Caught up at last

The last of my backlog of pictures.
Tomorrow will be pictures from Gilsland agricultural show that was held today and a grand day out it was too.
Although clouds gathered and looked black they passed over without any rain falling on the showground.
Still that's for tomorrow,today's offerings now.

Cuddys Crag March 2010 (grid ref: NY782686)

Cuddys Crag June 2010 ( grid ref: NY782686)

Steel Rigg May 2010 ( grid ref NY782686)

Housesteads Crag March 2010 (grid ref: NY784686)

Steel Rigg May 2010 (grid Ref: NY782686)

Cawfield Crags July 2010 ( grid ref: NY719667)

Walltown Crags July 2010 (grid ref: NY672662)

Winshields Crag July 2010 ( grid ref: NY743675)

Catching up part 2

Day two of the catching up process, I've mixed the pictures up a bit today, they'd sorted themselves alphabetically in the file so Cawfield was heading the list.

It's been an eye opener for me, I've been moaning to TT that the weather has been awful since June, but the photographs prove that wasn't  true.

Of course, Hadrian's Wall looks wonderful whatever the weather and I admit I love the big dramatic stormy skies, as long as I can keep the lens rain free.
So ever onwards :

Cawfields Crag July 2010 (grid ref: NY706664)

Crag Lough in Gold May 2010 (grid ref: NY758677)

Mucklebank Crag and King Arthur's Well July 2010 (grid ref: NY680665)

Steel Rigg May 2010 (grid ref: NY752675)

Zig Zag tree near Black Carts June 2010 (grid Ref: NY880717)

Sycamore Gap at Sunset June 2010 ( grid ref: NY761677)

The grid reference should give you the point where I was standing to take the photograph or thereabouts and I hope it will be helpful to fellow photographers.

More tomorrow.

Up in the mornings and out at night.

Well my sunrise, sunset season is well and truly under way.
Getting up at 4.40am at the moment and making a decision whether or not to go out, it's actually a hard call to make as cloud comes and goes quickly so I can get up and get out and before I've got the car off the drive things have changed completely.
Still you have to be out there to get a photograph and at least I'm lucky that I don't have hours to drive to my viewpoints.

Headed off to Steel Rigg a few mornings ago, the weather people kept promising a dramatic sunrise with the volcanic ash, the cloud was patchy so I had high hopes.

Steel Rigg (NY749677)

No one around, just me and the sheep with their lambs.
 I stood looking at the view and watching a patch of cloud build to my left but moving quite quickly to the right.
There's a group of trees near the top of Hotbank Crag and I noticed a light shining through the trees.
My first thought was that another photographer was up there with a red torch, well it was early and I was half asleep, but then I realised it was the sun rising.
And rise it did straight into the patch of thickening cloud, so it goes.
I did get some photographs to share with you, but not the fiery gem I was hoping for.

Steel Rigg (NY752675)

Sunset is another hit and miss afair but it's not as difficult to motivate myself to go out during the evening.
A trip to Walltown is easy and I can be there in minutes. I love wandering about up there, the views are spectacular, right across to Criffel on the Scottish Solway coast, looking over the plain that takes you past Longbyre and Gilsland following the route that Hadrian's Wall takes to the sea.

From Walltown to the sea (NY672662)

While I was up there a family came to enjoy the sunset, of course the first thing they did was stand on the Wall.
 I got chatting and asked them why, they told me it felt like they were walking in the footsteps of the Romans.
Maybe a viewing platform over the Wall, would solve the problem, then I'd complain it was ruining my views of course.

Walltown sunset (NY672662)

There's work ongoing to preserve the Wall, it's done using lime mortar exactly as would have been used in Roman times.
It takes much longer to 'set' and so is covered with tarpaulins, not pretty but necessary.
Heritage Consolidation Ltd, a local company, have been restoring this stretch at Walltown, plus they've cleared out the grass growing on the footings of the Wall and you can see from my photograph how much better that looks.

