Tandem Trip 4

 

There was rain today, but it was not cold. We cycled along quite happily to reach the Midland hotel in Morecambe. This is an art deco classic building that has recently moved from dereliction to renovation. Set right on the shore we had our meal watching the changing Morecambe bay landscape respond to the weather.

Tandem Trip 3

 Day Two we cycled along the Leeds Liverpool Canal to Gargrave in the Pennines; it is a beautiful creation and I am always glad to see it. We then left the canal and headed to Clitheroe for our next hotel.

Tandem Trip 2

 It then got pretty hot as we cycled along the river Aire to Leeds, and then the Leeds Liverpool canal as far as Saltaire. A great start to the trip. We even had ice cream from a van on the canal - a rare occurence for me.

Tandem Tour 1

 Danielle and I set off on a warm and sunny Saturday for our first tandem tour together. Emilie and Alfie were looking after house and dog, so were all set. We rode to Garforth on back roads and tracks before following an old railway line to St Aidans. This was Europe's biggest slagheap, but is now a beautiful RSPB reserve which serves teas and cake as well.

The view across St Aidans RSPB reserve

Stroll 65 Wakefield to Barnsley pt3

 

My route into Barnsley took me past Oakwell, the football ground. Hard to believe Barnsley were in the Premier League in 1997.

Stroll 65 Wakefield to Barnsley pt2

Once upon a time this was an industrial railway line. Now it is a perfect way to walk.

 

Stroll 65 Wakefield to Barnsley pt1

 This was a walk that connected two bits of the network of routes I have been developing during the two years of The Stroll. A route that visited old pits, now turned into country parks, old railway lines that I walked on, and the semi-derelict Barnsley Canal that formed the majority of my route. I also passed through the Waterton Wall where Charles Waterton founded the first nature reserve in 1826. Wikipedia it if you are interested.

The Waterton Wall

In The City

The view from our hotel in Finsbury Square.

 

Ballet

 Rowan went to see Ballet Black at the Hackney Empire. Glad she is enjoying the arts.

Lunch

This is a view of Frank, Danielle, Chris and I having lunch last week. 

 

Bee news

 We went to collect a new Queen and her colony from a beekeeper near Scarbrough. They all stayed inside the hive on our was back. On our way there we had a walk in the Wolds, a first for a long time.

Wayrham Dale in the Wolds

Zen

One of the gardens we all liked at Chelsea, and one that we could actually get to look at, was this Japanese zen garden. Nothing unusual or ground-breaking but it exudes peace, which was in short supply.

 

London 2

 Danielle is a visiting professor at City University in London, and was giving a lecture to Masters students on Saturday morning. They put her up at a hotel in Finsbury Square, which was great. I met up with Rowan and had a cup of tea with her at her flat. We then walked down to meet Danielle once she was finished. Finally we met up with Chris and Frank again at Kings Cross for lunch, then got the train home.

You were allowed to enter and touch the exhibits in the Saatchi garden at Chelsea, which was a rarity. These sculptures could be spun around. Look forward to seeing them at B&Q soon.

London 1

 Danielle had a high school friend visiting from Germany with her husband; Chris and Frank. Chris is into gardening, so we met them at the Museum of Gardening at Lambeth Palace, got the river boat to Chelsea, went to the Chelsea Flower Show, then met up with Rowan for a tapas in the evening. Quite a day, all done in 30 degrees heat.

Mango

 We got news last week that Layla's mother, Mango had died aged 8 or thereabouts. Sad for the couple who took Mango as a rescue dog, then helped her raise five unexpected puppies; Layla was one of them.

Stroll 64 pt3

 

And here is the beautiful viaduct, stepping out across Batty Moss. Perfect fit of landscape and industry.

Stroll 64 pt2

Inglebrough is a great mountain. An iron age hill fort used to be atop it, and it now dominates the landscape around Ribblehead viaduct. I arrived at Ribblehead station with over an hour till my train was due. Not a bad place to wait, made even better by the excellent cafe that was there to serve walkers and rail travellers. Perfect.
 

Stroll 64 pt1

 I took the train to Garsdale, high in the Yorkshire Dales. From there I walked south to Ribblehead. It was a high level route with views like this one down to Dentdale. Jet fighters trained by flying beneath us down the valleys very fast. Layla, who is terrified of hot air balloons was totally fine with the supersonic weapons of mass destruction that swept past us.

