Herb Riddle's photos

Once again we take to our Dovestone reservoir circuit. Going around in a clockwise direction we soon come to this view by the fence that takes in the Chew Valley. Here we pass this magical silver birch tree again and drop down towards the little bridge over the river. A walk we have done dozens of times and even in dull wet cold weather I always find something that makes me push the shutter button. For an alternative real winter view, see PiP's Nice full screen. HFF, enjoy the weekend. Herb

Another local view over our neighbouring Saddleworth village of Uppermill. Pots and Pans is actually the name of the large rock (stone) that sits at the top of Aldermans Hill overlooking Uppermill and Greenfield. It gets its unusual name from a series of basins or large indentations on the top of it, worn into the millstone grit over millions of years by the Saddleworth weather. The obelisk situated nearby was erected in 1923 to honour the 259 people from the villages of Saddleworth who died during the first world war and was located here specifically to be visible from those villages. Each year on Remembrance Sunday the communities of Saddleworth climb the hill to take part in the remembrance service conducted at the war memorial to commemorate those who died during the two world wars and later conflicts. Enjoy full screen.

A view to Alderman’s Hill on the left and one of my favourite silver birch trees on the right. All hanging together in this lovely light as I shoot this from the edge of Dovestones reservoir here near my home. The traditional wall is of course the dry-stone variety, ie no cement nor mortar between the heavy square or flat sand-stones which were once quarried nearby. PiP Have a good day.

Continuing our Cemaes headland walk we come to a secluded sandy cove near the village of Llanbadrig and its old church. The large crescent shaped bay is backed by cliffs but it is the large white quartzite sea stack that sits mid-beach that identifies Porth Padrig. The “White Lady” is named after after Ladi Wen, a ghost from Celtic mythology. The beach itself is named after St Patrick as it is said the saint took shelter in a nearby cave after being shipwrecked. See PiPs. Enjoy full screen.

As we continue along this coastal path from Cemaes, Anglesey we come across a strange cave and a very interesting church. See PiPs “The Church of St Patrick (Eglwys Llanbadrig) - is said to have been founded by Saint Patrick in 440 AD and is the oldest church in Wales. It sits on a windswept headland overlooking the small islet where St Patrick is said to have been shipwrecked. Legend says that in 440 AD a celtic bishop called Patrick was travelling from Iona to Ireland when he was shipwrecked off the coast of Anglesey. Having made his way ashore from the small islet now known as Ynys Badrig (St. Patrick’s Island), the bishop took refuge in a small cave with a nearby well. Patrick commemorated his escape from danger by founding the original Eglwys Llanbadrig. The original simple timber church was replaced with a stone version in the 12th century, and then rebuilt in the 14th century in the general form seen today. In 1884 it was refurbished by the 3rd Lord Stanley of Alderly who had married a Spanish Moorish woman and converted to Islam himself. He donated a substantial sum of money to refurbish the interior of the church to reflect his new faith with a dramatic Moorish interior with blue tiles, blue glazed windows and Arab-style iconography.” This all sits in harmony with the traditional stone flooring and otherwise local décor. cemaes.wales/local-places/llanbadrig-church ps, if you think this scene looks familiar you may have seen this by our friend Toz: www.ipernity.com/doc/2405228/50825498 Essential full screen. Have a great week.

........... In 1884 this church was refurbished by the 3rd Lord Stanley of Alderly who had married a Spanish Moorish woman and converted to Islam himself. He donated a substantial sum of money to refurbish the interior of the church to reflect his new faith with a dramatic Moorish interior with blue tiles, blue glazed windows and Arab-style iconography.” This all sits in harmony with the traditional stone flooring and otherwise local décor.

A funny attempt at cheering us all up in these times of continuing Covid variants and worries. Seen on the Rochdale canal path near Littleborough. Happy Advent. Enjoy full screen and keep very safe.

This is Wales oldest lighthouse. Taken on the beach at Talacre, North Wales. This taken some years back now whilst it still looked in good condition. Today? the paintwork has all peeled and it looks a sorry sight. Established in 1776 and discontinued in 1883. Enjoy full screen.

As we walk on the headlands and coastal path away from the village of Cemaes on Anglesey we see two structures of historical interest here. The most obvious is the decommissioned Wylfa nuclear power station built in 1963, but to our left and less imposing is the oldest church in Wales: St Patricks - said to have been founded by Saint Patrick himself in 440 AD. (More of this in another posting). It looks like they must have run out of real wire fencing here as this wooden pallet has been wired in to stop folk from clambering around the end. Why?.... you may well ask! Enjoy full screen and have a great week.

A super rainbow in Aberfoye, Scotland allows me to find the end spot for the pot of gold. Enjoy full screen.

A confusing capture when first seen. In actual fact I am under a low modern canal tunnel looking across to the other side towards a straight stone vertical wall. The illusion is caused by the edge of the tunnel roof reflected from the water back onto that wall in ripples. The bottom darker row of bricks is just a few inches above the water here. Have a good day.

I think these are Common Terns (Sterna hirundo) but it is possible that they are Arctic Tern too. We saw these just near our path by the stony beach but I know it is a place well known, where such birds come to breed. A lot of activity, maybe they are sat on eggs at the water’s edge here and I think I have even caught one pair in the act of trying to mate (despite the mating season now long finished (April-June). A very long (hand-held) lens assured my distance from them so they were not disturbed. The PiP shows the views just around the corner a hundred metres or so away. Enjoy full screen.

Time for a rest here at the most northerly village in Wales. sited on Cemaes Bay, an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty which is partly owned by the National Trust. The name Cemaes derives from the Welsh word cemais, meaning "bend or loop in a river, inlet of sea, bay". Wikipedia One would hardly know from this scene that the decommissioned Wylfa nuclear power station sits just a little further to the right :) Perhaps with the out-of-favour natural gas now, this power station might yet breath again! Enjoy full screen and have a great week.

After clambering up the dry river for a mile or so, we begin to see our destination. You can just see on here, rising to the right our steep path to the caves that can just be made out. The frequent gust are fearsome and the air is wet but we will get there. See PiP showing our view back down the valley and Eileen clinging on for life. "The Bone Caves are a series of natural caves set into a high limestone cliff called Creag nan Uamh (Crag of the Caves). The caves are named for the large numbers of animal bones found during excavations. There are four main cave openings in the cliffs, formed before the last ice age by water dissolving limestone in cracks in the surrounding rock. Subsequent glacial action and erosion of the glen by water left the caves hundreds of feet above the valley floor." Enjoy full size.

A lone tree stands in the mist as dog walkers pass by. After our winter snow snap we get some mist which makes quite a different kind of picture. This taken in one of my local valleys. Enjoy full screen.

A rare November snow-fall brings photographers and fun lovers out to play. This boy tries the lower slope of this path before venturing to the steeper top part. Of course his dad keeps a careful watch on him. I am stood on a footbridge that may be familiar. See Pips. Have a great weekend. Herb

A week or so back, whilst still in Autumn, we took ourselves of to Littleborough, a small town about nine miles away from my home, and took a nice round walk along the local canal there; the Rochdale Canal. We have strolled these towpaths before but they are no less enjoyable on this day with a little frost and sunshine. Enjoy full screen.

Another view of Ardvreck Castle on a day when the weather was just a bit murky. We have just completed another ‘Little Assynt’ walk and are on our way to the ‘Bone Caves’ which I hope to show your shortly. The water is Loch Assynt. pip Enjoy full size.