-
Dunsinane Hill
Macbeth shall never vanquisb’d be, until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane hill Shall come against him. Shakespeare, Macbeth Act IV, Scene I. Did the son of a glove-maker from Warwickshire actually make a trip to this hill in Strathmore, or did he simply pick up an already established legend? Shakespeare’s renowned tragic play portrays…
-
Fingask Castle, near Dundee
Fingask Castle boasts an array of distinctive topiary, sculptures, and ornamental follies. The castle has a rich history, tracing back to 1594 when Patrick Bruce constructed it, although the Bruce family had been established on the site since the 14th century. Fingask is first documented in the Foundation Charter of the Abbey of Scone in…
-
The coastline near Cove
The Berwickshire coastline is a rugged and untamed stretch of land that is a favourite destination of ours for a refreshing break during a northbound journey, offering ample opportunities for exercise and fresh air. These breathtaking views along the coast are the result of millions of years of sedimentary rock formation during the Palaeozoic geological…
-
Ruthergate
My plan was to take a photo of an old route from Guisborough climbing Kemplah Bank on to Hill Plain. The pasture fields of Hill Plain can be seen in the top left corner, while Ruthergate is recognisable by the diagonal line of dark green gorse that stands out against the brown of the withered…
-
River Leven
A paddling of ducks in Ayton can be seen swimming leisurely on the River Leven, located downstream of a weir, which is referred to locally as the waterfall. Despite the serene ambiance, there are several concerns about the condition of the river. Agricultural lands located upstream contribute to high levels of nitrates and sediment runoff.…
-
Escomb Church
The quiet village of Escomb lies at the end of a mile long cul-de-sac down a steep bank. It’s a village which fortunes have ebbed and flowed. The origin of the name derives from the Saxon name “Eda“, which led to the medieval Ediscombe — the second element, “combe“‘ is a sheltered dwelling place. The…
-
All my life I have loved being out and about …
… in the fresh air, in the hills and mountains. Never a day goes by without my daily fix. But the sight of blackened, smelly swiddens saddens me; just as much as the large plumes of smoke that waft across the moors. This melancholy is worsened by an increasing anxiety of the climate emergency and…
-
An echo of the past silenced as hawthorn trees are felled — a loss for nature and history
Three years ago I lamented on the felling of a patch of semi-open woodland on the southern flank of Roseberry Topping. It was a parcel of scattered trees, mostly Hawthorn, the felling of which was a significant loss, not only in terms of its wild beauty but also its ecological importance. Hawthorn trees provide food,…
-
Arrow Stones
Not a day for photography on the moors. So a quick visit to the local church. All Saints Church, Great Ayton. The present building dates from the 12th-century but an an Anglo Saxon church in the Domesday Book. One curiosity is a series of groves incised on a quoin (cornerstone) of the gable to the…
-
The Wainstones
Playing on the Cleveland Hills today. This is a familiar landmark to all who know these hills. My dabble in artificial intelligence a few weeks ago, was not very convincing, but I thought I would give it another go. Maybe Shakespear with his iambic pentameter was too intelligent, so I thought KISS, ‘keep it simple…
Care to comment?