The Winter Garden at Dunham Massey

Saturday 7th February 2015

This morning we had a wander around the winter garden at Dunham Massey, and here are a few photos of the snowdrops, daffodils and irises.

posted from Bloggeroid

Snow on the Trans Pennine Trail

Thursday 29th January 2015

A few photos from a snowy walk along the Stockport to Didsbury section of the Trans Pennine Trail.

Heading down Gorsey Bank Road towards the footbridge

Looking up the Mersey from Gorsey Bank footbridge

Between the M60 and Vale Road

Near Green Pastures

posted from Bloggeroid

Autumn Colours at Dunham Massey

Sunday 28th September 2014 

Here's a couple of photos from this morning's trip to the wonderful gardens at Dunham Massey, showing that Autumn is now well and truly here!

A Week on Holiday in Northumberland

Saturday 23rd to Saturday 30th August 2014

Last week we had an excellent family holiday in northern Northumberland visiting beaches, coast, castles and hills.  Here are a few photos:

Bamburgh Castle

Bamburgh Castle

Inside Bamburgh Castle

Bamburgh Castle and some of the Farne Islands

Flodden Field

Some of the ramparts and walls in Berwick

More of the ramparts and walls in Berwick

Peacock butterfly in Cragside gardens

Cragside

The Cheviot from Ros Castle

Seahouses harbour

Lindisfarne Priory

Lindisfarne Castle

Lindisfarne Causeway

Bamburgh beach

Bamburgh beach

A Swaledale Wander

Sunday 23rd March 2014 

A riverside walk along the River Swale in sunshine and hail showers 

Distance: 6km; Ascent: 110m; Sunshine & hail; with Lynsey, Isabel, Olivia, John, Steph, Sierra & Jack

See tracked route in new window

After spending the night at the YHA's Grinton Lodge hostel, we decided to go for a walk in nearby Swaledale.  We set off walking just after 11am from near Maiden Castle and headed down the road to pick up a pleasant footpath eastwards down the dale.

Looking west up Swaledale

Heading east down Swaledale

It was lovely and sunny today and out of the wind it actually felt quite warm!  Whilst the weather was good we stopped for a picnic down by the River Swale, before continuing on eastwards.  The good weather wasn't to last and soon we were walking in full waterproofs due to the arrival of a very heavy hail storm!

River Swale

Luckily the hail and rain didn't last for long and we were soon back in the sunshine :-)  At the end of the footpath, Lynsey and Steph headed into Grinton village with the children whilst John and I walked back along the road to retrieve the cars, before we all adorned to the pub before heading home after a lovely weekend.

Reeth

Daffodils

Aysgarth Falls

Saturday 22nd March 2014 

This afternoon we spent a pleasant couple of hours wandering around the three impressive waterfalls near Aysgarth village in Wensleydale, followed by excellent cake at the nearby cafe, before heading to Grinton Lodge YHA for the evening.  Here are a few photos of the falls:

High Force, Aysgarth

Middle Force, Aysgarth

Lower Force, Aysgarth

Lower Force, Aysgarth

Rainbow over the River Ure

Foel Boeth & Gallt y Daren

Saturday 15th March 2014 

A short walk up a couple of Nuttalls from the road pass 

Distance: 3km; Ascent: 90m; Sunny and windy; with Colin

See tracked route in new window

Colin and I had originally planned to head up to the highlands this weekend for a spot of Munro bagging.  However the weather forecast for the highlands didn't inspire us to take the long drive north and so instead we hatched a plan to head over to Snowdonia for the weekend with the aim of climbing my final four Welsh 2000ft peaks.

The Rhinogs from the S slopes of Foel Boeth

Heading towards Foel Boeth

We set off walking from the summit of a minor road west of Bala Lake shortly after 10am and headed over the moorland to reach the top of our first hill of the day: Foel Boeth (Nuttall).  It was pleasantly sunny here today, although there was a bitter wind.  Many of the higher hills were covered in cloud, although there were good views towards the Rhinogs.

On the summit of Foel Boeth

Looking E towards Arenig Fawr and Moel Llyfnant

We continued NNW for a few hundred metres to reach the slightly higher summit of Gallt y Daren (Nuttall, HuMP), where it was even more windy!  We didn't linger here long and soon retraced our steps back to the car, where we arrived around an hour after setting off.  It was now time to head round to the Ogwen valley for our second walk of the day...

On the summit of Gallt y Daren

The Rhinogs from the road pass

Marbury Country Park

Sunday 16th February 2014 

An sunny walk around Marbury Country Park and along the Trent & Mersey Canal towpath 

Distance: 6km; Ascent: negligible; Sunny; with Lynsey, Isabel, Olivia & Margaret

See tracked route in new window

As it was actually forecast to be sunny today, we decided to head out for a family walk in the Cheshire countryside.  We set off from the car park at Marbury Country Park and walked through Hopyards Wood to reach the Anderton Boat Lift, where we had lunch in the cafe there.  To return to the car, we walked along the Trent & Mersey Canal's towpath to reach Big Wood and the car park beyond.  Here are a few photos from the walk:

In Marbury Country Park

Trent & Mersey Canal near Anderton

Trent & Mersey Canal

An Afternoon Stroll at Tatton Park

Sunday 9th March 2014

It was a lovely sunny day today so we headed out for a family day to enjoy the nice weather at Tatton Park.  We had a good afternoon stroll of around 4km around part of the deer park near Melchett Mere and Tatton Mere, and here are a few photos:

Melchett Mere

Lone Deer in Tatton Park

Melchett Mere

In Tatton Park near Melchett Mere

Spring is on the way!

Tuesday 25th February 2014 

This afternoon we spent a pleasant hour or so wandering around the Winter Garden at Dunham Massey admiring the many snowdrops, daffodils and irises.  Spring might just be on the way!