Tokina 11-16

Old and new at this station. Normally considered as one of Manchester's two main railway stations it is now shared with many of Manchester's trams. Originally opened c1844 and had the reputation for being the worst category B interchange station in the United Kingdom in 2009. Here we see the new roof and tram interchange added in 2015. Behind is the old main building edifice. I remember catching the steam trains to and from my home town of Oldham under imposing but yellow smoked grimy glass held up by Victorian wrought iron frames here. Always quite imposing but now a very much more modern feel to things. This is actually a Bombardier M5000 built in Bautzen, Germany from 2014. It is on its way to Manchester Airport. See PiPs for other internal views

Once upon a time this fence was here to protect man and beast from stepping too far over the edge of this cove side, straight into the sea. Now it only provides another welcome addition to my HFF collection whilst I watch my step taking this. Seen on the coastal path near Porth Yasgaden. I wish you all, a great weekend, Herb Nice full size!

An unusual scene of a log caught in this rock on the sandy bay of Whistling Sands near Aberdaron, Wales. Best viewed full screen.

The coastal path south from Whistling Sands takes us on to Anelog. Maybe not a mountain......but still a very nice walk indeed. PiP

A warm day takes me on now a rare outing to this wonderful Lancashire town and its River Ribble walk. Here we are at the start of our five mile round walk along both sides of this splendid river, seen here in drought conditions with my new Tokina 11-16mm. The bridge is the very old Edisford Bridge. About Edisford Bridge, Clitheroe Edisford Bridge incorporates the structure of a five arched bridge possibly dating from 1339, when a grant of pontage was made. Today the bridge has nine spans and is considerably wider than the original. It is thought that a timber bridge had been constructed on the same spot before that date. Edisford - "the nobleman's ford" or Anglo-Saxon nobleman - was the scene of an 1139 battle, where King David of Scotland's army fought and defeated the less numerous Lancastrians. The 1339 bridge was 2.44m wide, later widened by 3.65m on the downstream side. It had pointed cutwaters. Its arches were Gothic in shape and each had three ribs. These can still be seen under the main arch. The four arches to the east (nearest Clitheroe) span the river, the others are over the meadow. The first is a squared Gothic ribbed arch made of sandstone. It spans 7.5m and rises 2.6m. The second span is the largest. It is a segmental circular arch, measuring 17.95m across and rising 4.2m. The next two arches are Gothic and ribbed, spanning 7.6m and 7.7m, and rising 2.47m and 2.56m. The following five spans are over land. Starting at the river, they measure 7.8m, 4.3m, 3m, 3m and 2.9m. Their rises are 1.85m, 1.7m, 1.4m, 1.2m and one metre. All are segmental circular arches. The bridge is located about a mile west of Clitheroe Castle and is the subject of a noted painting by Turner. www.transporttrust.com/heritage

On this hot July day we are here in the heart of the city centre, just behind the main shopping area. Sit with me and enjoy a drink and a nibble at one of these very old famous hostelries. Both the 'Old Wellington' and 'Sinclairs Oyster Bar' were moved brick by brick to here from another location 300metres away in 1998/9. The Old Wellington was originally built in 1552 and the Oyster bar has a similar interesting history. More info: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shambles_Square,_Manchester

A coastal walk to the west of Aberdaron in North Wales can bring you down to the side of Aberdaron's large beach. The village itself lies to the right here and that is where all the tourist are. Here are signs of perhaps an old pier, long since swallowed by age and the sea. The coastal path itself runs along the top edge of these hills.

A walk down to the small beautiful sandy bay of Porthor otherwise known as 'Whistling Sands' is always worthwhile. Here we see the right hand rocky side of the bay whilst the bigger expanse of sand is inhabited at this time of year by many children building sandcastles. Enjoy full size.. pip

Seaweed now covers what at one time must have been shiny runners for the keel of a lifeboat. The station is now housed a few hundred metres from here. Behind me now in the same old buildings (renovated) is the Maritime Museum and the 'Harbourfront Bistro'. More info on lifeboat station: historypoints.org/index.php?page=holyhead-lifeboat-station Best viewed full screen on black.

