Nigel's Photo Blog

    Aspect of Linlithgow Loch with swans and boatmen. Today, I spent a pleasant few hours on a photo themed walk around the ancient Scottish town of Linlithgow which is located about 22 miles west of Edinburgh . Information on the town's history can be found via this post. My focus today was on acquiring an eclectic portfolio of images which range from Scottish food to wildlife. Weather is finally changing from an untypical balmy period to a more traditional seasonal spell with fog and temperature hovering just above freezing. These conditions can be positive for landscape imagas as will be evident from the wildlife and related pics taken close to  Most of the images were taken of or near to Linlithgow Loch which dates back to 10,000 years to end of the last ice age.'Loch' is a Scots-English word for the standard English word 'lake.Linlithgow Peel refers to the land around the loch. Linlithgow Loch with sun breaking through the morning fog. Another aspect of Linlithgow

  Mangerton Tower, Newcastleton. This evening, I am posting information on Mangerton Tower near Newcastleton in the Scottish Borders region. Mangerton was a Tower House and important power base for the Armstrongs at a time when the entire Borders region was lawless. There is a record of one Alexander Armstrong at the Tower in 1378 followed by Armstrong family ownership through to 1629 when the property was transferred to Francis Scott, Thereafter, the Tower appears to have gone into decline and now just comprises the base and foundations. There is an armorial, stone dated 15(8?)3 with initials S.A. and E.F. This plaque commemorates the rebuilding of the tower in 15(8?)3. It depicts a bearskin and the initials SA, the eighth Laird and EF, his wife Elizabeth Forster To get a flavour for the structure in its heyday refer this report on nearby Gilnockie Tower. The Tower is located in low-lying pastureland and can be accessed via a rough farm track which follows a defunct

  Tourneyholm, Kershopefoot This evening, I am posting information on the site known as Tourneyholm which lies on the Scottish side of the England-Scotland border, about four miles south of Newcastleton . Tourneholm played an important role during the time of the Border Reivers. The Reivers were a group of families who lived in what was called the Debateable Lands (i.e. an area whose ownership disputed between England and Scotland) in what is now Southern Scotland between the 14th and 17th centuries AD. The key areas were Liddesdale, Redesdale and Tynedale. During the medieval period this border region was generally wild, lawless and economically poor. These conditions triggered self-preservation centred on family groups or clans whose allegiances fluctuated but not necessarily to the national governments of Scotland or England. Reiving is a term used to describe raiding for cattle, sheep and any other assets which were mobile or could easily be transported. In the locali

     Above image shows H.M.S. Glasgow, a Type 26 frigate under construction   Although Scotland's dominance of commercial shipbuilding is long past construction of military ships is flourishing as illustrated by the following: The U.K.s Ministry of Defence has announced a GBP4.2bn contract with BAE systems to build the next five City class Type 26 frigates at its yards at Govan and Scotstoun on the River Clyde in Glasgow. Construction of the first three Royal Navy vessels of the Type 26 class are already under construction. The Australian and Canadian navies are also favouring the Type 26 for their renewal programmes. All up, global procurement now sits at 32 ships. On September 5th BAE's Managing Director stated that 170 apprentices had just been recruited and that a total of 400 apprentices had been recruited in the past five years. Latter figure will rise to 900 in course of next five years. GBP15m is being invested in a new Applied Shipbuilding Academy in Glasgow. Also BAE

  Old High Light, North Shields This evening, I am posting images and information on North Shields in N.E. England, about eight miles east of Newcastle upon Tyne . This town (pop 40,000) is located on the north bank of the River Tyne. On the opposite bank is South Shields which is connected to Hadrian’s Wall via the Arbeia Roman Fort . North Shields has a long history in fishing and navigation. The tall white buildings shown in the images were lighthouses which date from the 17th and 18th centuries. High Light, North Shields Low Light, North Shields

