Alton Castle

Alton Castle

(Panasonic Lumix TZ10, 3 images tonemapped in Photomatix)
Alton Castle stands high on the hill on the opposite side of the Churnet Valley to the more famous Alton Towers. The original castle dates from the 12th century but the Gothic building visible here was built in 1847 to the design of the Victorian architect Augustus Pugin for the Earl of Shrewsbury, The building is now used as a Catholic Youth Retreat Centre.

View from The Cloud

View from The Cloud

(Canon EOS 60D, Sigma 17-70mm @ 36mm, 1/2000s @ f/7.1)
The Cloud is a gritstone hill between Congleton and Macclesfield in Cheshire. The view above is from the summit trig point looking towards Bosley and Shutlingsloe. It was a lovely day for a walk today cool enough for the 200 mtr climb from the car up to the top of the hill to be quite pleasant! The views from The Cloud are extensive in all directions taking in the Cheshire Plain as far as the hills of the Welsh border, the City of Manchester and the hills of the western Peak District, The name "Cloud" is a corruption of the Old English work Clud which just means hill!