Sheffield 2

 Walking on, I crossed the upper reaches of the river Don. It was the kind of fast flowing rocky river that is tailor made for dippers and grey wagtails. Sure enough both popped up, as soon as I looked over the bridge.

Sheffield 1

 I took the car in for its service in Sheffield. Whilst it was being done I took a walk through the past history of this great city. Walking through woods and old industrial sites, there was plenty of interest. I was listening to The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins, and as the plot the got more creepy and gothic, so did my route, until I found myself in a totally abandoned cemetery, which has been left to the elements. No one even trying to look after it. A real Victorian curiosity, much like the novel.

Stroll 63 iii

The path I took, took me away from the fairly numerous groups of walkers. This lot were on the summit ridge looking purposeful.

 

Stroll 63 ii

 

Atop the moor is a Neolithic stone circle (known totally inappropriately as The Twelve Apostles). It is an impressive site with views all around. In this shot Drax powerstation, which is 56km to the east, can be seen clearly on the horizon.

Stroll 63. Ilkley to Saltaire.

I walked from Ilkley, over the moor, to Saltaire in the Aire Valley. The moor starts straight out of mundane Ilkley, and for a while it has a whiff of municipal park about it. This shot is quite a way up towards the top of the moor, but the benches of remembrance belie the links to the town below.

 

High School Reunion

 Rowan went back to her high school for the 10 year reunion of her class graduating. She made some very good friends there, and they all seem to keep in touch too.

This is a shot of some of them at the event.

I'm Back!

 Big long gap. Combination of being knackered after Open Studios, and having a busy bank holiday weekend. Anyway, normal service should be resumed hereafter. Friday Danielle had her cocktail club, me and the dog carry out a collection service at the end of the session. Saturday we went to Goole with Peter and Shin-Sook to see the Goole 200 exhibition (it was shut, despite being advertised as open) and then had a good lunch in a vibrant small town called Howden, just down the road. Sunday we met up with John and Katy in the Wolds for a rained-of walk and a pub lunch. All good.

 

Goole - the place to go for a good bench.

Gig Time

Went to a gig in Leeds with Paul, Emilie and Danielle. Nubiyan Twist are a hip Jazz band formed in Leeds, now in London. Fantastic venue, great crowd, vibrant gig. We all loved it.

 

YOS continued

I asked visitors to pick their three favourite images from those that I was exhibiting (65 in total). This is always of interest to me. The top ten so far (half way through) is an interesting mix of old favourites and new shots. Number one at the moment is this piece of beautiful Barnsley history - an old packhorse bridge. 

Line of Beauty

YOS Weekend 1

The first weekend of 2026 York Open Studios is over. It went well, with plenty of visitors, sales pretty good, and interest high. I had little time to photograph things, but here is a shot.

 

Stroll 60 Sheffield to Hathersage

The path from the centre of Sheffield up to the Peak District is a great experience. Leaving the pleasing city centre up on the hill, the path goes through the University, then the marvellous botanical gardens before following Porter Brook through, first a formalised park, then a wilder public space, before leaving it and climbing to the moors. That is where I found this beautiful track across the peat bogs. Right up my street.

 

Stroll 59

From the same canal, this house had a bit of a creepy feel.

I have been very busy getting ready for Open Studios. Treating the wood on the front of the house, trimming the hedges, sweeping the yard. And doing the labels, putting up the signs etc.

All starts tomorrow.

 

Stroll 59 Congleton to Macclesfield

Tuesday was a spring day. First Shorts Day for me too. Just perfect for a walk on the wonderous Macclesfield canal through Cheshire lands. Plenty of people getting their boats ready for the summer too.

 

Stroll 58 Sunderland to South Shields

 

I walked along the North Sea coast to complete the section of my stroll from Middlesborough to the Tyne in  Newcastle. An amazing walk, the beach and rocks at Sunderland never fail to surprise me with their drama and beauty.

Easter

 Rowan came home for Easter, a very pleasant time. Adrian and Cathy came for Sunday lunch, and we had Alfie for the night as well. 

We walked at Escrick, you can see Danielle Rowan and Alfie to the left, with Layla cooling off in the beck.