Walltown Crags

Night before last I picked up my camera and headed off to Housesteads, arriving just as everyone else was leaving. I wanted to get the criss cross bit of the Wall with the lowering sunlight catching the Wall stones.
I'd left home with clear blue skies and arrived to find cloud covering the sun.
Rang home and TT told me it was still clear to the west.
What to do?
Should I stay, or head back west, midges were biting but I could see a clear patch under the cloud.
I decided to wait until the sun dropped below the cloud. 
The sun was much further over than I had anticipated so if I missed my photograph tonight it would  be another 11 months before I got another chance.
In this shot I'm standing up on the only bit of the Wall that you are allowed to walk on, I would have liked to be to the north side of the Wall but couldn't see any way that I could safely get there, oh for the agility of a gazelle.
After 30 minutes the sun broke through and hit the scene in front of me exactly where I wanted it to, for once patience paid off.

Housestead Crag (NY786687)

Before the sun disappeared completely I set off back down the hill, lambs were gamboling, and seemed to be having such fun, don't know why they have such a burst of energy as the sun sets, but it's lovely to see.
Good weekend is forecast - hope you enjoy it.
Catch you later.

The joys of early morning

As the year progresses the sun moves back around Hadrian's Wall.

A quick check of the Metcheck site tells me that I have promising conditions for a sunrise shot.

For a change when the alarm goes off and I look outside I discover the forecast was right, so often weather conditions change by the hour, and I'm up and ready to go, keen to get back into the swing of early mornings.

I'd got my timing wrong, should have been up and out a good 15 minutes earlier, and then I was delayed having to defrost the car, but eventually I was underway.

As I was short of time I headed to Caw Gap, from parking the car I can get into place within 15 minutes, so it's a good standby viewpoint for me when time is short.

View towards Winshields Crag

The sky was a beautiful rich red as I parked the car but again these things change quickly, it had faded to a more gentle hue by the time I got everything up and ready.

I took a few photographs, the view here has a great lead-in line of Hadrian's Wall and then follows the line of the Wall as it climbs up to the highest point at Winshields Crag, if my sun position website was correct the sun should be coming up right in front of me.

I stood by the Wall listening to the world come awake, the dawn chorus seems to happen about an hour before dawn as the darkness fades, but the evocative call of the curlew, and the raucous call of the pheasant, helped me remember why it is that I love this time of day so much.

Even the putting of the shepherd's quad bike, as he checked his flock for overnight arrivals, seemed to fit in to the gentle pace of a day waking up.

Pippets and rooks fly before me, too fast to be captured on camera, lambs called and ewe's answered, I take a big deep breath of our fresh Northumbrian air and know what it is to be content with your lot.

Sunrises over Caw Gap

Eventually the sun comes up over the hill and I capture the scene and maybe I have taken the same sort of shot many times before, but I just love this time of day and photography is a great excuse to be out there.

View west from Cawfields to Walltown

It didn't take long for the sun to rise and get too bright for my camera, I wasn't quite ready to go back home so I took the long way back past Gibbs Hill where I could see mist rising from Greenlee Lough.

Road to Gibbs Hill and Greenlee Lough

I'd like to photograph the Lough there properly on sunrise but it's a difficult place to park and one of the landowners gets really ratty if you park on the side of the track.
On this occasion I pulled over took the photograph and then turned back the way I'd come, heading down to Steel Rigg for another quick picture before finally taking the road home for breakfast.

Steel Rigg

Catch you later.

Hadrian's Wall - April Fool

I was sitting in the conservatory at home watching the clouds skud across the sky thinking how beautiful they looked.

I've just bought a book on cloud spotting fromThe Cloud Appreciation Society and was trying to identify the type.

Suddenly it came to me that the Sycamore Tree on Hadrian's Wall would look jolly impressive with a backdrop of big rolling clouds so I gathered together my photographic equipment and headed off to the Wall.

Of course it was April the 1st and it seems nature doesn't know the 12 noon rule so when I got to Steel Rigg Car Park the sun had gone and it was hailing.

