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‘Klifland’
If asked to define the Cleveland Hills, some people would say they begin at the utmost northern point with the prominent Eston Nab overlooking the industrial landscape of Teesside. They would continue their description southwards, encompassing the Guisborough Moors and Roseberry Topping. Alternatively, some might designate this conspicuous peak itself, which rises to a height…
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Faceby Bank
One of the classic views of the Cleveland Hills, looking south from Carlton Bank. Faceby Bank, smothered by the coniferous plantations of Great Bonny Cliff Wood, is aptly named after the village nestling beneath that peculiar outlier, known as Whorl Hill, the mythical abode of a fire-breathing dragon. Recorded in the pages of the Domesday…
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Tees Bay Pilots—A legacy of expertise and evolution
An early evening trip to the South Gare rewarded us with windswept skies and sunlit wind turbines. However, it was the western skies across the Tees bay that truly stole the show, presenting a more dramatic spectacle. A huge container ship had just passed by the Gare, en route to some distant port. Guiding this…
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Staithes’ transformation into an artists’ mecca
In the distant past, back in 1415, when the world was a taciturn place, the medieval village of Staithes was first recorded under the name ‘Setonstathes‘. This coastal community thrived as a fishing haven during the 16th century, only to prosper further in the 19th century as local ironstone, alum, and jet mining took hold.…
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St Nicholas’s church, Bransdale
Volunteering today with the National Trust in Bransdale. Delightfully, I took the opportunity to have a look around the quaint St Nicholas’s church, perched at the head of the dale. St Nicholas’s church may be squat but it stands proud, casting a discerning gaze down the valley below. Its Grade II listing records that it…
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Bell Heather—The purple beauty of the North York Moors
Bell heather is my most favourite of the heathers. I love thee richness of its purple hue, and unlike the more prevalent and lilac-coloured ling, which The North York Moors is renowned for, bell heather boasts an extended display. It blooms earlier in June and lingers longer, often extending into September. The National Park proudly…
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Little Raisdale, Hall Garth Farm and the ‘Farming Parson’
More often than not, my decision regarding which photo to share is primarily based on the likelihood of returning to the same spot. Such was the case this morning. Today’s image captures the western side of Cold Moor, offering a view down onto Cold Moor Cote in Raisdale. On the left, you’ll see this farm,…
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Shadow of suspicion: gamekeepers and the Red kite’s plight
As I cycled my way through picturesque Westerdale, I held out a glimmer of hope, albeit a rather optimistic one, for a sighting of magnificent Red kites. More specifically, I yearned to catch a glimpse of that one resilient Red Kite who may had managed to survive the cruel onslaught of illegal, heartless, and downright…
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From Asmund’s Clearing to Osmotherley
One imagines Osmotherley nestled snugly beneath the western fringes of the North York Moors. However, when seen from Green Lane, situated high to the east of the village, it becomes apparent that it occupies a rather exposed position, vulnerable to the gusts of southwesterly winds that sweep across the Vale of Mowbray. The dry fields…
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Capturing the Splendour of Tall Ships at Irvines Quay
‘Out and about’ today was a visit to see the Tall Ships in Hartlepool. We cycled in from the North Gare, via the revitalised Seaton Carew, which appeared quite spruced up and impeccably clean — not like I remembered. As we arrived at the Victoria docks, we were greeted by the sight of approximately 10…
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