Stroll 57 pt2

 

There is no doubt about it, having Jarrow Abbey surviving in this most unpromising environment is a thing of wonder.

Stroll 57 Newcastle to South Shields

 

I took the path along the south side of the Tyne. A pretty amazing route past old industrial units, repurposed shipyards, abandoned collieries and Jarrow Abbey home to the Venerable Bead.

This shot is of a strangely unreal horse staring straight at me and the dog as we walked past.

London 7

 The Tuesday I got the North London Line (now renamed the Mildmay Line) from Highbury & Islington to Richmond. One of my favourite journeys. Then I walked along the Thames to Olympia, and got the train back in time to meet Danielle at Kings Cross. Danielle was running a work event on the Wednesday, so we walked to the hotel at Farringdon, then met Rowan for a meal together. The next day, I got the train home, with Danielle arriving later on after a successful event. Emilie had been looking after the house and the dog. Phew. 

Down by the river

London 6

Monday Rowan was off to work, whilst I took the train to Ally Pally then walked through old haunts to see Rob's widow Kath at her house in Crouch End. She is doing pretty well, and has friends all around her. I then walked through Highgate woods, and Waterlow Park before meeting up with Rowan in town. We had something to eat in a vegan place on Wardour Street then went to the Totally Football live show off Leicester Square. This was my Christmas present from Rowan, and we both really enjoyed the podcast-derived show.

 

London 5

Sunday Rowan and I went another walk, then watched Arsenal lose to City in the League Cup final. Rowan's friend Adday, and her Dad (who lives in Yorkshire of course) joined us upstairs in a very civilized pub on Upper Street. As you can see the women are Arsenal supporters - so not the best watch.

London 4

Saturday Rowan took me on the New River walk, that is now open to the public way beyond the few miles that used to have access. This is up at the reservoirs near Manor House. Lovely to walk it with my daughter who does seem to have inherited the urban discovery bug.

 

London 3

 

Friday evening I met up with Victor and we watched his daughter sing at the Frontline club in Paddington. She has a really good voice. 

London 2

Next day I walked by the river Wandle from Wimbledon to the Thames, where I took this shot of Chelsea Harbour, I then continued along the river into the West End, where I got a tube to Rowan's flat in Islington where I spent the next four nights.

That London

Down to London last week to have a wake for Rob. The funeral parlour was called Exit Here which was a nice touch.

I stayed with Mark and Mandy. Also in the picture is Rob's daughter Lily, who was fantastic in keeping it all ticking over, and Danny who was in Red Dwarf.

The Rhythm Section

Peter and Robert looking solid.

Stroll 54c

 

I got the train back from Prudhoe, by which time the Tyne had turned from industrial artery into a most beautiful rural river.

Stroll 54b

 

This is one of the always-welcome Sustrans marker signposts on the cycle network. It is a fantastic achievement, to create an alternative way of getting around, all over the country.

Stroll 54a

 I arrived at Newcastle expecting to get the train to complete the Middlesbrough to Sunderland route. The train was cancelled. So a quick ponder, and I decided to head east along the Tyne. It is a great path, a Sustrans cycle route right by the river for the most part. The weather was beautiful and all was well. The path drops down steeply from the station to the Tyne gorge, where the path goes under a couple of the Tyne bridges.

Stroll 53 pt3

The path reached Horden, which was in the paper the other week as an example of a village that was built for its pit, but the pit is long gone, and the people are not. Walking to the station was a pretty grim experience. So different from Seaham where I started. Both used to depend on coal, one has moved on to be a desirable place to live, one has not.

 

Stroll 53 pt2

 

The path followed the cliff top, until it was interrupted by a series of deep steep valleys. The railway line, built to ship the coal to the world ran near the coast the whole way. An amazing construction achievement which a local told me was completed in 1905, which is late, and probably a reflection on the need to get the coal to market as cheaply as possible.

Stroll 53 pt1

 The next day I headed south on the Durham coast from Seaham to Horden. It was a beautiful day, with the port at Seaham looking mill pond flat. 

Stroll 52 pt2

 The Durham coastline is surprisingly dramatic, and eroding away fast. The path I followed is part of the King Charles Coast Path, which has a grand name but very little in the way of signposting IRL. A good thing though. I finished off the day at Seaham.