A NEW YEAR

 

At the start of a New Year planning  places to visit, things to see and do, it also acts as a reminder of places and events from the past year. It also serves as a reminder of just how varied our landscape (both natural and the built) are in what is relatively a small island. Add a sprinkling of history and you have what to me is a perfect location to explore.   So here are a few pictorial reminders from across Britain…Lands End to John O’Groats.

Cornish Tin Mines still stand tall as markers of the past industrial heritage of the South West tip of England. This mine is the Pendeen Tin Mine one of many in this particular spot. The chimneys beyond are for a different and much more dangerous mineral…’Arsnic’.

 

Overlooking the Pentland Firth at the exact opposite end of Britain, stand the rock columns of The Stacks of Duncansby. Nature has carved this stacks over the centuries, no doubt the erosion will continue and one day in another millenia the gulls will have to seek other nest sites.

 

 

 

 

Also standing proud above the Pentland Firth is the Castle and Gardens of Mey. This was understandably the favourite summer home of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. A visit to the castle is a must, its location and construction has an aura all of its own, but you should really take a guided tour of the interior rooms when you will soon find that this was a much-loved  family home within the solid castle walls.

 

To the west of Scotland are the Highland and Islands.

The Cuillins are the crowning glory of the Isle of Skye whilst on the mainland The Torridons  are just one of many majestic mountain ranges.

 

 

 

 

 

Perhaps Scotland should be known as ‘The Loch District’ for water dominates the landscape just as much as the Highlands mountains. For fishermen the Lochs present challenges but also time to contemplate in often tranquil surrounds.

 

 

 

 

CROMARTY

Cromarty, a name so readily associated with the Shipping Forecast, rough seas and gales, is in fact more often that not a tranquil village and a once very busy 18th century Port. The town is well worth taking time to explore, houses of the once wealthy Merchants stand testimony to once important port of commerce.  Visit Hugh Miller’s Cottage, his home is now a museum recognising his work as the man who established geology as a science.  Cromarty is situated where the Moray Firth and the Cromarty Firth meet at the northern tip of the Black Isle.  Again the name misleads as the Isle is an incredibly fertile area despite such a northerly location.

 

THE LOWLANDS & BORDERS

 

Magnificent as the Highlands are, the Lowlands and Border region of Scotland have a character of their own, cross border fighting was once the norm. A legacy of Castle and Abbeys remain.

Culzean Castle stands  dramatically on a headland above the mouth of the Firth of Clyde with views over Arran and Ireland.

As with many of the border abbeys not much remains of Jedburgh Abbey but when one recognises that parts of the structure date back to 9th century it is hardly surprising.

 

 

 

 

 

SPRINGTIME

Appropriately named ‘Spring Wood’ on the Leicestershire/Derbyshire border

You know that Spring has come when the Bluebells flood the woods with blue and of spring evening drench the air with air with their scent.

Whilst for many the scent of Wild Garlic may not be as sweet….they  carpet the woodland glade long after the bluebells have faded.

 

The Beech woods below Wenlock Edge in Shropshire present a majestic display of white stars.

 

 

THE LAKE DISTRICT

Whist not on the same dramatic scale as the Scottish Highlands, The English Lakes District has a beautiful (some say romantic) character all of its own.  Mountains, Lakes and Valleys are all packed tightly together in a relatively small area.  It is still possible to explore areas that are relatively unaffected by the many visitors to the Lakes but for me the popular and well know ‘hot spots’ still drawn me back.

Tarn Hows in the shadow of Wetherlam and Coniston Old Man.

Derwent Water with Skiddaw marching across the skyline just are two of my favourite locations.

But it is Elterwater and the Langdale Pikes that are top of my list of places to explore.

 

favourite of all is the tiny church in the Newlands Valley, still serving the local farming community as their Parish Church, but in days gone by it was also a School.  The one-roomed class room is to the left of the church.

 

THE JEWEL OF DERBYSHIRE

Chatsworth House and the Emperor Fountain

Lea Rhododendron Gardens near Matlock are nowhere near as big as Chatsworth estate but it has been very well landscaped into what was once an old quarry, spring brings a mass of colour lining the intricate network of paths.

 

Stanton Moor though not the wildest of Derbyshire Moors is to me the most exciting.  It could be because of the ancient history and legend surrounding the Iron and Bronze age, people’s that once lived here, it could also be that the Stone Circles and Burial Cairns have a magic that attracts or may be its just the peace and tranquility.

 

 

 

 

OUR HERITAGE

I have made little mention of all the Stately Homes, Historic Castles and House I have been invited to visit and photograph, each has a story so entwined with our history that it can be overwhelming. Hatfield House is just one of those that has played its part in shaping events that are recorded in our countries past, it is also the house that I found the most dramatic.  Here in the Marble Hall the Minstrels Gallery  looks down on an enormous dining table as it would have done over the centuries,  Tapestries drap the paneled walls that conceal passages and hiddy holes. Put take a close look at the portraits that surround you and you know you are in a special place.

 

AUTUMN COLOUR

 

Westonbirt Arboretum is a must in the autumn, the colour is spectacular….but just when is autumn in these climate changing times.  Once the colours were abounding at the beginning of October now you often have to wait till November arrives.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BACK TO THE SOUTH WEST

(Devon and Cornwall)

Dartmouth on the South Hams contrast with the wilds of Gwithian Dunes at Godrevy, St.Ives Bay.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Gulls eye view of the smugglers harbour of POLPERRO.

All images are (C) Copyright of David Oakes – Images

HAVE A GREAT NEW YEAR

 

………..and finally a graceful Whooper Swan reminds me that I to can ‘Spread my Wings’  in the New Year.