Blog :: Geograph Britain and Ireland

Blog Entries by Geograph Users

The Far North Line - from Brora to Wick, January 2022

4 months ago

The journey Each year my wife and I take a train trip to celebrate our respective birthdays. Living near Inverness and with my wife’s birthday falling on January 10 we usually head west to Kyle of Lochalsh. The Kyle line is particularly striking with snows on the highest peaks and the journey can be done in daylight. See for example Link. However this year we repeated the journey made exactly ten years earlier to take an Away Day on the train from...

geo-trip train ride

A traverse of the Malvern Hills

5 months ago

For anyone living in the counties of Herefordshire or Worcestershire the line of the Malvern Hills is a familiar sight on the horizon. In fact, the hills form part of the boundary between these two counties, the southern slopes of Chase End Hill, the most southerly of the hills, is in Gloucestershire. The origin of the name Malvern is probably from the ancient British moel-bryn, meaning "Bare-Hill", The Malvern Hills are formed around 680 million years ago. The hills are the eroded...

geo-trip walk

Meal a' Bhuachaille circuit, Glenmore

8 months ago

This GeoTrip is a walk of a published route on the WalkHighland website and the paragraph that follows is from there. [i]Meall a' Bhuachaille is a great choice for a first hill walk in the Cairngorms, being easily accessible and having the benefit of great paths to the summit as well as superb views. Here is a chance to experience the beauty and wildness of the Cairngorms without the length and remoteness of some of the Munro walks. The walk described offers great variety, with ancient...

geo-trip walk

2021 summary

8 months ago

As the season draws to an end here is my annual summary of my photographic activity. Lockdown held back my usual routine till the end of March, so again sent me in a small circle around home covering less-visited areas until I was set free again Photo Photo Photo Photo, plus our bagpipers who put on a performance for charity Photo. Over the winter three pre-Worboys signs had turned up, so as soon as March ended I was off to get them all including one in...

lockdown 2021

Anniversary of Edward Jenner's first smallpox vaccination

12 months ago

If ever we needed a reminder of the importance of vaccination it is now with the world fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo The events which took place 225 years ago today in Berkeley, Gloucestershire were a milestone in medical history. In was on 14 May 1796, that Edward Jenner administered the first smallpox vaccination, a step which eventually resulted in the eradication of smallpox almost two centuries later. Edward who was a physician in Berkeley had noticed that...

edward jenner berkeley smallpox

Lockdown story

19 months ago

I usually make plans for each year for the photo season, roughly when the clocks go forward till when they go back, based on new map records and areas. The easiest new record was going to be my 20th myriad, SH in mid Wales. Then came the lockdown when we couldn't go out for more than about an hour, so on local duties. I covered every area I'd rarely visited Photo Photo Photo Photo Photo, and as a result of the added time managed a couple of POTY...

Cul Mor from Knockan

20 months ago

The Walk Highlands website provides a suggested itinerary for climbing Cùl Mòr, and this was mostly followed for this Geotrip. The walk uses the Stalkers Path from Knockan that crosses Meallan Dìomhain and climbs Cùl Mòr by the North East ridge. The walk then heads North West along the spur over Sron Gharbh until the terrain descends abruptly at a nose. This point provides a memorable view over Loch Sionasgaig and Stac Pollaidh. The return is made along the spur to the bealach separating...

geo-trip walk

The Braes Loan Trail

22 months ago

You can see this trip plotted on a map on the Geo-trips page Link The Braes Loan Trail incorporates several historic elements going back to the 12th century and beyond. Part of the trail is believed to be an old pilgrim's route which used to pass through Markinch and along which Edward I led his invading army into the village in 1296. The trail also makes use of old cattle routes used to drive cattle to and from grazing at 'The Mires', a once-boggy area...

braes loan trail markinch geo-trip walk

A short walk to Myreside Pond

22 months ago

You can see this trip plotted on a map on the Geo-trips page Link . My wife first mentioned this pond to me one evening whilst we were reminiscing over old times and I was intrigued by the name she gave it - 'Scabanory' - and what she told me about childhood memories of catching tadpoles, minnows, etc. It has been many years since her last visit and she wasn't quite sure of its location but, with a little research and the help of a local history site,...

