Kinder Downfall - Kinder Scout

The walk is about 9 miles from Edale, up to Kinder Downfall and onto Kinder Scout and back to Edale.

Started the hike at the official start of Pennine Way in Edale.

A few sheep taking a break.!

Looking back down from near the top of Jacobs Ladder.

Looking down onto Kinder Reservoir.

Mermaid's Pool. If you visit this pool on the eve of Easter a mermaid will grant you ever lasting life!

Kinder Downfall. If a strong wind blows from the west the waterfall actually travels upwards.

Edale

A few days camping in Edale at the Fieldhead Campsite run by the Peak District National Park Authority. Arrived Friday afternoon and pitched the tent. This would be the base for a hike up to Kinder Scout the next day.

  A friendly campsite with good facilities.

  Walking towards the church from the campsite.

The Old Nags Head - Good food, drink and a great atmosphere welcomes weary hikers.

Skiddaw, Lake District

Hike up to Skiddaw in the Lake District, a 10 mile round trip from our cottage in Keswick, ascending to a height of 931 m (3,054 ft). Started at about 09:30 in the morning and managed to reach the cloud covered peak around 12:30 ish. 

The summit was in thick cloud, but managed to eat lunch and have a brew behind the stone cairns. On the return descent went via Little Man Skiddaw  865 m (2,837 ft) reaching home around 15:00. The descent was quicker but no less tiring.

View of Keswick and Derwent Water from the Lower Fells, near Latrigg.

This is where the long upwards climb starts

Nearly there, probably about another mile and a half to go. From here the summit looked clear.

At the Summit Trig Point, completely in cloud.

All round a very exhausting hike but nonetheless an enjoyable day in the Lakes. A pity about the cloud cover at the summit obscuring the views.

Sandy Smith Nature Reserve

Taking a walk through Sandy Smith Nature Reserve, Bedfordshire, England. The Nature Reserve is managed by the Greensand Trust. The three veteran oak trees  are the sole survivors of the many old trees that used to be scattered over the fields.

It was a very bright day. I adjusted the levels in Photoshop to increase the detail in the sky and enhanced the contrast. There are many wild plants and butterflies but it was a bit too windy to take sharp photographs close up.

Abstract Pictures

Just a few photographs of some abstract shapes and textures.

Woody Bay Station

The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway (L&B) opened as an independent railway in May 1898. In 1922 the L&B was taken over by the Southern Railway but closed in 1935 after making a loss for several years. The railway ran from Barnstaple to Lynton in Devon, a length of 19 miles. Much of the line has now disappeared but Wood Bay Station is part of Lynton & Barnstaple Railway Association that has re-opened a short stretch of line (2 miles) and operates a small locomotive and passenger carriages.

The day at Woody Bay was overcast and drizzled with rain but some good photos were taken mainly in and around the Station. The train ride itself was relaxing rolling through the Exmoor countryside.

Lynton and Lynmouth

A few photographs in and around Lynton and Lynmouth.

Boats in Lynmouth Harbour protected from the crashing waves.

Lynmouth late evening.

The rushing river Lynn at Watersmeet.

Waterall at Watersmeet, Lynton.

The Watersmeet photographs were taken at midday, not the best time for landscape photos as the sun is quite hard.

Exmoor Zoo

A visit to Exmoor Zoo never disappoints; Meerkats, Cheetahs, Monkeys, Birds, Reptiles and friendly staff.

This Humbolt Penguin was molting so was not showing his best.

Meerkat on sentry duty.

Their teeth are sharp and made short work of the food.

Peackock displaying a great set of feathers, 'strutting' through the zoo.

Although these animals are captive it is still a challenge getting a good photograph.

 

Exmoor Owl & Hawk Centre.

An afternoon spent at the Exmoor Owl & Hawk Centre, near Porlock, Devon. 

African Barn Owl

Brown Spotted Wood Owl

The owls were flying between the tables but it was very difficult to get a good photo of their flight, even using shutter priority at 1/1000th.

After a Rain Shower

Another walk in Maulden Woods, just after a morning rain shower. 

I used my Sony A58  (18-55mm Kit lens) with a Joby GorillaPod Original Tripod and a Pixel  Shutter Cable Release. Most of these pictures were taken with ISO 100 in AP Mode. 

Woodland Flowers

A journey through Maulden Wood, Bedfordshire, England can reveal a surprising number of  diverse woodland flowers. 

Buttercup

 Dandelion

Foxglove

Greater Stichwort

Taking these pictures was quite challenging as there was a slight breeze and I didn't have a tripod with me. With a tripod and no wind the flowers would have been sharper.

JOANovARC

JOANovARC  the all girl rock band hailing from London and the Home Counties perform on stage at the Baldock Beer Festival 2015.

Laura Ozholl – Rhythm Guitar/Bass/Vocals

Sam Walker – Lead Vocals/Bass/Rhythm guitar

Deborah Wildish – Drums/percussion

Shelley Walker – Lead guitar /Backing Vocals

Visit there own website: http://joanovarc.co.uk/

The pictures were taken from the back standing on a chair!. I couldn't get closer so all the pictures were all taken with near max zoom without a tripod.

The music was great.

Grand Union Canal, Tring

A walk along the Grand Union Canal at Tring, Buckinghamshire, England. There's always a few barge boats moving slowly along the canal and negotiating the locks between the Bluebells Tearoom and the Grand Junction Arms.

Flying the 'Skull and Crossbones' flag seemed to be popular with barge owners,obviously the inner pirate coming out.

Its always good to have an alternative means of transport.

The day was very bright and some of the photos were slightly over-exposed. I need to remember to monitor the histogram and adjust the exposure setting accordingly.