still some summer warmth to be enjoyed.
Moray Firth - coast
I recently drove up to a cottage in Nairn so that I could spend a week exploring the coast and woodland along the Moray Firth. I soon discovered that what it lacks in dramatic waves it more than makes up for in variety and I enjoyed a fabulous week.