leven myreside pond scabanory scabbie norrie

The Grantham Canal

23 months ago

The slight easing of the Covid-19 restrictions allowed a relief from a very routine daily round in the urban environment for getting essential exercise, with an opportunity to get out into the countryside. The early part of May 2020 has produced significantly fine weather. The canal towpath has been developed as a multi-user route and is a popular place - not too many at the time I was taking my walk. The walk gan be seen as a Geo-trip here Link

grantham canal multi-user route coronavirus-covid-19

Railways of Chasewater 1

24 months ago

As many of my fellow geographers know, Birmingham and the Midlands has a rich history of railways. Subsequent to their demise before/since Mr Beeching, many have now become fabulous oasis from the (once) fast pace of the city and of life in general. Fast forward to the present worldwide lockdown, and I chose to get some early morning exercise visiting the area north of Brownhills to search out such railway relics, whilst enjoying a short hour and a half's walk in the sunshine and with...

lnwr mr footpath circular walk short walk former railway track chasewater brownhills brownhills station a5 m6 toll

Ilkley to Eastby

24 months ago

River Wharfe heading towards Bolton Priory

Starting from the Old Packhorse Bridge in Ilkley, which coincides with the eastern end of the Dales Way proper. The route basically follows pastures beside or close to the River Wharfe to reach the village of Addingham. Once passed a caravan site, the long distance path follows pastures through wonderful scenery dominated by Beamsley Beacon to the east. On reaching the B6160 a path has been created in fields parallel to the road, to keep walkers safe from speeding traffic. After Bolton...

geo-trip walk

Half a season

24 months ago

My photo season begins in April and ends in October, when I can travel as far as possible in a day to make my map records and collect pre-Worboys signs. Luckily I did two such trips just before the clocks went forward, and means the road signs which I consider a priority as so many are gone if you wait a day too long, are up to date. Each year I list the next trips, using the map to see the next record I can get without being stranded in the middle of the night off the A1 in Lincs...

lockdown coronavirus local photos

Strath Halladale

24 months ago

You can see this trip plotted on a map on the Geo-trips page Link .

geo-trip walk

2019 summary

28 months ago

2019 was probably my busiest Geograph year. I reached 18th on personal points (I didn't aim to, I just went out most weeks), and went further in a day and back in Britain than I have in my whole life (although Brussels is the record). In fact it was because the Eurotunnel was on partial running through August as it was so hot and told passengers not to travel if possible I chose Yorkshire as an alternative. It was a good idea in principle, but I didn't allow long enough to get there as...

malvern filey rain mid-wales

One last look at the cooling towers

29 months ago

Cooling towers of Ironbridge Power Station

I was in Ironbridge back in the summer and whilst visiting some of the museums I took a couple of photographs of the cooling towers of the Ironbridge Power Station which ceased generating electricity in 2015. Knowing the towers were to be demolished during the coming winter I thought it would be good to return when the leaves have fallen thus hopefully getting a better view of them. I’ve been thinking over visiting in recent weeks but the dull and very wet weather of November had put me...

geo-trip walk

Circular walk by the River Beauly from Black Bridge

29 months ago

A circular walk beside the River Beauly above Lovat Bridge used to be possible by parking a car near Lovat Bridge at the entrance to the estate. The Laird has now closed the logical car parking area, and the walk now is best made by parking at Black Bridge. The full circle is over 9 km if one extends the route into the woodland that adjoins the Balblair Quarry. In fact the best part of the walk is the section in Balblair Wood. The route along the river is very quiet. I have been in the...

geo-trip walk

Confirmation of inaccessibility

31 months ago

A week-long holiday in Trefdraeth, I thought, might give me a fighting chance of picking up the two still-green squares of SN0442 and SN0543 on the coast just to the north of Newport Sands. It appeared from the maps that, steep as the access obviously was, it might just be possible to sneak into either of them from the south in each case. The first attempt was at SN0543. On the Tuesday afternoon, I took an illicit but quick bike ride along the coast path to scope things out, and...

