Lakes, Lochs,Reservoirs,Tarns, Ponds

This Autumn I have had a rare chance to revisit a favourite place: Hardcastle Crags near Hebden Bridge. In its heart sits this mill and pond. The mill, now a small cafe, even has seats where I am here to picnic whilst admiring this wonderful view. This fine old mill now owned by The National Trust lies in a very picturesque valley. The Gibson Mill was built around 1800. It was one of the first generation mills of the Industrial Revolution. The Mill was driven by a water wheel inside and produced cotton cloth up until 1890. In 1833, 21 workers were employed in the building, each working an average 72 hours per week Enjoy full size.

Man and nature come together here at Hardcastle Crags to give us a bit of piece and harmony. It was not always so. The buildings are part of the Gibson Mill which provided work for some locals many years ago. PiP

A look at Briksdalsbreen Glacier and its lake in Norway, taken in Aug 2005. We travelled to this from Olden, on Nordfjord and was astounded by the beauty of it. See PiP Unfortunately, we see it here before its impending death! - I was astonished to see yesterday, that this view has almost disappeared in the 14 years since we were here, due presumably to global warming. I did in fact manage to get underneath the ice here too. Only the very top is now visible as ice but the modern visitor have a few splendid waterfalls from the melting top of this in Summer. See the decline of the glacier here . Another from my Panoramio collection. PIP. Enjoy full size.

A panoramic view of this big reservoir here in North Derbyshire consisting of three photographs (approx 170°). On the far side accompanying the full length of this water runs the infamous A628 Woodhead Pass trunk road, passing over the nine-hole bridge that we can just see too. Woodhead reservoir was created between 1847 and 1877 with much difficulty, to supply the urban areas of Greater Manchester with fresh water. The Longendale chain of five reservoirs, of which this is the top one, were once the biggest chain of man-made reservoirs in the world. At the far end near the electricity pylon was the start of the Woodhead railway tunnel complex too. Three parallel trans-Pennine tunnels each 3-mile (4.8 km) long, now all closed the last in 1981) took at one time as many as 400 trains a day under the moorland. Many people died on the construction of these. The largest one now carries the national electricity power cables underneath instead of over the moors on pylons. See PiP for tunnels

An early Autumn view of my local Dove Stones Reservoir. Just over twelve months ago the water level was almost 5metres below the top of this bell-mouth drop-shaft overflow. You can imagine that we would not want to fall down here, hence the fence –that also keeps rubbish from floating over. The water running down here simply drops into a deep tunnel and quickly out at the bottom of the dam wall into the river. The water in the dam supplies drinking water to the surrounding area. Enjoy the light. I wish you all, a great weekend, Herb

It seems a while now since I was here on this lake in Switzerland and so I share some of the memories of it with you. This one taken from the Swiss town of Lugano itself. The lake actually border's Northern Italy and Southern Switzerland. Nice full screen.

A small lake not too far from my home -this is in the village of Greenfield. An almost silent view, broken only by the plaintive call of a nearby water-fowl. Just an hour or so after it would have been perfectly clear here. Enjoy large on black

We have always been great lovers of Scotland and so have traveled and holidayed up there whenever we could. This was Summer 2014 and this time we got up to the Northern highlands. We had a week on the very top Northwest coast about 15km from this spot at a small village called Durness. Enjoy my memory and pleasure of it here in this photo. Best full screen

Just a 15 minute car ride away and then a 45 minute walk brings you to this spot. It is the lower of two same named reservoirs to where I walk along quite a nice path from the village of Delph. I am stood almost on the dam embankment of the higher reservoir. This area was the home of a Roman fort in days long gone by. Only some ditches and mounds remain. PiP = nearby Winter scene. Enjoy full screen.

Delph, one of the small Saddleworth villages not far from my home here in North West England. After an earlier than usual fall of snow and sub-zero temperatures I have the opportunity again to explore in conditions like this. Of course, a shot for the super wide-angle lens here. Enjoy.

Yes, the hill we are looking at here is actually called 'Pots and Pans'. A cool morning with white frost on the ground, just about evident here on the bottom of the picture. From the higher surrounding Saddleworth Moors, mist is slowly dropping down but behind me the sun is fighting to come out. Enjoy large.

A remarkable scene taken at the wildlife water reserve of 'Penninton Flash' in Lancashire. Remarkable because it is very unusual to see these normally solitary birds grouped like this. The collective noun for a collection of herons is 'A siege of herons'. They were not all our usual British Grey herons but a few different varieties. As can be seen, a few other water fowl there too. I am in a bird watching hide taking this, surrounded by guys with 500mm lenses. PiP

Another look over my local reservoir here at Dovestones in Greenfield, as the sun tries to come up and warm the cold ground here. Ahead we are looking into Chew Valley, a steep long ravine almost, climbing up to the high moorland Greenfield reservoir. To the right is the old yacht club that is still used but very quiet compared to its heyday some 20 years back. -of course the light is once again principle here. Enjoy full screen

A very wide four photo 160° view over Dove Stone reservoir in Greenfield. Looking NW here towards the hill we known as Pots and Pans but technically this part is called Alderman's Hill. (Pots & pans is in fact the monument some distance behind this.) Dovestones is to the left but we can also see the dam wall of Yeoman Hey reservoir to the right. I am on the far section of the 2.6 mile round walk here. As can be seen, plenty of water after weeks of heavy rainfall. Best full screen.

After hours of dull poor weather, its prospects are suddenly better as we see the clouds clearing here from the west. We are near the small borough of Littlebourough. The reservoir being 'Higher Chelburn Reservoir' Good -big!

A new lake here for me, just by the canal at Ashton. It took a very slippy muddy path down to get to this spot but I think it was worth it.

What a difference a day makes. The PiP's shows what the weather was like in 2016 when we were last here. This time, the blue skies and sun have entirely been replaced with squally rain and mist and I am constantly wiping the rain off my protective lens filter. A visit today, along with nearby Fort William as part of our lightning bus tour of this area. Wiki: "A minor branch of the Clan Donald, built a memorial tower at Glenfinnan to commemorate the raising of the standard of the Young Pretender: Prince Charles initially landed from France on Eriskay in the Western Isles. He then travelled to the mainland in a small rowing boat, coming ashore at Loch nan Uamh just west of Glenfinnan. On arrival on the Scottish mainland, he was met by a small number of MacDonalds. Stuart waited at Glenfinnan for a number of days as more MacDonalds, Camerons, Macfies and MacDonnells arrived. On 19 August 1745, after Prince Charles judged he had enough military support, he climbed the hill near Glenfinnan as MacMaster of Glenaladale raised his royal standard. The Young Pretender then announced to all the mustered clans he claimed the British throne in the name of his father James Stuart ('the Old Pretender'). A MacPhee (Macfie) was one of two pipers with Bonnie Prince Charlie when he raised his banner above Glenfinnan. Afterwards brandy was distributed to the assembled highlanders to celebrate the occasion. Eight months later, Charles Stuart's claim to the throne ended in failure at the Battle of Culloden on the 16 April 1746. Many Macfies, who came from Glenfinnan, followed Donald Cameron of Lochiel on the right flank of the Jacobite Army at the battle."