Sycamore Gap

That's the thing about Hadrian's Wall it seems to have it's own eco system so weather on the Wall can be totally different within a mile or so.

I like to check the NNPA webcams before I set off it does give me an idea of what to expect.
Anyway I hauled out the plastic carrier bag, wrapped it around my camera and set off to Peel Crags. I positively hate the climb up those steep rock steps, I have big feet and they don't fit very well on the narrow steps so I took the lower track that runs parallel to the Wall.

View to Hadrian's Wall from the lower track

There's a spot not too far along where you can see the Hadrian's Wall Path and cut uphill to join it or, you can stay on this lower path and end up at Sycamore Gap.
By the time I got to the Sycamore Tree the hail had stopped and the sun was playing hide and seek. I set up the camera, while the clouds weren't those big boiling jobbies that I had a Gilsland they were well worth a photograph and for a change the Sycamore Tree was free of visitors.
The clouds were moving really fast, I have 10ND filter, looks like black glass, it slows the shutter speed down so that I can record the movement. Played with that for a while but there was too much cloud and I couldn't get the effect I was after.

Rain over Gilsland viewed from Highshields Crag

I climbed the path up to Highshields Crag,and nearly got blown off my feet by the gale force winds. Pretty scary I have to tell you and really brings home just how powerful Nature is.
Crag Lough below me was huge with the rain we've had recently, I don't think I've ever seen it as full.
After another push from the wind I decided to head away from the edge and potter back along the Path.

Above Castle Gap and the swollen Crag Lough

As usual I took a few photographs from the hill above Castle Nick looking towards Hotbank. There are still patches of snow on the lee side of the Wall and I could see across to the North Pennines where there's a substantial snow cover.

Snow on the North Pennines from Hadrian's Wall

Back along the track and not wanting to face the gale going down the side of Peel Crags I cut across to the lower track, passing the Hotbank Cattle grazing by Peel Bothy.
The climb back up to Steel Rigg was very muddy and very slippery so if you're heading out there for Easter have good cleats on your boots or be careful how you go.
When I got back home TT told me those big angry clouds had dumped a substantial amount of wet stuff on Gilsland, I could see that happening from my high point on the Wall but fortunately it had worn itself out before it got to me and I stayed dry.
I'm off to Plenmeller Common now, it's a while since I've been there and the on my last visit I saw a ghost, hope he's away for Easter.
Catch you later.

Hadrian's Wall awash with visitors

Thick fog in Gilsland on Friday, in fact we'd been shrouded in fog for a few days but on Friday I could see just a chink of blue sky.

I was getting stir crazy and needed a break from trying to capture my perfect shot of the Gretna Starlings, so I headed out to Steel Rigg.
The trees were just ghostly shapes in the mist and mine was the only car in the car park.
I thought about going up onto Winshields Crag, hoping to get above the fog but then thought I'd just go along and see how the Sycamore Tree was faring in the mist.

As I left Steel Rigg there was a glimmer of light, I paused to take a photograph as two walkers  came into frame, perfect timing.

Figures in the mist at Steel Rigg

Then Peel Crags started to clear a bit and that confirmed my decision to head east.
It's probably my least favourite climb up the stone steps of Peel Crags, I especially hate the very skinny steps two thirds of the way up (my big feet weren't made for skinny steps) then when you reach the top there's a ladder stile to get over, as if you had breath to spare!

Peel Crags

Once you're on the top it is worth the effort.

I stopped to take some photo's as yet more and more walkers came past, nice to see the weather hadn't deterred people.
Of course it was the half term break so a lot of folk were on holiday, some had been to other places like the Lakes or the Northumbrian Coast and had popped to Hadrian's Wall for the day.

Walking into the mist

Happy to report visitors were impressed and planned to return.

Blue skies above Peel Crags on Hadrian's Wall

Above Castle Nick  on Hadrian's Wall

By the time I got to the Sycamore Tree the fog had all but gone.

Sycamore Gap

 I had planned to go on the circular route past the back of Hotbank Crag, with a stop to capture Crag Lough wearing white ice but the sky ahead had taken on a slate grey hue and snow had been forecast.

