End of an era

Tomorrow is officially my last day of employment. After 44 years of work, it all stops tomorrow and I gain control of my own time. So now the focus is really on the next adventure, which is a long trip into France, photographing, walking and no doubt a little reflecting. Can't wait and can't wait to document it all on here.

Good Friday on Holme Fell

A fairly early start this morning, we were out walking by 08:20 and heading up to Holme Fell. We took the path around the back of Yewtree Farm on the eastern side of the fell and walked up through Birch and bracken to a col that overlooked the Coniston fells and the Langdales.

The views from the top are amazing for such a small fell. You can see the full length of Lake Coniston and all the surrounding fells.

To the north, Fairfield and the fells around Ambleside are also visible.

We left the summit and passing by the tarn, we headed down to Hodge Close quarry and returned home via Stang End, Little Langdale and Tilberthwaite.

Morecambe Bay

A haven for wildlife, especially waders, Morecambe Bay sits just to the south of where I live. It always offers great photo opportunities, with it's sinning wet sands and vast skies. Here are one or two images that I have taken there.

The mesmorising quicksands

Winter sunrise

This was taken just after a brief but sharp snow storm had passed through. The sky was still dark with thick cloud as the shower headed east and t as the sun began to reappear, it lit up the wet sands.

End of another weekend

A good weekend in Coniston comes to an end as the light fades and the lake settles down for the night.

Early morning images

The weather inspired me to get out onto the fells this morning. With mist in the valley first thing it seemed a bit hit and miss to try and take photos down by the lake. So I hoped that by getting above the mist I might get some better images. My favourite image of the morning is this one taken as the mist rises out of the village, a few minutes later and it was gone.

Looking down at mist hanging over the lake.

A couple of shots of the Coppermines Valley.

An old Juniper bush up on the fell. Also known as Windbushes.

My route down. I've never come down this gulley before. I've climbed up it a few times, but it makes for a very steep descent!

Early morning by the lake

A calm lake and soft spring sunshine.

Coniston Hall, an Elizabethan Manor House and Coniston Sailing Club.

And a lone cormorant, drying it's wings after a morning's fishing.

A View That Means Home

The small village of Torver, nestling under Coniston Old Man and Dow Crags. One of my favourite views, it has often been a welcome sight after a long journey.

Past Times

The area of Coniston known as The Banks is a collection of terraced houses on the hillside above the village. They were built for miners and their families. Often large families with six or more children, living in these two up, two down cottages, without running water or any of the trappings of modern life. Many of them are now holiday homes, some have been 'knocked through' to make larger properties.

Here's another picture of 'The Banks'. This one is taken on Bank Terrace and I am holding an old photograph from around 1900 showing some of the residents from that time. You can see the same front door step in both pictures as well as the same clematis growing up the side of the door.

Just along from The Banks is Slantriggs, the house where my Grandad was born. One morning while he and his brother Frank were in bed, the roof fell in on them. Of course they had to move out and the old building has suffered much in the hundred years since.

It's not difficult to imagine how nice it could be here with a lovely garden area and views down over the valley to the lake and beyond. Attempts have been made to restore or rebuild, but the access is poor and planning permission always gets refused.

Beautiful Day!

What a stunning morning and a fabulous spring day. First task of the day was to capture some of that with my camera....

And then, the continuing task of finding my new boots.

And this is what I ended up with, Keen Tahgee boots, very strong and very comfortable.

A Misty Murky Morning

Very mild and very still. A very gentle day, so we had a walk through Tilberthwaite to Little Langdale and back to Coniston via Stang End and Hodge Close. It was too misty for any landscape photography, but we did see a lot of herdwicks and we both remarked onhow particularly curious they looked today. They always have nice smiley faces and often look at you like they didn't expect you to be there, but today that seemed very pronounced. Or has it just been a very long winter? Well it's coming to an end with snowdrops, daffodils and crocuses everywhere. We saw celendine today and the very tiny little red flower that grows on the hazel tree at catkin time.

The curious herdwick

The hazel flower

New Boots!

09:00 Whilst cleaning my Keen, 'everyday' boots last weekend I discovered that the sole was becoming detached from one of them. Not good with a long trip to France imminently! So today's task is to find a replacement pair without breaking the bank. I have a good pair of four season boots, what I'm looking for is some good, lightweight boots that will take me everywhere but the highest, roughest trails. Watch this space................................................... 13:00 Well I've never really been an impulsive shopper and the result of that means I haven't got my new boots yet. But typically, I have got a short list to ponder over the next few days. Merrell or Oboz. Oboz or Merrell? Which will it be. The Merrells are very comfortable, quite soft on the upper and nice and colourful. The Oboz are a great boot and comfortable, but more of a three season boot and more sturdy than the Merrells. I need to decide which I need! I really like the Merrells, but are they quite strong enough, or am I being seduced by the nice bright colours???

Back Catalogue

Maybe time to indulge in a bit of catching up on my back catalogue. So here we go....

This is Kelly Hall Tarn near Torver, a setting that must have been made with photographers in mind!

These images were taken in January2015. It is a very photo friendly place.

Two views of Blencathra.  One taken from Castlerigg Stone Circle and the other from the west side of Derwentwater. Also from January2015.

Black Crag & Tarn Hows

Had a fabulous walk today. We headed up to Black Crag from Elterwater Park on the Coniston to Ambleside road. Black Crag is a Wainwright, but it's not very high, a mere 1076 feet, but it provides fabulous views all around.

Looking towards Fairfield from the path up to Black Crag.

Looking towards Dunmail Raise from the path up to Black Crag.

Another view in the direction of Fairfield.

Wetherlam from Black Crag.

Wetside Edge from Black Crag with some nice light in the middle ground.

There is a trig point on the top of Black Crag, but for my shot of the summit I preferred this lovely undulating drystone wall.

This view of Windermere is also taken from the summit.

This view from the summit shows Tarn Hows, Coniston Water and the Duddon estuary in the distance.

A view across to Coniston Old Man.

From Black Crag we headed down to Tarn Hows.

And out to Tarn Hows Cottage......

.....and down to Boon Crag near the head of Coniston Water.