Nigel's Photo Blog

  Tour Group on Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway, Lake District This evening, I am reprising a private tour of the English Lake District First, we departed our lodgings and planned to go direct to Ravenglass via the Hardknott Pass. However, due to a navigation ‘glitch’ we drove through Langdale and Coniston then a south-westerly route to Ravanglass, near the coast. From here we went to visit Wast Water, England’s deepest lake. Once again we encountered sheep on the road.  We also observed various outdoor activities for youths in process. Langdale, Lake District Video clip of Wast Water, Lake District Sheep Hazard, Wast Water, Lake District Wast Water, Lake District, England After the visit to Wast Water and Wasdale Head we returned to Ravenglass to connect with the 1.50 pm narrow gauge steam trip to Dalegarth and back. This took about 1 hour 40 mins including stop at Dalegarth. This journey benefited from dry, sunny weather thus enhancing views of Eskdale . Video clip

  Jaunty Car Ride at Muckross House, Ireland This evening, I am reprising a tour of Muckross House and gardens in the Republic of Ireland. This is an heritage property situated close to the popular town of Killarney in S.W. Ireland, about 300km/3.5 hours from Dublin. Weather was favourable and guests availed of a 1 hour tour of the site in a Jaunty Car ( horse and buggy). This property was designed by Scottish architect, William Burn for Henry Arthur Herbert and his wife, Mary Balfour Herbert. Construction was completed in 1843. Queen Victoria visited in 1861. Muckross House in context of landscape Muckross House,m Killarney, Ireland today. As will be evident from the images herein, the location benefits from a mild, wet climate which facilitates the lush and well maintained gardens for which Muckross is renowned. Other attractions at Muckross include: Farms. Arboretum. Lake Leane. Restaurant Craft Shop Tours of the interior which remains set in the Victorian period. Jaun

  Introduction For a period of about one month I have been monitoring progress of a pair of breeding Coots in a pond at my local country park, Rouken Glen, Glasgow. The pair have progressed from constructing a rough pile of twigs about 20 feet offshore to something of an avian palace due to the flourishing vegetation which has grown up around them. The core foundation for the nest seems to be lily pads. Information on Coots, as sourced from Wildlifetrusts.org website  A familiar black bird of our lakes, ponds and rivers, the coot is widespread; look out for its large and untidy-looking nest on the water in spring. The coot can be distinguished from the similar Moorhen by its white beak and 'shield', and its entirely black body. A familiar bird of our wetlands, the coot is often seen on park lakes, ponds and rivers. It spends more of its time on the water than its relative, the moorhen, and will dive to catch small invertebrates. Unlike ducks, coots will bring their catch to the

  Dan Murphy’s Bar, Sneem , Ring of Kerry This evening, I am focusing on one of Ireland’s top scenic drives, the Ring of Kerry which covers a route encircling the Iveragh Peninsula in S.W. Ireland. The start point of Killarney is some 300 km/200 miles S.W. of Dublin. I have always covered the route in a clockwise direction as follows: Killarney with Lakes of Killarney and views of MacGillicuddy’s Reeks (mountains). Muckross Hous e and gardens. Here visitors can avail of a horse-drawn, Jaunty Car ride . Ladies View : Viewpoint offering stunning views of Killarney Lakes, with name attributed to Queen Victoria’s ladies-in-waiting during visit in 1861. Torc Waterfall, close to Muckross House.   Torc Waterfall Moll’s Gap: Stunning views over bogland and mountains. Sneem: Very colourful and popular village through which runs the River Sneem. Good spot for a refreshment stop. Staigue Fort: An Iron-Age, dry-stone fort (about 2000 years old) set on a hill. Derrynane House, the 16th ce

  This evening, I am reprising a section of a tour of the English Lake Disgtrict. First, I collected guests on arrival at Manchester Airport and proceeded as follows:- Drove for about 2 hrs   30 mins to Ambleside   on the northern   tip of Windermere in the Lake District, N.W. England. We then drove down narrow roads tracking the west side of Lake Windermere stopping en-route to photograph a colourful display of bluebell flowers in Fishgarth’s   Wood, Clappergate .  On arrival at the southern tip of the lake  where we availed of some light refreshment before moving on. Next, we drove back to Ambleside along the eastern side of the lake and checked in to our lodgings. Next, we drove to the quaint village of Bassenthwaite in the northern Lake District and returned via Bassenthwaite Lake. Scenery today was stunning, augmented by unusually bright sunshine. There was remnants of snow on some hill tops, fields populated with flocks of sheep and young lambs, green hillsides with fi

  Decoration inside York Minster This evening, I am reprising a one day tour of key sites in England. First, we departed our lodgings in Moreton in Marsh and drove north for about 30 minutes to  Stratford-upon-Avon. On arrival we visited the birthplace of famous playwright, William Shakespeare (1564-1616).who authored 46 principal works including Richard III, Hamlet, Othello and Taming of the Shrew. At rear of the house we encountered two Shakespearean actors who treated us to impromptu performances of Midsummer Night’s Dream and Taming of the Shrew . Impromptu performance of Taming of the Shrew Impromptu performance of Midsummer Night’s Dream Shakespeare’s Birthplace Shakespeare’s Birthplace from rear   Stratford upon Avon Stratford upon Avon Stratford upon Avon Next, we drove north for about three hours to our next destination of York , a major English city with a history dating back to Roman times and well-known for its time as a Viking settlement. Our main in