Crag Lough and grey skies over Hotbank Crag

A caterpillar of people coming along the Wall

(Double click the picture to enlarge it slightly)

And if I'm honest my toes were giving me pain, I have arthritis and this week it's the toes turn to ache.

Still I had a nice walk, met some lovely people and got some photographs, what more could I ask?

Oh! and people are still standing on the Wall - don't do it, I get ever so cross with you!

Catch you later.

My best picture of the Gretna Starlings so far.

Hadrian's Wall Illuminations on the 13th of March 2010

 I've been looking through Google Analytics at the search questions that have brought people to my blog and thought I'd do a quick entry that covers some of those questions.

On the 13th of March 2010 Hadrian's Wall will be lit by gas beacons, a once in a lifetime event that will never be repeated.
From Wallsend on the east coast to Bowness on the West, approximately 500 beacons spaced every 250metres will cover the 84 miles of the Hadrian's Wall.
The first beacon will be lit at Wallsend at approx 5.35pm and lighting will progress in sequence east to west with a six second delay between each beacon firing up so, 50 minutes later the last beacon will be lit.
Beacons when lit will be about 10ft high.
They will burn for approximately 75 minutes. 
There is a plan to extinguish all of the lights at the same time to mark the anniversary of the end of Roman Occupation in 410AD

You can apply to be one of the team who light the beacons and will receive a certificate to say you were an 'Illuminator', to date there have been 1500 applications, Sign up here.



Audience  participation events are planned in Wallsend/Newcastle and in Carlisle Celebrations in Carlisle
Organizers are hoping the main visitor focus will be at these two events.
(But when you think about Hadrian's wall Newcastle or Carlisle don't immediately spring to mind do they?)

A lot of the Hadrian's Wall Path is relatively flat and, in the dark, not terribly interesting but it's not hard to see that the high crags part of Hadrian's Wall from Sewingshields to Birdoswald is going to look spectacular.

Steel Rigg

On Hadrian's Wall itself there will be three main viewing areas at Steel Rigg (NY750676) (NE47 7AN)

 at Housesteads (NY790687)

and Birdoswald(NY618663)(CA8 7DD)

You must apply for a ticket to park at these points. Apply here for free tickets organizers anticipate 500-800 people at each viewing point.
Disability parking will be available at Brocolitia (not exactly an exciting view point!)

It is possible that all other car parks on Hadrian's Wall will be locked and laybys will be cordoned off. (They cite health and safety reasons)
The roads are very, very narrow and the grass verges are boggy with hidden ditches so parking is going to be a problem if you haven't got a ticket for the official parking sites.
Park and Ride may be available depending on demand.

The highest point on Hadrian's Wall is Winshields Crag and that can be accessed from Steel Rigg, there is normally a parking fee but on the 13th tickets will be free.

The view from Winshields Crag

There is no additional entertainment planned for any of the viewing areas at this point in time, for me it will be enough to be able to say 'I was there when Hadrian's Wall was illuminated', but maybe you should think of taking a flask of coffee and extra warm clothing as there'll be a lot of standing around.
At Steel Rigg you're near to the Twice Brewed pub and there are toilets in the Once Brewed Visitor Centre. Housesteads has toilets and the cafe/toilets at Birdoswald may be open during the event.


Take a torch, the ground is uneven and the rocks are slippery.
Remember you are walking on farm land and as it's lambing time, keep dogs on a lead and do close gates, please respect the countryside don't leave litter.

Hadrian's Wall itself is an ancient monument - don't climb up on it for a better view.

Posted at the request of HW Trails officer

Photographers - my website has a grid reference on each of the photographs that should show you, on the centre of the relevant multimap, where I was standing when I took the shot. Please plan well in advance how you are going to get to your chosen spot.
If I learn anything more I will blog it here for you.

Vindolanda will be open that weekend and in my opinion it's the most interesting site on Hadrian's Wall and well worth a visit.
NB The Vindolanda Museum is currently being upgraded and won't be open to visitors.

