Herb Riddle's photos with the keyword: Stalybridge

It is always nice to see a fellow walker on our country paths. Here we are confronted with this cow who knows this is her path. After a short discussion she stepped back a few metres so that we could pass and turn right at the signpost. Taken near the Higher Swineshaw Reservoir, Stlaybridge. Nice full screen Have a good weekend.

A Sunday walk to this lower reservoir in Stalybridge shows some colourful reflections. The light remained good for all of two minutes before the clouds blotted out the sun again. A nice walk up behind that red-roofed building and to the right, past two other reservoirs up to the top ‘Higher Swineshaw’ reservoir. Enjoy full screen

A recent 'breath of fresh air' walk took us to a local set of reservoirs in the search for new autumn tree colours. However we were not in luck for such light on the trees. At almost the highest point a look to our right showed us the makings of a beautiful rainbow with the blackest sky imaginable. Whilst hiding from the coming onslaught of rain behind a wall, I ran off a few quick snaps being careful not to get my lens wet. Here is the result of two of the photos melded for this panoramic capture. Notice here what I had at first thought of, as a very dirty photo of noise/dirt spots on the lens or sensor but ‘no’ the lens was clean and dry, as was my sensor. So what are those white spots and streaks over the colours of the bow itself? In fact, it seems that the bright sun to my back as I took these into the black skies, lit up the fast rain droplets and that is that what we are seeing. Strangely, moments after taking these, the rainbow, rain and dark skies reverted to beautiful blue skies again (until we reached the golden trees then it went dull - of course.) Enjoy full size. Have a great weekend. Herb

A walk above 'Higher Swineshaw reservoir' in Tameside. Another winter isolation walk for us, just a few minutes drive from our home. Enjoy full screen.

Another moorland view, well above the hamlet of Carbrook. Here we also see an old pump-house and metallic structure. I once read that a large pipeline ran from another more local reservoir; Chew, to these just below me; Swineshaw. The idea was that the slightly higher Chew reservoir could keep these four reservoirs here topped up. Furthermore these here are all used for drinking whereas my local ones in Saddleworth are not. The tripod construction sits over a covered grid dropping deep to that pipe, so no doubt was used with a winch for transporting materials up and down the shaft. The pips shows Swineshaw reservoirs and Chew reservoir in Winter. Another best viewed full screen.

Our second big outing on the ease of our lock-down. At the foot of the Pennines here, not far from my home, a view of nature and mans work combined. You don't see too many walkers up here at all. Beneath us are two of the four reservoirs comprising what are commonly known as the Brushes Reservoir group. The nearest one here is 'Higher Swineshaw' with' Lower Swineshaw ' just in the far distance. To get here we have walked about 2.5 miles up past the reservoirs and over the dam wall of the higher reservoir. We are actually on a rather nice narrow path that still has the old iron railways lines just about showing under the grass, that once transported stone from the quarry's behind us to help in the building of theses reservoirs. Listen with me here and hear the sound of Meadow Pipits in the rustling grasses. Nice full screen.