Mission complete

33 months ago

My 13 year long Geograph mission was completed on the 24th of June 2019. It had stages, the first was compass records, going almost as far east as it's possible in Southwold Photo, the south coast in various places Photo Photo, north to Harrogate Photo and west/southwest to Exeter Photo. Exeter also completed the longest reasonable distance between two points, as living in a corner of the map in London can't equally travel north and south to get long...

myriads travel counties distance

Siss Cross

35 months ago

Typical of the many crosses that are a feature of the North York Moors. Originally erected by the Saxons or Danes after their conversion to Christianity but most replaced over the years. Their purpose has been speculated as a waymarker, territorial boundary or a memorial but may have been re-used for all of these. Siss Cross is on Danby Low Moor close to the ancient trod running north from Danby to the coast. From my photo-diary for 14th May, 2019 see Link

out and about

Powder House, Belmont Ironstone Mine

35 months ago

The climb up Highcliff Nab from Hunter Hill Farm used to be one of my regular routes, but I rarely get that way much now, so I was surprised to see how much clear felling of Guisborough Wood has been done, with I guess more to follow. I remember this heavily reinforced concrete bunker being hidden by trees and almost buried. It was a powder house where the black powder or explosives for the Belmont Ironstone Mine were stored, well protected and well away from the mine entrance and other...

out and about

The Lake, Studley Park

35 months ago

John Aislabie first began to create the landscaped gardens of Studley Park around 1716 but it was only after he retired from Parliament under dubious circumstances that he was able to devote fully to the task. During his time as Chancellor of the Exchequer, Aislabie guided the bill through the House of Commons whereby the South Sea Company would take over the national debt in exchange for government bonds. But when the South Sea Company collapsed in 1720 it was found that Aislabie had...

out and about

Day Return to Kyle of Lochalsh from Dingwall

38 months ago

The railway line from Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh is famed for its beauty. Together with the more publicised “Harry Potter” line that includes the Glenfinnon viaduct on its way from Fort William to Mallaig, and the wilderness route to Fort William over Rannoch Moor, the majority of the passengers who use the lines are tourists out for the ride and experience. Each year my wife and I plan a winter journey from the Inverness area on one of the North Highland lines. The choice is...

geo-trip train ride

2018 summary

40 months ago

2018 was the busiest photographic year of my life. A new car actually compatible with motorways Photo (it's only a 1200 but size isn't everything) started me off breaking new records from the beginning of the year onwards. First my north record in Lincolnshire Photo , followed by my map distance record a month later in Exeter Photo . As I am in London Photo trying to beat that again north or west would require a lot further, towards the Lake District, as SW-NE...

counties devon yorkshire harrogate motorways

Scottish Hill Track 303 part 1 Glen Torridon to Coire Mhic Fhearchair

43 months ago

Scotways Hill Track 303 takes the popular walk from Glen Torridon between Beinn Eighe and Liathach as far as a col and then heads up behind Beinn Eighe before crossing trackless country to join a path along Glen Grudie that reaches Loch Maree at Bridge of Grudie. The 14 km walk is described in detail in the Scotways book, Scottish Hill Tracks. The first half of the walk is on excellent paths and a small spur takes you into Coire Mhic Fhearchair. Many take this route there and back to...

geo-trip walk

2022	1
2021					1				2		1
2020				3	2	2			2
2019		1			3			1	1		1	2
2018			1	1	5	1	1		1			1
2017			1	14	4		1	3		1
2016				1	1				1
2015		1		1	3	2	7			1		1
2014		1	1		4	1		3	3	1	1	2
2013	3	4	7	8	1	2	1	1		2
2012	5	12	8	8	7	8	9	4	3	3	3	2
2011	7	6	7	6	12	8	4	4	2	2	2	2
2010											3	8