Hadrian's Wall Taxis » Hadrian’s Wall Path http://www.hadrianswalltaxis.com Taxi Service for Walkers, Cyclists and Tourists in the Hadrian's Wall Area Fri, 13 Jan 2012 19:00:00 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 Holiday & Short Breaks Guide 2012 http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/HadriansWall/article.asp?PageId=3&ArticleId=114 http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/HadriansWall/article.asp?PageId=3&ArticleId=114#comments Fri, 13 Jan 2012 19:00:00 +0000 Hadrian's Wall http://www.hadrianswalltaxis.com/?guid=a5068a75ecb287452b66c59f4cf9dcd6 . . . → Read More: Holiday & Short Breaks Guide 2012]]> http://www.hadrianswalltaxis.com/hadrians-wall-path/holiday-short-breaks-guide-2012/feed/ 0 Fire in the sky http://finiteimage.blogspot.com/2011/10/fire-in-sky.html http://finiteimage.blogspot.com/2011/10/fire-in-sky.html#comments Mon, 03 Oct 2011 12:33:00 +0000 JoT http://www.hadrianswalltaxis.com/?guid=3af03a1a7d06fddc1b886b77cacb8a8b . . . → Read More: Fire in the sky]]> After a long spell of poor weather and grey skies, at last we got some nice clear days.
I'd ckecked the position of the sunrise and thought I might be able to capture the sun rising through the trees on top of King Arthur's Well at Walltown, something I hadn't done before.
As I climbed up Walltown Crags the sky was colouring up nicely and I was feeling pretty optomistic, then I heard the bellowing of cows, now I love cows but come sunrise they get skittish and dash back and forwards in front of the camera, leaving ghostly streaks.
So I needed a backup plan.
For ages I've been thinking that I should take a sunrise photograph from Mucklebank Crag, I had planned it for a misty morning and there was no mist but it would be something I hadn't done before so off I went.
There's a good stone path up Mucklebank Crag, it is steep but very stable thanks to the lads of Northumberland National Parks Authority.
Lot's of sheep around but fortunately they were still sheep so here are some of the pictures I took.


King Arthur's Well and Mucklebank Crag, cows are galloping behind me.

Looking east over Cawfields and Winshields Crag, William's Black Faced sheep pose for me.

On the Hadrian's Wall Path over Mucklebank Crag

Sunrise over Allolee Farm


Sheep graze on the Roman Turret as the light catches Walltown Crags

As I headed back to the car I bumped into the farmer from Walltown Farm, he was out feeding his bull, a beautiful blonde Charolais called Emo. As William and I stood chatting Emo was nudging him wanting his nose scratched.
We're back to bad weather again today and yet more high winds are forecast.

As always the pictures are copyright of Joan Thirlaway and cannot be used without written permission.
]]> http://finiteimage.blogspot.com/feeds/390198549219923100/comments/default 0 Missing delivery http://finiteimage.blogspot.com/2011/09/missing-delivery.html http://finiteimage.blogspot.com/2011/09/missing-delivery.html#comments Fri, 16 Sep 2011 08:29:00 +0000 JoT http://www.hadrianswalltaxis.com/?guid=fee2e70b32ad0c33ceffa8533bfafc02 . . . → Read More: Missing delivery]]> The forecast was for a cold morning with high possibility of frost and mists.
Mists are my Holy Grail so of course I was out early on Thursday morning rubbing my hands in anticipation.
There was frost on the car windscreen, and a few wisps of mist driving along the Military Road, but as I climbed up to Hotbank Crag and the vista opened out below me I realised that mist wasn't going to be a feature of this particular morning.
Obviously, the delivery of mist to Hadrian's Wall, had gone astray.
Lots of colour in the early sky, I'd had a very early start, I'd dropped TT off at work for 4.30 so I had plenty of time to stop and stare on my way uphill, and to get my breath back it was one of those mornings when I puffed and panted every step of the way.
And it was perishing cold up on the Hadrian's Wall Path, a reminder that Autumn has started and I was glad to have my hat and gloves, also glad no-one was around the see me in  my hat!

So here are the photographs.

