Herb Riddle's photos

As I walk near the trees of my local park, I am reminded again how colourful Autumn can be. See Pip Enjoy large.

Only in Greece or on Greek Islands are you likely to see such an array of blues and whites. A nice set of whitewashed steps accompanied with blue doors and windows too. Altogether a very pleasing picture to my old eyes.~ Seen on the beautiful Island of Mykonos. I wish you all, a great weekend, Herb A must, in full screen.

This Autumn I have had a rare chance to revisit a favourite place: Hardcastle Crags near Hebden Bridge. In its heart sits this mill and pond. The mill, now a small cafe, even has seats where I am here to picnic whilst admiring this wonderful view. This fine old mill now owned by The National Trust lies in a very picturesque valley. The Gibson Mill was built around 1800. It was one of the first generation mills of the Industrial Revolution. The Mill was driven by a water wheel inside and produced cotton cloth up until 1890. In 1833, 21 workers were employed in the building, each working an average 72 hours per week Enjoy full size.

This park really comes into its own at this time of year. Not only do we have the wonderful yellow and golds of Autumn but we also have a local grey heron waiting for sight of a fish. Rather unusual sky lighting as a big dark cloud was moving into the scene from the right. Breaking all the rules as well by having this big tree stump divide the picture in half :) Worth full size.

The narrow bougainvillea strewn streets of Chania are a delight to wander through and indeed dine under in the many restaurants here. This area demonstrates how with a bit of care and planning, inner city area's can be made beautiful. Only thing is -it also needs sun and warmth! Enjoy. Herb ps a delight at full size.

A re-visit to one of our favourite wooded valleys here at Hardcastle Crags near Hebdon Bridge in Yorkshire brings me my hearts desire in golden leaf trees. Only moments from the car-park, we are greeted by this little shelter offering free guided walks. On this day, the offer will be taken up no doubt by the myriad families with children as it is also our local school holidays. Enjoy full screen.

It's that time of year, when the woods go silent, the mist creeps down and the low sun shows us the way.

A big view of much of the harbour here at Chania from the Fortress of Firkas. Directly in front sits the ancient lighthouse and the old town to the right and back of me. Pip shows lower view of the inner harbour. Enjoy full size.

Seen in the old town of Chania on the Island of Crete. There are many narrow alleys and streets like this here giving the whole place a medieval effect. One might wonder about the purpose of the barred windows here on your rented room ! Enjoy large.

An Autumnal look at one of my local reservoirs –Yeoman Hey. As the early autumn sun starts to peek over the moorland hills to the right, they light up the natural warm autumn colours of the trees and gives a little warmth to the water reflections too. This dangerous set of fences guards the entrance to the inspection well on this pier. (A sign of our times perhaps!) Deserves full screen. I wish you all, a great weekend, Herb

Seen on the harbour front of Chania by the wall of the Firkas Fortress. As an accordeon player myself I am always interested to see and hear these buskers and only too willing to add a few coins to the collection. Amazingly, as I was looking for a suitable piece of Greek accordion music to accompany this, I found the 'same person playing the exact same music too'. The video -no its not mine, gives a real insight of what this fellows daily life is like. The real thing video. Enjoy full size.

Actually you could not get to the lighthouse on these but.... Seen on the old harbour promenade. The lighthouse looked as if it would be a great walk but we did not have the time to do the few kilometers to get there. PiP more info

A very pretty hillside village and church here, seen from the bus window whilst travelling from the Omalos Plateau back to Chania on Crete. The window reflections giving an impression of light-beams hitting the church.

Mount Gingilos (1980m) from the entrance of the Samaria George at Xyloskalo. The summit of Gingilos is the most popular mountain walk in western Crete. A 5-6 hour steep rocky hike with fine views, but I am told, never crowded. Unfortunatly for us, a cup of local tea and piece of honey cake at a local resturaunt diverted us away. Oh dear!!! According to a local legend, Gigilos peak was the throne of Zeus,the Father of the Olympian Gods. West of Gigilos, are the peaks of Agathopes (1768 m) and Psilafi (1984 m), where Zeus drove his beloved chariots. Indeed, the peaks of Agathopi had previously hosted slalom ski races.

Mount Gingilos pinnacle view. The next picture describes a walk up this mountain, but I must say that I would not relish the idea of trying to climb this steep and loose side. Makes for a great view in my camera though.

The entrance of the 18km long Samaria Gorge taken from Xyloskalo on the Omalos plateau. In the distance you can see the high peaks of the White Mountains. The plateau is particularly beautiful in the winter, when it is frequently covered by snow. Just out of shot, a slow line of back-packers make there way down the torturous path to start there long hike which is very hot and dry without any refreshment stops, each showing a special pass to guarding wardens. In the past, the plateau of Omalos was the shelter of the locals and the base of rebels during the two and a half centuries of the Turkish occupation, but also during all other wars against invaders.

Townley Hall, once the seat of the Townley family, was built around 1100. They once owned extensive property in Lancashire and Yorkshire and can trace their ancestry back to the Norman times. Sitting in a 440 acre (180 hectares) park that is now owned by the Burnley Borough Council, it is open to all. We took a guided tour of the house (for a small fee) but its gardens and grounds are also a pleasure to stroll through, all for free. Enjoy this Autumn look and internal views via the PiPs. Deserves full screen on black PiPs

As we sail from Mykonos to the Island of Crete we are treated to a wonderful sunset. Just as I was wishing for a boat to appear to add further interest, as if by magic this comes along. It's actually a Blue-Star ferry which plies these Islands with more local traffic and freight. Enjoy full size. Note the high 6400 ISO, hence a wee bit of noise.