Holy Island

The isle of Lindisfarne is a tidal island off the north-east coast of England. It is also known as Holy Island and constitutes a civil parish in Northumberland. Standing on a rocky outcrop overlooking the island is Lindisfarne Castle, a small fortress first built in 1550. The only way across to the island is to use a causeway, although you must remember to check the tidal times before you set off.

The island is a great place to visit, but not if it's windy. Our visit was cut short due to nearly being blown over once or twice and nearly losing the wife into the sea.

Bamburgh Castle

Easter weekend also saw me visiting Bamburgh Castle which spans nine acres of land on a rocky plateau high above the Northumberland coastline. It is one of the largest inhabited castles in the country.

 

Barter Books

Over the Easter weekend I visited Barter Books which is located in Alnwick, Northumberland. The shop is reputed to be one of the biggest second hand book shops in Britain and is located in Alnwick's magnificent old Victoria railway station. I usually go for a browse and can't resist buying one or two books, but this time I was distracted taking photos with my iPhone. With the advent of new technology, such as e-readers, it makes one wonder just how long places like this will continue to exist. I must confess to owning a Kindle, but I still love the feel of books and how they look lined up on a bookcase.

Let sleeping dogs...

My job involves working shifts which means I spend some weekdays at home alone. I say I'm alone, but in truth I always have my two labradors for company; Harry and Meg. However, once I've taken them for a walk, usually around Ramsden reservoir, which also gives me opportunity to use my camera, they fall asleep. As they've got older, they've got closer and spend most of their sleep time cuddled up together. It always warms my heart to see them like this. Less heart warming is the snoring and trumping that usually occurs while they're sleeping. Then they wake, want feeding and another walk. What would I do without them?

Snow use worrying

Yet more snow. I love the opportunities snow gives for great black and white pictures, but I must admit that I'm a bit bored of it now and want spring to arrive. I want to get back on my bike, go running and have some sun on my face. Oh well, I'm sure it will arrive eventually.

Today's image was taken on my iPhone, as it was that cold I couldn't face taking out my dSLR. It's not that good, but I'm hoping it's my last snowy landscape for a while...

Misty Marsden

Yesterday I went to Marsden and Butterley reservoir for a walk. The weather was foggy and a little rainy and as a result visibility was very poor. Despite the bad weather, I did manage to take a few shots. The first few are from the hills above Marsden looking down at the mills. The last two are taken at Butterley reservoir.

Marsden is a large village within the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, England, 7 miles west of Huddersfield and located at the confluence of the River Colne and the Wessenden Brook (information from Wikipedia).