A rare waning moon mixed with an almost rare clear night sky tempts me out to the far reaches of our Saddleworth Moor towards Yorkshire, in order to catch the illusive Milky Way from here. In fact you can just make it out as the smears of cloudy light rising diagonally left from the white-hot light of the Greater Manchester conurbation. Seen here also is the red glowing communications transmitter mast of Holme Moss. The white horizontal scratch line is most probably the International Space Station which was due across here at this time (aeroplanes leave a coloured dotted line). PiP For the technically minded, this is a four photo, portrait stitch. Each photo at 20s F2.8 -Tokina 11mm. This photo covers roughly 120° of the horizon. My grateful thanks to our Ipernity friend Steve Paxton without who's help and encouragement, this would not be here.

As the sand swirls over the stony surface towards my camera, I wonder if this is all worth the effort, but as I gaze later upon this scene the answer is clear. Taken at Dog’s Bay in County Galway Ireland. HFF, I wish you all, a great weekend, Herb Best viewed full screen.

A lovely Western Ireland bay sees us here with another fence. Where this started can only be guessed at, but we certainly know where it ends. Note the twisted white and black wire, usually denoting an electric fence wire so beware in trying to cross it. I wish you all, a great weekend, Herb PiP Best viewed full screen.

Another rare clear night with hardly any moon coaxes me out again to our moorlands between Manchester and Holmfirth, Yorkshire. Here we see the now familiar red glowing transmitter of Holm Moss but also a moorland reservoir called Digley. We can still see the light pollution of our great city of Manchester some 15 miles away from here, shetered somewhat by the trees and hills to my right. The tower is directly south of me. Best viewed full size on black. This photo is another massive stitch panorama of 15 photos. Yes 15! all portrait taken in three rows of 5 across.Each photo taken at: ISO1600, F2.8, 20 secs using my Nikon 7100 self times and Tokina 11-16mm F2.8G. Again I am indebted to my Ipernity friend Steve Paxton for his help in all this.

Dogs Bay in County Galway, near Clifden and Roundstone must surely count as one of the most beautiful that I have ever set foot on. With sand as soft as silk its no wonder that the trailing sea leaves so many tiny channels. We see here the changing sky from the blue morning clarity to the coming rain storms. The home of two of my recent HFF fence pictures on here too, just to my right, behind me here! See NEW pip with two older ones here. As usual, a must for full size on black.

Surely proof that God smiles on Britain!!!!....If only..... Sorry about this very dated, politically incorrect title. We British are the first to mock ourselves you know. Joking apart, this is a rather nice chance capture of a wonderful rainbow over the town-hall with its Union flag flying high, of Skipton, in the Yorkshire Dales. Said to be the Gateway to the Dales! Enjoy

Strid Wood, one of the largest remnants of sessile oak trees in the Yorkshire Dales hugs the banks of the river Wharfe and invites visitors to walk its shaded paths. Here in Autumn, there is even a more magical feel about it with these golden canopies. Today, is special -it's a Halloween adventure' day, when parents and their children look around the trees to find spooky spiders webs, ghouls and witches along with their spooky sounds. For me though -I totally ignore all that in favour of natures abundance here. Enjoy full screen boltonabbey.com/what-to-see/strid-wood-and-the-strid

Strid Wood, part of the 'Bolton Abbey' estate in the Yorkshire Dales is always a delight to visit, especially in Autumn. Here we see the very bottom section of the famous narrow Strid, where the grand River Wharfe is forced into a rocky gully at times only a meter or so wide. A place of danger in the wrong weather but here we see the river just after the fast flow, now relaxing and reflecting the golden hues of the season. See Pip for the Strid itself

This is a large lake within the 12 pins mountain range of the Connemara National Park. Here we stop for a few minutes, take a breather and shoot a few pictures like this. Some 30 minutes later the sky was overcast again. Best full size on black. PiP