Ashford in the Water

Sheepwash Bridge, Ashford in the Water

The medieval Sheepwash Bridge spans the River Wye at Ashford in the Water, north of Bakewell in Derbyshire. The triangular sheep pound adjacent to the bridge held the sheep before they were washed in the river. This village is probably one of the most frequently photographed beauty spots in Derbyshire.
(Canon EOS 60D, Tamron 10-24mm @ 17.0mm, 1/40s @ f/5.6 160 ISO)

Mow Cop

Mow Cop Castle in the mist

The folly at Mow Cop was built in 1754 as an elaborate summer house to enhance the view from Rode Hall in Cheshire. The building is now in the care of the National Trust. The day was very misty leading to a slightly eerie atmosphere at the folly.

(Canon EOS 60D, Tamron 10-24mm @ 10 mm, 1/100s @ f/9.0)

Hen Cloud

Hen Cloud

Hen Cloud is a gritstone outcrop between The Roaches and Ramshaw Rocks. Clud is a Celtic word meaning "rock" and Hen may be a corruption of "Herme", the Celtic fertility god, or "Henge", steep - so Herme's Rock or Steep Rock. These rocks are only 3 miles from Leek, just inside the boundary of the Peak District National Park.
(Canon EOS 60D, Sigma 17-70mm @ 23.0mm, 1/500s @ f/3.5)

Christmas at Rudyard Lake

Rudyard Lake

We enjoyed a Christmas Day walk at Rudyard Lake, frozen and covered in snow. Happy Christmas everybody!
(Canon EOS 60D, Tamron 10-24mm @ 24mm, 1/200s @ f/8.0)

Ramshaw Rocks

Ramshaw Rocks

Another photo from yesterday's walk at Ramshaw Rocks. This view is looking North towards Buxton.
(Canon EOS 60D, Sigma 17-70mm @ 25.0mm, 1/500s @ f/8.0)

Ramshaw Rocks

Ramshaw Rocks in Winter sunlight

Button and I went for a walk up to Ramshaw Rocks this morning. It was bitterly cold but bright and sunny. This photo is a composite of three exposures using HDR tone mapping in Photoshop to bring out some shadow detail while preserving the sky.
(Canon EOS 60D, Sigma 17-70mm @ 17.0mm, composite of 1/80s, 1/250s and 1/800s @ f/8.0)

Frozen Landscape

Black Brook valley, the Roaches in the background

The intense cold continues here, it was -9ºC during my walk near Gradbach today. Thick layers of hoar frost have formed on the ground, walls and fences.
(Canon EOS 60D, Tamron SP 10-24mm @ 11.0mm, 1/250s @ f/8.0)

Hoar frost on gatepost (monochrome)

Brough Park Bandstand

Brough Park Bandstand

The bandstand in Brough Park, Leek was built in 1924, the year the park officially opened. Brough Park is the largest park in Leek at 11½ Ha. The park has open areas and walks, ornamental gardens, a lake, bowling greens, a permanent orienteering course, this bandstand, a children's play area and a skate park, all set in mature parkland. The photo was taken late this afternoon while taking the dog (Button) for her walk.
(Canon EOS60D, Tamron SP 10-24mm @ 18mm, 1/30s @ f/8.0, ISO 400)

Deep Hayes Country Park

Mallards at Deep Hayes C.P.

The pools at Deep Hayes Country Park near Leek are ice covered. The Mallard Ducks seem somewhat nonplussed!
(Panasonic Lumix TZ10)

St Luke's, Leek

St Luke's church, Leek

St Luke's was built in the 1840s and consecrated in 1848, though it's Gothic style makes it look older. This photo was taken in rather dull conditions yesterday.
(Panasonic Lumix TZ10)

A frosty morning

Fosty morning near Ball Haye Green

Lyn and I took button for a walk to Tittesworth Reservoir this morning. There had been a frost overnight and it lingered in the shaded areas. This view was taken from near Ball Haye Green in Leek.
(Canon EOS450D, Sigma 17-70mm @33.0mm, 1/400s @ f/8.0)

St Edwards, Leek

St Edwards, Leek

We have now moved to Leek in Staffordshire and this is the first post on my new blog, "Moorlands and Peak". There has been a light fall of snow but St Edwards church in Leek looked attractive in the snow yesterday.
(Canon EOS450D, Sigma 17-70mm @ 17mm, f/5.0 @ 1/500s)