Waiting for the sun to rise on the Hadrian's Wall Path at Hotbank Crag


Follow the line of Hadrian's Wall as it heads down Hotbank Crag, passes Housesteads Crag and swings left to climb Sewingshields Crag

Early morning light turns the water of Broomlee Lough into liquid gold

Just minutes later and the colours have changed as more light fills the sky, how quickly things change.

The sun breaks through the low cloud and just catches the stones of Hadrian's Wall


On the way down and one last glance back across Rapishaw Gap to Housesteads Crag
in the early morning light.

This morning the grey clouds are back, I was hoping for better from September, still it's early days and no matter what the weather there's always something to see on the Hadrian's Wall Path. Yesterday morning I was entertained by flocks of Pippits dancing along the Wall stones.
As I passed Cawfields Quarry I saw the missing mist delivery but hadn't time to go and check it out.
Have a good weekend.

as always the photographs are copyright of Joan Thirlaway and can't be used without written permission
]]> http://finiteimage.blogspot.com/feeds/8232870524400846800/comments/default 0 Top 16 walks book http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/HadriansWall/article.asp?PageId=3&ArticleId=119 http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/HadriansWall/article.asp?PageId=3&ArticleId=119#comments Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:00:00 +0000 Hadrian's Wall . . . → Read More: Top 16 walks book]]> http://www.hadrianswalltaxis.com/hadrians-wall-path/top-16-walks-book/feed/ 0 Top 16 walks book http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/HadriansWall/article.asp?PageId=3&ArticleId=119 http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/HadriansWall/article.asp?PageId=3&ArticleId=119#comments Thu, 15 Sep 2011 08:00:00 +0000 Hadrian's Wall http://www.hadrianswalltaxis.com/?guid=afab9fc0e1f744e2a18800690b792291 . . . → Read More: Top 16 walks book]]> http://www.hadrianswalltaxis.com/hadrians-wall-path/top-16-walks-book-2/feed/ 0 Been a while http://finiteimage.blogspot.com/2011/09/been-while.html http://finiteimage.blogspot.com/2011/09/been-while.html#comments Tue, 13 Sep 2011 20:18:00 +0000 JoT http://www.hadrianswalltaxis.com/?guid=b063948ca8d09a78c2b2fdb058f54cef . . . → Read More: Been a while]]> Sorry.
Weather has been awful and I've been suffering from Vertigo - okay that's my excuses for not blogging out of the way.
Gale force winds today interspersed with torrential rain so not terribly promising for photography.
But, the clouds were moving quickly so I had the idea of doing a long exposure at Sycamore Gap, trying to get the tree sharp with movement in the clouds.
I thought that if I could get a gap in the rain I might get some shots so I headed off to Steel Rigg.


Light on the land at Steel Rigg

View over Peel Crags towards Hotbank Farm

For a change I went straight up the steps at Peel Crags, probably my least favourite climb up, at one point the steps are about 10" wide, not good if you have big feet like me!
On top you could really feel the force of the wind, I'd read there would be gusts of 40mph and I could believe it.
I was blown over twice as I went up and down steps on the various parts, no coincidence that the steps are in the gaps and the wind was swirling around there.

I was suprised at just how many people were walking the Hadrian's Wall Path, those walking east to west were walking directly into the wind, many of them had waterproof covers over their rucksacs and these were acting like mini parachutes. Hard to walk in the wind never mind having a drag factor as well.

Hadrian's Wall on Peel Crags

Walkers on Highshields Crag


From Castle Gap west to Winshields Crag


Sycamore Gap

So eventually I arrived at Sycamore Gap, I tried the long exposure but the wind was shaking the tripod and the filter holder on the camera lens too much.
I stood for a while waiting for light to hit the gap, I wanted the dark storm clouds behind if possible. I also hoped for a rainbow, but then I hope to win the lottery every week and I don't get that either :)
Had lots of blue sky and fluffy white cloud shots but eventually my patience was rewarded, with the light lasting for about 10 seconds, just long enough to take a photograph.

As I stood there with my tripod several people sidled up to me with their cameras, obviously believing I know where the best viewpoint was - a tripod doesn't mean I know what I'm doing much of the time.
Walked back on the lower path, foolishly thinking I'd get some shelter from the wind, on a wide open plain the wind came right at me, so fierce that the bags under my eyes were flapping. I kid you not.

