Herb Riddle's photos

Another look from The Blorenge hill looking east whilst traversing up to the peak. Enjoy the weekend

A trip to this 900 year old ruin is the highlight of the day for us. We are looking at it, almost in its entirety, from the back. Remote Llanthony, locked away in a dramatic location in the Vale of Ewyas beneath the brooding borderland Black Mountains that rise abruptly from this evocative ruin, still radiates that spirit of isolation and contemplation. Norman knight William de Lacy founded a hermitage here when he — untypical of the times — abandoned war and embraced religion. By 1118 Llanthony had become a monastery of Augustinian canons, which continued until it was suppressed in 1539. More info: cadw.gov.wales/visit/places-to-visit/llanthony-priory Enjoy full screen.

A very long view back into the past for me showing this famous castle situated on the small tidal island of Eilean Donan. It is said to be the most photographed fortress in the whole of Scotland. The original castle was built in the 13th century and destroyed in 1719 but this version was built in the twentieth century. A slide conversion. Enjoy this May Day

A pleasant rural scene taken whilst walking the canal near Abergavenny. Enjoy the day.

Another look around The Pontypool and Blaenvon Railway area and we see here the revival of the once heavily industrialised and polluted landscape. This is one of two lakes now called 'Garn Lakes'. In the background we can see the old railway buildings. See previous photos for more about the railway. "The Garn Lakes area has seen a remarkable transformation over the past couple of decades. Once covered in spoil tips and old colliery workings, following an extensive land reclamation scheme it is now a beautiful haven for wildlife, walkers and cyclists. The 40 hectare-site, which has been designated a Local Nature Reserve, features two lakes and grasslands which provides a diverse habitat and breeding grounds for a wide range of wildlife such as Tufted Ducks, Skylarks, Snipes, Redshanks and Little Grebes." more info www.visitblaenavon.co.uk

The name of this railway on the wall says its all. The Pontypool and Blaenvon Railway. Now a heritage railway was principally used to carry coal from numerous nearby pits via the ‘Heads of the valley line’ to the Midlands. It was also extended to carry passengers when the LNWR took over. As can be seen there are still signs of the old coal slag heaps on the hills with the white cottages being home to the coal workers. To the left is the old station and the whole area has now been landscaped into a country wildlife retreat with several small lakes. To the right, just out of picture are the old sidings and railway sheds. See followable PiPs More info: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontypool_and_Blaenavon_Railway ps -it was all closed on our visit here but due to open a week or so later. Enjoy the weekend

The Pontypool and Blaenvon Railway. Now a heritage railway was principally used to carry coal from numerous nearby pits via the ‘Heads of the valley line’ to the Midlands. It was also extended to carry passengers when the LNWR took over.

Once upon a time the 'Merthyr, Tredegar and Abergavenny Railway' used to run over this. Known as 'The Heads of the Valley line' it operated between 1860 and 1958. As opposed to many other local lines in this area, this one carried passengers from Abergavenny to Merthyr. In 1866 it was acquired by the L&NWR. See PiPs one of which shows a nearby tunnel to the old Clydach station. This old track is now a liner cycle & walking track. More info en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merthyr,_Tredegar_and_Abergavenny_Railway Enjoy full screen

A promise of dry clear weather tempted us out for a seven mile walk along this trail in Derbyshire yesterday. About two miles along the trail from here (which runs along the old railway track) are the famous and now historical three mile long Woodhead railway tunnels that used to take freight and passengers alike from Manchester to Sheffield. Of course the flowering Hawthorne tree is the star here with the dam wall of Woodhead reservoir seen just behind the fences. Just by the big house runs the thundering A628 Woodhead Pass road which has a continuous line of heavy traffic, all taking the goods that used to run on the trains some 43 years ago. Fortunately the trail itself is an oasis of wildlife now enjoyed by walkers and cyclist alike. See Pips HWW, have a great day.

Last year whilst on a trip to The Mull of Kintyre we visited Skipness and its castle. Whilst there we took a short stroll along its pebbled beach with vistas over to Arran. The small white houses on the centre of this shoreline belong to the village of Lochranza, home of a grand ruined castle and a fine distillery. Perhaps really though, the star of this view is the magnificent sky. Best full screen.

A good place to sit, no doubt when the sun is shining. “Built in the 13th century by Sir Grimbald Pauncefote. Once a mighty stronghold guarding this stretch of the Usk Valley and the way through the Black Mountains. Like many castles it started life originally as a Norman motte and bailey castle built of timber in the 12th century.” www.breconbeacons.org/poi/castles-crickhowell-castle See PiP for back view. Enjoy full screen. Have a great day.

Life for all living things on our earth has a limited span. This once proud beech ? tree has now come to the end of its own life and only it knows its true history. Its final testament is for an image here on Ipernity where it will live on for a few more years perhaps. Taken just north of Abergavenny, Wales. Enjoy full size.

1993 and we had hired a cottage here at the water’s edge of Camusterrach on the Inner Sound for a week. This is taken from just below our cottage window in the early morning as the mist was rising. I remember the silence being only broken by the odd sea-bird call and plop of fish in the water. We are looking over the Isle of Raasay (Scapay?) with the mountains of 'The Cullins' on the Isle of Skye behind. Taken from a slide. Best full screen. Happy Earth Day.

This is the bridge over the moat to the inner castle. ‘White Castle is the best preserved and most imposing of the trio of Monmouthshire fortresses known as the ‘Three Castles’ – which includes Grosmont and Skenfrith – built to control the border. Originally constructed from wood and earth, a series of renovations transformed it into the significant defensive structure we see today. Its medieval name might derive from the white rendering used on its masonry. The large outer ward is as big as a football pitch, while the pear-shaped inner ward sits behind a deep, steep-sided, water-filled moat. Many of these features are thought to be the work of the Lord Edward (later King Edward I) who took possession of the Three Castles in 1254. The modifications at White Castle, his first Welsh castle, can be seen as a forerunner of the mighty fortresses he would go on to build in north Wales.’ (https://cadw.gov.wales/visit/places-to-visit/white-castle) PiPs Have a good weekend.

I was reminded the other day, whilst watching one of our holiday video’s that I have not got any photos on here from our trip to Colombia in South America. Here is my attempt at putting that to rights with this view of a most colourful villa in the centre of the old town. A wonderful place to roam around with very friendly local people. The previous photo shows the view from around the corner with the ‘Iglesia de San Pedro Claver’ church that was built between 1580 and 1654. HWW, have a great day.

Cartagena, Colombia Built between 1580 and 1654.

Walking the linear path above Clydach affords us a look at the old railway viaduct. I rather liked this framing of the very old trees with their twisted trunks and subdued hues of green. Essential full screen