Tonight, I am reprising a visit to the Morecambe bay mudflats region. Benefiting from a good sunset and benign weather conditions, I visited Morecambe Bay in N.W. England. This is the largest expanse of inter-tidal mudflats and sands in the United Kingdom, covering a total area of 310 km². Access was via the town of Bolton le Sands. These sands have an incredible tidal reach of 10m or 33 feet. At time of my visit, the tide was well out thus allowing me to range widely over the sands. As will be evident from image below there are dangers here. In 2004, twenty-one Chinese cockle pickers were caught unawares by the incoming tide and drowned. Dangers at Morecambe Bay In course of my extended hike I encountered horse riders, dog walkers and some bird life.A superb recreational area when the weather conditions are right. A great spot for photography! Video clip of Morecambe Bay at Bolton le Sands Coastline from Morecambe Bay Bird tracks at Morecambe Bay Sand formation at M

  Roman baths at Bath, England This evening I am reprising a one-day tour which encompassed sites in both England and Wales. First, we departed our lodgings near Bath, England and transferred into Bath to visit the Roman Baths, Bath Abbey and avail of refreshments at Sally Lunn’s, a historic building and eatery dating from the 15th century. The Roman baths date from the 1st century AD and exploit a constant supply of warm water. The baths went in to decline after the 5th century but became popular again from the 18th century. Video clip of Roman Baths     Roman Baths at Bath Roman` inscription at. Bath Sally Lunn’s Eatery, Bath, England After lunch, we departed Bath and drive west across the Severn River Crossing (bridge) to South Wales and then to our next destination of Merthyr Tydfil, a large town which has a history in heavy industry.We undertook a short driving tour around Merthyr and stopped to visit St Tydfil’s Church. St Tydfil’s Church, Merthyr Tydfil, Wale

  Commanding Officer’s house at Arbeia Roman Fort This evening, I am reprising a tour of heritage sites in northern England. First, we departed our lodgings in York , NE England and drove north with first stop at Kiplin Hall in north Yorkshire. Kiplin Hall Kiplin Hall This intriguing Jacobean house was built for George Calvert, Secretary of State to James I and founder of Maryland, USA. Cecil Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore, was the first Proprietor of the Province of Maryland, ninth Proprietary Governor of the Colony of Newfoundland and second of the colony of Province of Avalon to its southeast. Since it was built in 1619, the house has belonged to four fascinating families, connected by blood or marriage. Former owners had royal connections including King John, James I, and Charles I and II. Throughout the centuries alterations and additions have been made to the house and gardens. The house is packed with the furniture, portraits, paintings, objects and personalia of the

Boconnoc Parish Church, Cornwall , England This evening, I am posting information on Boconnoc Church, Cornwall, England which was rededicated in 1321 but is of mainly 15th century construction. Boconnoc Parish Church, Cornwall The church consists of a chancel, nave, south aisle and north aisle. Other features include a small 19th century bell tower, a minstrel gallery, 13th century style font but with 15th century style  tracery,decoration,  17th century oak Alter Table and 17th centyury Pulpit. Inside Boconnoc Church, Cornwall Ancient Font, Boconnoc Church The church is inextricably linked with the nearby Boconnoc Estae and Manor, near Lostwithiel , which has a history dating back to the 11th century Norman conquest of England.In the 18th and early 19th centuries the property was owned by the famous Pitt family (which produced two British Prime Ministers) and then the Fortescue family through to the present day. King Charles I attended a service here in 1644 during

This evening, I am reprising a cycling tour along the banks of the River Tyne (in N.E. England) using a spot ( Newburn ) near Newcastle upon Tyne as base. Millennium Bridge, Newcastle upon Tyne We spent most of the day on official cycling trails which in the main follow the banks of the River Tyne. In course of the tour we witnessed a wide range of sights and interests including: -Sculling on the river. Rowing on River Tyne – A gentleman with a horse. – A number of gentlemen fly fishing on the river. Fly Fishing on River Tyne – A defunct coal mine. Defunct coal mine nr Prudho. This region was at the heart of the (coal fired) Industrial Revolution. – A fascinating 19th C railway bridge. Hagg Bank Bridge over River Tyne, England -George Stephenson’s birthplace. ( George Stephenson (9 June 1781 – 12 August 1848) was   a British civil engineer and mechanical engineer.   Renowned as the "Father of Railways", Stephenson was considered by the Victorians a great example o