Herb Riddle's photos

A view from Dunstanburgh Castle as we walk to the coastline with the castle to my back. PiP

The scenic Dovestones reservoir near my home has a few small areas where trees are planted in memory of past loved ones. Some of those spots are remarkably quiet and have benches there to rest and think about the lives of those that have departed. This faces a quieter area of the reservoir itself. The Pip shows a 2015 shot towards these tree where I am standing now. Have a great week.

A six mile boat ride from Ballycastle brings us to this Island for todays walk. We came in the white boat seen here but went back on that blue car ferry. Our walk was only a three or so miler to the Ratlin East Lighthouse. There was another lighthouse on the west of the Island but time dictated that we could not manage that. See PiP for alternative view. ‘Rathlin is the only inhabited offshore island of Northern Ireland, with a steadily growing population of approximately 150 people, and is the most northerly inhabited island off the coast of the island of Ireland. The reverse-L-shaped Rathlin Island is four miles (six kilometres) from east to west, and 2+1⁄2 miles (4 kilometres) from north to south.’ WiKi Enjoy full screen.

We are on the West Strand Beach here, taking a stroll near the old harbour. This town has taken the initiative in trying to brighten up the place for families with this small fair with big ferris wheel. As can be seen though, it has a fine sandy safe beach facing west and an even bigger beach on the eastern side of town that if one walks for just a couple of miles would come to Dunluce castle. pip HFF, enjoy the weekend.

A real treat for those that can do the hike along the coast to get as close as this. In fact on our walk from the little port of Craster there was a constant line of many visitors making their way to the castle itself. We went as far as the large gateway entrance here but swung left to the back of the castle and the sea for different views. This was the best overall view though in my opinion. A strange haze seems to cover the whole scene here and made it quite soft but for me it worked nicely. As can be seen. I resisted the temptation to push the contrast slider to the right. “Dunstanburgh Castle is a 14th-century fortification on the coast of Northumberland in northern England, between the villages of Craster and Embleton. The castle was built by Earl Thomas of Lancaster between 1313 and 1322, taking advantage of the site's natural defences and the existing earthworks of an Iron Age fort.” WiKi Enjoy full screen.

Situated near Barmouth in Wales we are looking NE here towards the mountain range of Cadair Idris. Big walking country over there which all lie a little way SE of the Snowdonia Range. Essential full screen

Take your pick as to which bench to take here at Portrush, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The view away from the island view is just as extensive looking along the west coast. The islands are ‘The Skerries’. Winkle Isle is the local name for the large Skerry island, the small Skerry being known as Castle Isle. The islands are part of an Area of Special Scientific Interest. Have a great week.

A startling vista from the inner walls of the castle showing the majestic white arches. The whole scene was bathed in a beautiful light as low cloud was gathering from the west. I have to admit that the coast of County Antrim came as a shock to me with such beauty as this. In the far distance one can see the town of Portrush. The PiP’s shows a close-up view of the arches and the castle itself. Essential full screen

A close up view via my long lens to these arches along this Northern Irish coast giving quite a different perspective from the adjacent wide-angle view taken from exactly the same spot, using the same lens. Enjoy full screen.

A quick visit to Kendal for the night gives me a rare chance to see stars. This hill and castle was not very far from my digs and so a steep run to the top of the hill gave me this reward. Unfortunately I had left my special ‘Clear Night Filter’ at home some 80+ miles away and so we get more of the town light glow than I would have liked. As can be seen the castle is flood-lit at this time of the year which posed the additional problem of what to expose for. Of course a compromise photo resulted which some might still find pleasing. ‘Kendal Castle is a medieval fortification to the east of the town of Kendal, Cumbria, in northern England. The castle, which is atop a glacial drumlin, was built in the 13th century as the Caput baroniae for the Barony of Kendal. By the 15th century, the Parr family owned the castle.’ Wikipedia The first PiP (adjacent photo) shows a shot from a little further away before I took this and if your monitor permits - you can see part of the Milky Way going up the screen from the top of the rightmost trees. The second Pip shows quite a different view taken a year or so back. Essential full screen

The view as I climbed up Castle Hill towards Kendal Castle. You can just see the Milky Way here as it goes from South to North overhead. I could have exposed longer showing more stars and the Milky Way better but that would have over-exposed the light pollution from the town just on the horizon here. The strange bright object is in fact a clump of trees bathing in the light of the floodlit castle. Enjoy this very large photo here (6000x4000) full screen.

A view out to the hills of our Lake District and the Kent estuary here from the footbridge over the rails at Arnside station, Cumbria. The trains leaving here towards the water will shortly glide over the famous Arnside viaduct (see pips). Of course like most railway scenes we have some fences here for those who collect such things. I was time restricted on here and so unfortunately missed any trains. HFF, enjoy the weekend.

A quick lunch visit to the village of Arnside in Cumbria on the northern side of Morcabe Bay, brings to us some rare bright weather. The star of the show here is the famous railway viaduct. Just minutes before taking this we heard the second of two warning sirens, that warn people out on the sands that the tide is about to turn and that they should return immediately to the shore as the sands are covered up and turned into quick-sand in moments when the sea rushes in from the left here to fill this picturesque but dangerous River Kent estuary. See PiP (adjacent photo) for more a closer look at the viaduct. Essential full screen

We see here the wonderful railway viaduct, a 51 span structure carrying the Carnforth and Whitehaven Line over the estuary of the River Kent immediately to the west of Arnside Station. Originally constructed in 1856 as a single line viaduct, the structure was extended to twin track in 1863. I think we are seeing the 1028 Manchester Airport to Barrow-in-Furness , Northern Line series 195 train here. Essential full screen

Another harbour view here in the seaside tiny village of Craster in Northumberland. This is the starting point for the wonderful walk to Dunstanburgh Castle. Have a great week.

A Saturday walk brings me once again to my local reservoir which I have not seen for some months. I was shocked that the water was the lowest I have ever seen. This old tree stump is usually submerged under about 40-50ft of water here. You can see the normal water height almost touching the edge of the grassy bank on the right. Notice too my well photographed ‘One Tree’ standing proud. See PiPs. Again, I was informed that water from here is being pumped to other reservoirs near here then south. Essential full screen

Seen at Portstewart in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. This is the natural coloured capture. Essential full screen

Another view from the high cliffs from Balintoy to Carrick-A-Rede, so breath in the fresh air and taste the tang of the sea. Perhaps you feel that a rest is needed here too. HFF, enjoy the weekend.