HFF

Another look from above Trevor near Wrexham Wales. HFF, enjoy the weekend.

The castle sits upon a steep hill overlooking the Welsh town of Llangollen and today we will see if we are still fit enough to get to the top after having done so some years back. We are about half way up here and looking down the Dee Valley in the direction of Horseshoe Falls. – Yes we made it to the top! See PiP for bottom view. HFF, enjoy the day.

The last of this Berwyn Station series here now. This was taken just after we had ascended the steep valley side from the River Dee below. Moments after taking this we were greeted by the station master who proudly extolled the virtues of this lonesome station A few minutes later the station was to be filled with people and a historical train. Enjoy the weekend. Best full screen

The blue hour here on the loch can be tantalising with such scenes and colours as this. As I slowly watch the last light of a wonderful sunset I always wonder when I will come this way again. Not for a year or two I fear! Taken at Tarbet. HFF ~ Enjoy the weekend. Best full screen

Walking by the side of this lonely 'Loch an Nostarie' area can be a trial in some places. We did wonder about wading through this gateway but we could see the track further on was even worse and so this was to be our turn around point. PiP Best full screen Enjoy the weekend.

Having passed Fort William we come across a grand view of Britain’s highest mountain. We are about half way up Loch Eil here from Fort William and this single-line track is part of the West Highland Railway line that runs from Oban to Mallaig. (Technically it runs from Glasgow to Mallaig via a detour to Oban, a total distance of 205miles ) It would have been nice to see one of the occasional steam trains that runs along here on its way to Mallaig via the Glenfinnan Viaduct but we were still a couple of weeks early for that. PiP Best full screen Enjoy the weekend.

It’s our first evening here and swapping between my binoculars, DSLR camera , phone and glass of wine, I shoot my umpteenth shot of this incredible view from our cottage garden. Here we see left to right: The isle of Eigg, Rum and the Isle of Skye on the right. In front of the fence sits a bench with table, as besides this view, just some 30 metres directly below us runs the famous single line of the West Highland Railway, quite often with steam locomotives and heritage carriages but we were two weeks or so too early to see steam. I did see, or rather heard, the diesel trains rushing by a couple of times though. Best full screen Enjoy another hot weekend.

As we continue south along this most wonderful coastline we pass behind this old boathouse. Maybe it is still used for something as the big stout doors were firmly locked. Ahead we see the Small Islands of Eigg to the left and the Cuillins of Rum centre stage. (They were actually much closer than they look here on this very wide angle 10mm shot.) Best full screen Enjoy the weekend.

Another view of one of the little sandy bays of Camusdarach here. "Hold on to the rope, it might be slippy". Ahead we see Eigg and Rum of the Small Islands. See PiP for the same bay from a different spot. Enjoy another hot weekend

Just beyond the palace gateway (PiP) we come to the main features of this most wonderful place. Here we have the grand entrance into the main forecourt and grounds of this 800 year Auckland Castle serving as the Bishops Palace. You see the 1790’s symmetrical screen wall featuring decorative corner turrets, crenulations, and pointed arched gateways with iron gates. See second PiP for a view through the fence. Enjoy the weekend.

As we continued our walk along the banks of the Loch I spot quite a different view that shows the ever present fences keeping the sheep in order. This soft moorland terrain was typical around here. HFF, enjoy the day.

The most imposing building on the Island of Rum Is Kinloch Castle. From its old front lawns runs an old path to bordering woodland. Here are the gates. They were very stiff indicating that they have not been used for a very long time hence the rust as well. Enjoy the weekend.

A re-visit to our local Parkbridge country park brings us by this rowan tree. Its always a great pleasure to see these with their bright red berries and so I never tire of photographing them. The fences hide deep holes into the underground mines that abounded around here at one time. Of course it is nice to see the heather coming into bloom too. The PiP shows the same spot from the other side taken six years ago. Spot the same tree! Enjoy the weekend.