I'll end with a plea to please put the catches on the gates, doesn't matter if they were off when you went through, Hadrian's Wall crosses farm land and animals pass through open gates. Thankyou

]]> http://finiteimage.blogspot.com/feeds/5742586427981812848/comments/default 0 Fourth Edition of Trail Essential Companion http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/HadriansWall/article.asp?PageId=3&ArticleId=118 http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/HadriansWall/article.asp?PageId=3&ArticleId=118#comments Wed, 17 Aug 2011 06:00:00 +0000 Hadrian's Wall http://www.hadrianswalltaxis.com/?guid=04aa2fcd5e0810bf668c95400b0ca21d . . . → Read More: Fourth Edition of Trail Essential Companion]]> http://www.hadrianswalltaxis.com/hadrians-wall-path/fourth-edition-of-trail-essential-companion-2/feed/ 0 Fourth Edition of Trail Essential Companion http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/HadriansWall/article.asp?PageId=3&ArticleId=118 http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/HadriansWall/article.asp?PageId=3&ArticleId=118#comments Wed, 17 Aug 2011 05:00:00 +0000 Hadrian's Wall . . . → Read More: Fourth Edition of Trail Essential Companion]]> http://www.hadrianswalltaxis.com/hadrians-wall-path/fourth-edition-of-trail-essential-companion/feed/ 0 Walltown wildlife http://finiteimage.blogspot.com/2011/07/walltown-wildlife.html http://finiteimage.blogspot.com/2011/07/walltown-wildlife.html#comments Wed, 06 Jul 2011 14:40:00 +0000 JoT http://www.hadrianswalltaxis.com/?guid=a3b74e9e0eb94a0b4397867457ba3c21 . . . → Read More: Walltown wildlife]]> I'm not a Naturalist, I have a great interest in natural history and I enjoy nature watching but I'm not privy to the finite differences between some of the species of plant or animal, and I'm getting worse at remembering the names.

So today I'm simply bringing you some pictures from a two hour ramble around Walltown Quarry.
(see bottom of the Blog for a link to a PDF of Walltown Quarry area)

As the name suggests this area was once quarried for stone but now it forms part of the Hadrian's Wall Trail, a pit stop for walkers or a picnic spot for day visitors and locals alike.

The Northumberland National Parks Authority look after it and great areas of wild flower meadow sway with grasses and wildflowers, buzzing with insects.

There are bog areas, dry areas, ponds, woodland areas and mown grass, ducks nest by the ponds and swallows swoop for insects, they're already onto their second brood of the season and can be seen swooping into their nests by the toilets. Plently of car parking space and even refreshments available.

My photographs show just some of the flowers and insects and my apologies for the names, it's not my strong point and I hope that it will whet the appetite of true naturalists to come and check the place out for yourselves.

Pictures today are smaller than usual because there are more of them.

One of the gems of Walltown, a Bee Orchid. This is the first year I have seen them there but I found at least 4 plants in different spots and it's awash with other orchids so maybe I've just not noticed them before.




Common Blue Butterfly a beautiful splash of colour amongst the grasses


Common Blue with wings open.


One of the smaller Darter's, they whirl around your head as you pass by, later the big Dragonfly's will emerge with a real clattering or wings when they fly.
Amazing insects to watch they change posistion in the blink of an eye.

Hawksbeard,  insects seeme to be drawn to these open bright yellow flowers.


Common Centuary

Latticed Heath Moth, so striking you might mistake it for a butterfly



Prunella vulgaris


Ragged Robin

Ringlet Butterfly, I counted 75 of these on this ne visit to the site

Small Heath Butterfly

Small Skipper butterfly

Small Skipper butterfly, although they are as fast as all the other butterflies they don't seem to mind you getting quite close to them for photographs and generally chose a nice spot to pose.


Speedwell

St John's Wort

Flower of the Twayblade Orchid, something you could easily pass by and not notice, but they're worth a second look

Twayblade Orchid

Twayblade orchid blends so well with the surrounding grasses.

