Kirkby Moors and the Duddon Estuary

No posts for a while due to work and poor weather I’m afraid, but back home this weekend and Saturday was a nice sunny day with good clear views, and snow on the higher fells. At lunchtime I went a short walk up to Gray Crags from Gawthwaite and in the afternoon I went a short walk on the beach just before sunset.

 

Coniston Water from the walk up from Gawthwaite, with the snow covered eastern fells behind it.

Looking across Grizedale Forest to the Ill Bell range.

Black Combe from the summit of Gray Crags.

Zooming in on Scafell and Scafell Pike with the gap of Mickledore in between them.

Buck Barrow and Broughton.

Looking across the Duddon Estuary to Millom later on in the day.

Black Combe in the weak evening sun.

Pillar above Askam Pier.

The Scafells with the cone of Stickle Pike silhouetted in front of them.

Looking up to a snowy Fairfield Horseshoe.

 

Durham Cathedral

I walked up to Aidans College to have a look at the cathedral, as there was a light show in the centre of Durham on over the last few days. Unfortunately the light show had finished, however a combination of a slow shutter speed and some accidental hand movements produced a couple of bizarre images anyway. The normal view of the Cathedral from here is shown in my last post.

 

Three photos around Durham

A few photos taken from various places in Durham today. A nice and bright day with excellent views – I would have gone a longer walk normally, but have been down with a cold.

Looking down to Durham cathedral from Aidans College.

Durham Cathedral viewed from Prebends Bridge.

Looking along the River Wear to Framwellgate Bridge.

 

Recent updates

I have been out on a few walks around Durham of late, including a walk up to Old Quarrington last Sunday, however generally I haven’t taken many photos. Here are a couple of the better photographs though.

The River Wear at Sunderland Bridge on a frosty Autumn morning, 18th October 2009.

The Cathedral and Castle on a sunnier day in Durham, 11th October 2009.

Angletarn Pikes and Brock Crags from Patterdale

A very enjoyable walk in the Far Eastern fells on Sunday, with excellent paths throughout and superb views. The route passes by the very attractive Angle Tarn and visits the rocky summit of Angletarn Pikes. Aside from one heavy shower in the middle of the route, the weather was generally very good.

Looking down to Glenridding with Sheffield Pike behind from the climb to Boredale Hause.

Zooming in on Helvellyn and the start of Striding Edge.

The same view zoomed out with the sharp peak of Catstycam also visible.

Looking to Kirkstone Pass (left), Red Screes and Brothers’ Water.

The craggy eastern side of Fairfield above the valley of Deepdale.

Looking back down to Ullswater from Angletarn Pikes. The mountain in the background is Blencathra.

Angle Tarn viewed from the summit of Brock Crags.

A view north-east out to the Eden Valley.

Looking up to Red Screes and Brotherswater from the return path to Patterdale.

A few photos from Askam beach

Very wild and windy today so I just got a few photos from Askam beach. Black’s Pond has some swans on it again.

Looking up to Ireleth Church from the old line running south from Askam. Just on from this point I was turned back by a locked gate across the track because of a bull in the field (according to a sign), although I could not see one.

Black Combe across the Duddon Estuary. After this I went down to Black’s Pond and took a few photos of the swans.

Looking north to the southern Lake District fells. Caw and Walna Scar are in faint sunshine.

Temperatures in Askam, September 2009

A summary of temperature data in Askam-in-Furness over the last month, compared with September 2008.

Mean temperature – 14.88C (+0.18C)

Maximum temperature – 28.31C (+2.77C)

Minimum temperature – 9.02C (+0.96C)

Temperatures very slightly above those of last September (and indeed September 2007, which also had a mean temperature of 14.7 degrees). The monthly maximum temperature was well above last year’s temperature as was the monthly minimum.

Carlton Moor from Osmotherley

Today I went a walk in the western North York Moors from Osmotherley, taking  in a walk along, in effect, the western escarpment of the moors reaching a high point at Carlton Moor (408m). The first part of the walk to Carlton Moor follows the route of the Cleveland Way and the Coast to Coast walk and is very enjoyable walking on good paths with interesting scenery. Most of the remainder of the walk is along flat moorland tracks  which proved a little monotonous. As is typical of the North York Moors, all gradients are very gentle, with only the very brief climb up onto the ridge of Carlton Moor able to be called steep. Unfortunately there were no long distance views due to the haze.

Looking ahead to Carlton Moor from Beacon Hill in an area of typical North York Moors scenery.

And the reverse view.

Zooming in on Roseberry Topping above Great Ayton.

Looking north to Teesside from Carlton Moor.

Looking back to Carlton Moor. The buildings below the summit are a gliding club.

The valley of Scugdale from the very short climb to Whorlton Moor.

A view to hazy upper Ryedale from Whorlton Moor.

Looking back to Carlton Moor in the distance, typical moorland track and scenery in the foreground. It goes on like this for miles! On the plus side you don’t really meet anyone up here.

Looking down to Osmotherley from near Square Corner. The end of the walk is a pleasant finish, rejoining the Cleveland Way and passing a small reservoir before returning through fields to Osmotherley.

Stanhope Horseshoe (Weardale)

A lovely day in the north east today so a walk from Stanhope in upper Weardale visiting the summits of Bolt’s Law, Horseshoe Hill and Collier Law. Superb easy walking along generally very good tracks (including a section of one of the excellent cycleways) although some of the early walk up to Bolt’s Law is pathless but generally quite easy going. It was a bit hazy but the views were actually excellent. 

An early view down to Stanhope and Weardale from near the summit of Crow Coal Hill.

Looking down to the remote village of Rookhope.

A view north from the summit of Bolt’s Law, looking to the Cheviot Hills.

The moorland road.

The view east from the summit of Collier Law – spot Durham Cathedral.

Upper Weardale from Collier Law with the radar installation on the summit of Great Dun Fell, and the summit of Cross Fell, visible in the distance.

 

Zooming in a bit with Great Dun Fell in the background.

Looking down Weardale with the North York Moors in the far distance.

Stanhope and upper Weardale – it really was a lovely day today.

Temperature data for Askam-in-Furness, August 2009

A quick update on the August temperature record from Askam in Furness. The figures in brackets after the numbers are a comparison with the respective figures for August 2008.

Monthly mean temperature – 16.70C (+0.46C)

Maximum temperature – 26.76C (+2.33C)

Minimum temperature – 11.46C (-1.1C)

Generally temperatures above average for August, but some chilly nights towards the end of the month, as well as a lot of rain.