Nigel's Photo Blog

  House at Charlecote Park This evening, I am posting information on an important heritage property dating from the 1550s Tudor era. Charlecote Park  the term embraces mansion and extensive parklands) is located in central England, about five miles east of Stratford-upon-Avon. Charlecote has a history dating back some 500 years before the house was built. The place was recorded in the 1086 Domesday Book and is derived from the Old English for 'cottages of the freemen or peasants'. The Lucy family have long been in residence at Charlecote. Between 1829 and 1865 Mary and George Lucy embarked on a lavish project to refurbish and renew the mansion interior in the spirit of the Elizabethan ( Tudor) age the result of which remains little changed since the Victorian era. Visitors can view the Great Hall, bedrooms and original furnishings whilst away from the main residence can be seen the Victorian kitchens, brew house and laundry. Outside there is the River Avon, gardens, extensive

 Image of Glasgow conurbation with Kilpatrick Hills in background.  Insofar as landscape photography is concerned the weather conditions today were ideal. Overnight there had occurred a 'dusting' of snow which, augmented by clear blue skies, negligible wind, temperature around freezing and no precipitation proved exceedingly favourable. By chance my wife and I had pre-booked a small group walking tour which took a route through hilly terrain S.E.of Glasgow which provided superb views over the Glasgow conurbation and Kilpatrick Hills to the north. As will be evident from the portfolio of images below, we encountered a wide range of sites and sights including waterfalls, highland cows, prehistoric rock art, sheep and a wind farm. Here is a video clip taken from an elevation of 600- feet looking north towards Glasgow and the Kilpatrick Hills,  Here is gorse in flower. This is an extremely prickly bush which does lighten up the landscape in winter and spring with a display of brigh

  Riparian scene Today, we experienced wintry weather in Glasgow. Overnight, in common with rest of the U.K., we had felt the force of Storm Bella which had blown in from the Atlantic depositing huge amounts of rain coupled with strong winds.Our experience of the storm was more muted than parts of England which suffered wind speeds of up to 100 mph and extensive flooding  By late morning the storm had passed leaving negligible wind and bright skies. These conditions allied with Covid inspired restrictions on travel inspired my wife and myself to embark on a six mile round trip hike taking in a local country park named Pollok Park through which flows the White Cart Water (river).  The hike presented good opportunities for photography, as illustrated in this post. Here is a Robin, a species very friendly towards humans.Backdrop is not ice or snow but effects of the rain reflecting in sunlight.   A green, swampy feel on the banks of the White Cart  Impressive steps in the garden of Pollok

  Yuletide transport at Pollokshaws, Glasgow  This morning (Christmas Day) I took advantage of a weather window to visit local parks and obtain seasonal images. Overnight, we had a moderate frost which lingered on to around midday. Result was relatively good visibility and 'crunchy' ground surface as opposed to the slippery mud of late.( In the next fee days we have Storm Bella blowing in from the west with gale force winds and heavy rain-all good fun!) As usual, my emphasis was on landscapes and wildlife although an opportunistic people shot (above) was availed of towards end of my walk. Here is our 'pet' fox waiting in our garden for some breakfast. Ducks and seagulls on frozen pond surface, Rouken Glen, Glasgow Frozen steps at Thornliebank, Glasgow Colourful fungi at Pollok Park Highland Cows at Pollok Park Close up of Highland Cow at Pollok Park Bull (Highland Cattle breed) at Pollok Park More colourful fungi at Pollok Park  Best seasonal wishes to all followers fro

   Drombeg Prehistoric Site, Glandore This evening, I am posting summary information and images on a selection of Ireland's prehistoric sites. Image above and video clip immediately below shows the Drombeg site near Glandore, County Cork. The circle, 31 feet in diameter, originally consisted of 17 pillars of smooth-sided local sandstone. To the west of the circle are the remains of two prehistoric huts and a fulacht fiadh or cooking trough together with hearth for heating stones. Fulacht fiadh represent the most common archaeological site in Ireland with over 4500 examples known.       Burial Cairn, Iveragh Peninsula Newgrange passage tomb, near Slane. A complex site dating to around 3000 BC.  Inside is  magnificently decorated chambered tomb containing a roof box aligned with the midwinter sunrise. Newgrange Prehistoric Site, County Meath   Hill of Tara near Navan.  This was a power base in medieval times. A complex site which includes: An Iron-Age hilltop enclosure. Ceremonial

  Carlisle Castle, N.W. England This evening, I am reporting on  Carlisle Castle in N.W. England, about eleven miles south of Gretna Green close to the England-Scotland border. This fortress is prominently positioned overlooking the flood plain of the River Eden. The castle is some 900 years old and is built of red sandstone on the site of first century AD Roman fort. It has featured in border wars between Scots and English and served as a base for patrolling an unruly border during the Tudor era (1485-1603) Later, during the early 19th century, the castle was re-fortified in context of controlling political unrest of the times. Onomatology:  The name Carlisle has its origins in the 5th century when it was known as Luguvallium which may be derived from Latin. By the 11th century the name had been shortened to 'Lujel'. To  this the local Brittonic (Welsh) speakers added the prefix 'Caer' meaning fortified place and hence Caerleoil (1130) and Carlisle today. Carl

  Leacanabuaile Stone Fort, Ireland. This evening, I am posting information on Leacanabuaile Stone Fort near Cahersiveen in the West of Ireland. Location is about ninety miles west of Cork. Key characteristics of Leacanabuaile Stone Fort: Built on a hillside and partly reconstructed. Walls embrace near circular area extending to 70 feet in diameter, Walls 10 feet thick. Inside is a square domestic residence built on foundations on an earlier circular house. Archaeology suggests history dating back to Bronze (c. 2000 BC) and Iron Ages (c.800 BC). Leacanabuaile Stone Fort, Ireland with Cahergal Fort in middle distance. Leacanabuaile Stone Fort, Ireland.