Birds Foot Trefoil, always humming with insects

Simple Buttercup, a full field of them look amazing

It's been a great year for Orchids at Walltown with the various types flowering from late May onwards
I imagine we have all of the Northern Orchids represented

Orchid, not only a variety of colours and form but sized from mere inches to 3ft tall



A white version of the Orchid

Deeper pink Orchid with distinctive markings on the lower lip

What meadow land would be complete without clover, and both pink and white can be found in the park.
Bees love the nectar rich flower.

So, I hope you managed to get this far, lots more things to see and record I've merely skimmed the surface  to give you a little taster, please come and see for yourself, it's a wheelchair friendly area.

A leaflet, with map, from Northumberland National Parks Authority as a PDF for you to print off linked below here


All photographs used in this blog are copyright of Joan Thirlaway and cannot be used without written permission
]]> http://finiteimage.blogspot.com/feeds/4312373143081308838/comments/default 0 The other Golden Hour http://finiteimage.blogspot.com/2011/07/other-golden-hour.html http://finiteimage.blogspot.com/2011/07/other-golden-hour.html#comments Sat, 02 Jul 2011 13:03:00 +0000 JoT http://www.hadrianswalltaxis.com/?guid=582750851903315498830a4dd4ead073 . . . → Read More: The other Golden Hour]]> As I said yesterday we get two bites at the 'golden hour' cherry.
Today's Blog has pictures taken up on Kings Hill at sunrise.
Kings Hill is between Housesteads Crag and Sewingshields Crag, kit's a fair old hike but, I hope, worthwhile.
When I set out there was no mist about, I thought conditions were right but when I arrived at Kings Hill there were just a few wisps rising from Broomlee Lough over the top of Sewingshields.


 Mist starts to rise from Broomlee Lough and drift across the peak of Sewingshields Crag

I was suprised at the position of the rising sun, in my mind I see Hadrian's Wall running east to west in a straight line but, common sense tells me that's not the case.
I do have a great programme the Photographer's Ephemeris which will show you exactly where the sun, sunrise, sunset or moonrise is at any point of time. Very useful I find.
As the sun started to rise it get very cold, I could see the breath of the Aberdeen Angus cattle keeping me company with their version of the dawn chorus.
Mist increased and it was a constant battle to keep my ND grad filter clear, it's always the same you wait around for ages not doing much and then it's a mad rush to capture images before the moment passes.
My head swivels about checking to see what's happening around me.

Sewingshields Crag
 
Light changes quickly and I zoom in and out trying to find the best composition.
 
 
Leaning across a low point on Hadrian's Wall I catch the sun and the line of the Wall.

Please do not climb on or over Hadrian's Wall, I know it's tempting but it can loosen the stones damaging the Wall and you might fall, one visitor was killed when he stepped back on the Wall at Birdoswald, and fell hitting his head.
I rush back and forwards trying, not always successfully, to stay upright
The Hadrian's Wall Path isn't even and stray bits of rock peak through the grass catching the unwary toe now and again.
Like Excalibur the camera is held aloft while I take the bruises.


The view west along the line of Hadrian's Wall

Couple of years ago I was on Kings Hill at the same time of year. Then the mists were wreathed through the gaps in the crags all the way to Winshields Crag and with the rising early morning sun catching the mist it made a beautiful sight.
I've been hopoing to retake something like that shot but not on this occasion.


The Golden Hour, looking SE from Kings Hill

As I've said in the past I'm useless with Photoshop and try not to do anything other than levels, contrast and sharpening on my photographs (and sometimes I forget the sharpen bit of the process) So colours are as the camera recorded them. I thought this shot was a good example of why it was called The Golden Hour.


Hadrian's Wall as it heads down from Kings Hill and heads up to Sewingshields Crag

I came down to the Pennine Way stile that crosses the Haddrian's Wall Path at this point, making my way up onto the other side of the Wall just for a change of view.
It's a bit of a mad scramble but I hoped it would be worth it. Mother Nature had other plans and hid the sun behind a generous bank of cloud so my efforts came to nothing on this occasion.
Never mind there's always another day.

Thanks for getting this far

As always the pictures are copyright and cannot be used with my written permission.


]]> http://finiteimage.blogspot.com/feeds/2314079657654641394/comments/default 0