Seen on a quiet Norfolk beach.
Archive for January 2012
Flotsam and Jetsam Leave a comment
Misty morning run 2 comments
The murky images above and below were taken at around 8 am this morning from the cliffs above Chapman’s Pool, whilst stumbling through a rather long training run. Mist and cloud obscured the hilltops, and (apart from the run along Swanage promenade) this was my only glimpse of the sea. When I finally made it home, [...]
Red Sands Fort redux 2 comments
Someone mailed me yesterday and asked me about the logistics of paddling to Red Sands Fort, out in the Thames Estuary. To my shame, I can’t find the email and have no idea what I did with it. If you’re reading, any chance you could contact me again, please?
Gribben Head Daymark Leave a comment
This striped 25m tower was built in 1832 near Fowey in South Cornwall, to distinguish Gribben (aka Gribbin) Head from neighbouring headlands, hence allowing safe approach to Fowey. Because this is the internet, absolutely anything is possible, including building your own daymark.
Out Stack Leave a comment
The hunk of rock above is Out Stack, which happens to be the northernmost point of Britain. It’s located a short way north of Muckle Flugga Lighthouse, which is a short way north of the Shetland Isles. I certainly wasn’t on my own, out on the water up there on top of the UK. The [...]
Enys Dodnan Leave a comment
This extraordinary granite arch is found on the islet of Enys Dodnan, located off Land’s End in Cornwall. It is a highlight of one of the best coastal trips in Britain. The murky final image was taken on a rainy misty day last February, but is included here to show the whole isle. The jagged stack [...]
In a Flap Leave a comment
This fellow’s take-off was much more impressive than what followed. He got caught up in the gusty draughts in the cliff gulley and zig-zagged seawards out of control, barely avoiding the walls with manic flapping. In fact, I suspect that was what he meant to do…
This is England Leave a comment
No, really.
Lighthouses of the Isle of Wight 1 comment
There are only two on the Island; the Needles (above) and St Catherine’s Point (below). Both are spectacular to paddle past, in exposed locations and overlooking significant tide races.
Larger than life 1 comment
Puffins, gotta love them. These guys on Skomer Island in Pembrokeshire practically came and stared down my lens…
Traffic Separation Scheme Leave a comment
Crossing between the mainland and the Isles of Scilly… The Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) will certainly give you something to look at. The TSS crosses the middle third of your voyage, a massive maritime motorway. The two ‘lanes’ that you cross (north going, then south going) are each 4.5km wide with a 3km ‘central reservation’. [...]
Gadcliff Dawn Leave a comment
Note to self: must cease interrupting training runs by stopping to take grainy mobile phone photos. This morning I ran the local hills as per usual, but went a bit further; I followed the two Purbeck ridges into and out of the military firing ranges (they’re not firing this weekend, thankfully), via the beach at Worbarrow Bay. The highlight was [...]
Gannets of Bass Rock 1 comment
One of my favourite images ever. Approaching 150,000 gannets on Bass Rock, in the Firth of Forth. We had been able to smell them from several miles back…
Crowded House Leave a comment
Presumably this little fellow is trying to figure out where (if anywhere) he is going to land. Presumably that’s him also in the photo just below, elated at having secured himself a spot. The location is Elegug Stacks in South Pembrokeshire. Guillemots galore…
Lundy from Mouth Mill Leave a comment
Lundy Island seen from Mouth Mill in Devon at sunset, back in 2007. A friend and I had just landed at the end of a great days’ paddling; whilst I fiddled with the camera, my mate got the dinner on.
Bishop Rock Lighthouse Leave a comment
Approaching Bishop Rock Lighthouse, Isles of Scilly. There is nothing past this, but America. Whilst the Stevenson family lit up remote shores of Scotland, construction in England and Wales was dominated by Trinity House Chief Engineers James Walker and James Douglass. When James Walker replaced the 1776 lighthouse on Pembrokeshire’s Smalls Rock (constructed using wooden and [...]
Purbeck underground Leave a comment
All along the Purbeck coast into the late twentieth century, limestone was quarried away. This industry has left significant gaps in the cliffs. These now disused quarries extend back into the hillsides behind; there are numerous vast caverns measuring hundreds of metres in length. These are dangerous places to visit, with crumbling ceilings and shaky roof supports. Seriously, [...]
Dart, more Leave a comment
Pleasant bimble today, on my favourite river, which gave a National Park its name. I will never tire of it. Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team Ashburton were out after dark yesterday searching for some overdue paddlers (whom I understand turned up safe), and they were out training river crossings today on the upper reaches. They [...]
Full Sus Leave a comment
The English Channel seen early morning today from Swyre Head, whilst trying out a new toy. For years I’ve ridden hardtail bikes, and my backside has grown accustomed to incessantly having a saddle rammed into it. However, I recently realised that the front suspension had long since died on my bike, and that the reason my downhill [...]
Western Isles natural arch 2 comments
Like the title says.