For accomodation in this area try here. B and B's are already filling up so don't dither.

Luxury of a lie in

Oh! what luxury it is to be getting up for a sunrise at 6.30am, it seems like cheating somehow.

I even had time for a cup of coffee, then was delayed when the outdoor cat made a dash up the stairs as soon as I opened the front door. He's not house trained so I had to ferret him out from under the dressing table.

My plan was to go to Cawfields for some of my favourite mist pictures but when  I got there the mist was so dense my viewpoints were obscured.

Onto plan B, take the high ground and a climb up to the highest point on the Wall at Winshields Crag, (NY742675) was just the thing.

The mist was pooling at the foot of Peel Crags (NY756676) when I arrived at Steel Rigg so of course I had a moments hesitation but as the sun light is to the south at the moment I decided to go with plan B and make the climb.

Walked out of the car park at Steel Rigg (NY750676) and climbed over the wall steps, taking a minute to admire the new kissing gate the NNPA have put in leading onto Steel Rigg.

Onwards and up the hill, very muddy and from the way the mud is churned up I'd guess there are still a lot of people enjoying the Hadrian's Wall Path.

The way up to the trig point is littered with the  wax cap fungi, such bright colours - I'm sure I saw somewhere that they are becoming rare and you're supposed to record sightings but I'm blowed if I can remember where I saw it.

Texel ewes are out in the fields, soon the tups will be in with them, I told the ladies not to take any notice of his sweet talking ways.

The view from Winshields is breathtaking at most times but today it was doubly so - the mist was rising like waves crashing up over Highshields Crag and I probably spent more time watching it that I did taking photographs.

Sun is rising over the Long Stone momument and, as it happens, the Twice Brewed Pub.

Of course, as Winshields is the highest point, you get views all around and to the west you could see pools of mist with the Nine Nicks of Thirlwall standing proud above the sea of white.

I was out for ages this morning but eventually rumblings reminded me that I hadn't had breakfast so I headed back downhill to the car.

As is my habit I called into Cawfields Quarry (NY713665) to see if there were any birds on the lake there.

I found a big yellow gully cleaning truck chugging away so any wildfowl were long gone.

Click on the pictures if you'd like to see them at a larger size.

Catch you later.

Joan

November is here

How quickly the year has passed, I can't believe it's November already and today I have a positive plethora of images for you.

I've been waiting for a nice frosty morning and when I got up it certainly seemed as though this one would be it!

Off to Steel Rigg with colour in the sky, nothing like a bit of red frost to set the pulses racing.

I'm still hoping for a good coloured sky behind the 'Sycamore Tree' so once again I walked east towards my destination.

I could feel the air getting warmer, it had been 0 degrees when I pulled into the car park, now it was showing 5 degrees on my thermometer so no frost then.

I set up and waited, taking the picture of Crag Lough with just a wisp of mist, then came a rush of wing beats and overhead flew 8 beautiful swans.

Because the light was so low the shutter speed wasn't fast enough to freeze the birds flight but I include a shot of their ghostly images flying over  Sycamore Gap.

Things weren't shaping up the way I wanted so I climbed up to Castle Gap and then on up to the viewpoint on Peel Crag. The sky was amazing, so much colour and at this time of the year the light is quite low so it catches the Wall.

I do so love this place, can you tell?

Even behind me looking towards Winshields Crag the sky had colour, and as usual, I had the place to myself, one of the advantages of not having to go to work.

As suddenly as the display started it finished and the sun disapeared into cloud so if you weren't up and about by 8am then you would have missed it.

The Hadrian's Wall Path is so muddy at the moment, yet from all the footprints I saw in the mud there are still lots of people out walking the trail, please remember to wear good stout shoes or boots because it is slippery when wet.

Lots of Wax cap fungi about, at first I thought people had been throwing orange peel around and was getting quite cross about it. Lovely yellow, orange, red and white toadstools litter the crags - magic.

Catch you later,

Joan