If you think of how many trees are famous; there are quite a few of them but compared to the countless billions of trees on the planet they are really few and far between. Some famous trees are no longer here such as the cherry tree that George Washington cut down or the famous Californian… Continue reading I met perhaps the most famous tree in the world at Sycamore Gap
Tag: outdoors
From the prehistoric to the merely ancient
I’ve had a busy old week and been unwell for longer so was unable to write at all so I hope this collection of photos which I took on Thursday. It was a very windy day and the temperature was not much above freezing but it did mean we had everywhere to ourselves. I hope… Continue reading From the prehistoric to the merely ancient
Stonehenge At Dusk
I don’t usually do simple photo posts but in Thursday on one if my guided tours, we happened to be at Stonehenge at dusk. Due to the latitude of the British Isles, dusk can be anything from about 11pm in mid summer to 3pm or earlier in mid winter. Around 1.5 million people visit Stonehenge… Continue reading Stonehenge At Dusk
The home of Beatrix Potter & the wonderful world of Peter Rabbit
Following my exertions in the early part of my holiday a few weeks ago, I thought it would be a good idea to have an easier sort of day. That didn’t mean it wouldn’t be a very full one however, just a little less strenuous. The first part of my day was set aside with… Continue reading The home of Beatrix Potter & the wonderful world of Peter Rabbit
Visiting the magical land behind a waterfall and underground caving!
So far on our holiday no two days had been the same and this was to be no different. After doing a soot of shopping in Alston, the highest market town in England, we headed east over the Peninnes and moors into neighbouring County Durham. Though perhaps common place in larger or less densely populated… Continue reading Visiting the magical land behind a waterfall and underground caving!
Fell walking and an abandoned mine
Early on Tuesday morning I decided to take advantage of the dry weather and walk up a Fell (the local term for the high moors in this part of the world). I really really like the outdoors and the lack of people, cars, planes and avoiding anything in anyway 21st century. The moors are generally… Continue reading Fell walking and an abandoned mine
Alston Holiday Day 1
I’m away on holiday for a few days and staying in an old farmhouse, 500 metres/ 1600 feet up in the northern Pennines, an official area of outstanding beauty towards the top of England near the border with Scotland. Going up the M6 motorway approaching the eastern fringes of The Lake District Hart… Continue reading Alston Holiday Day 1
A love-letter to Grandma
Everyone loves their Grandma don’t they? They’re possibly the most special person anyone lucky enough to ever have one has ever had, along with Granddads of course! Grandparents have all the joys of having young children but don’t have the responsibility of discipline. Today one of my Grandma’s would have been 86 years old which… Continue reading A love-letter to Grandma
The Red Squirrel Fightback begins!
It is one of our most loved creatures and like the Robin redbreast is one of our most treasured creatures. Symbolised in snowy British winters it is iconic and yet like most of us, I’ve never seen a Red Squirrel. 150 years ago they were rampant across much of the nation but then in 1876… Continue reading The Red Squirrel Fightback begins!
Sintra – The Jewel in the crown of Lisbon
Having spent all day on the Friday sight-seeing around Lisbon we were eagerly awaiting Saturday, our second day in Portugal and our only full day. As there is so much to see in Lisbon I had planned to spend the second day in some of the many museums and galleries but then we thought about… Continue reading Sintra – The Jewel in the crown of Lisbon