Bubble trail along the River Wharfe downstream from the Strid at Bolton Abbey

Yesterday I visited lovely Bolton Abbey for the first time in many years. The Strid is a section of the river Wharfe where the huge volume of water rushes through a narrow, rocky gap. Although the Strid is dramatic and definitely worthy of photos, I was actually more drawn to this section, just downstream from it, where the river gradually widens again. The frothy bubbles produced by the force of the water above form a white trail down the centre of the river.

Camera/lens settings: ISO 200, f/5.6, 1/100s, 17mm, hand held

Muddy woodland at Ogden Water.

This weekend I visited one of our local reservoirs - Ogden Water. My son went for a long muddy run across the surrounding moors, whilst I wandered around the woods with my camera. This is the last photo I took on the day - it's a muddy, but very colourful, ditch over a wall beside the car park.

Camera/lens settings: ISO 200, f/3.2, 1/100s, 35mm, hand held.

Exposed tree roots at Hardcastle Crags.

This tree is growing on a very steep slope high up in the woods - the path runs right beneath its roots. I took the photo in February this year.

Camera/lens settings: ISO 100, f/4.5, 1/80s, 35mm, hand held.

Winter trees at Hardcastle Crags.

This is from February this year - I love how the silver birch tree trunks and coppery leaves stand out from the dark greens.

Camera/lens settings: ISO 100, f/2.5, 1/250s, 35mm, hand held.

River flowing around mossy rocks and autumn leaves.

This is at Hardcastle Crags, photographed about this time last year. I took 3 different exposures - one fast, one very long and this one, which I think captures the best of both - the darker water is smoothed out to simplify the scene, but there's still an element of movement in the white water.

Camera/lens settings: ISO 100, f/18, 5s, 38mm, tripod & cable release.

Fern amidst moss and decaying leaves.

I found this little fern at Hardcastle Crags in February this year - a lovely mixture of colours and textures.

Camera/lens settings: ISO 100, f/4, 1/125s, 35mm, hand held.

Bluebells surrounding the base of a tree trunk.

Another shot of the lovely bluebells at Hardcastle Crags in May this year.

Camera/lens settings: ISO 100, f/7.1, 1/200s, 35mm, hand held.

Mossy branches surrounding mill ruins.

This is the old mill near the top of Jumble Hole Clough, between Hebden Bridge and Todmorden. I took the photo in April this year, before the leaves appeared on the trees. I'm planning another visit soon so I'll see how the leaves change the atmosphere.

Camera/lens settings: ISO 100, f/2.8, 1/100s, 35mm, hand held.

Moss-covered tree trunk.

I took this one at Jumble Hole Clough, between Todmorden and Hebden Bridge, in April this year. It's a lovely place, full of photographic opportunities - a rocky stream, waterfalls, old mill ruins, woodland. I'm aiming to go back and spend more time there soon - even the kids should enjoy clambering around whilst I take photos!

Camera/lens settings: ISO 100, f/4, 1/100s, 35mm, hand held.

Colourful section of the sea wall at Whitby.

I took this in January this year whilst walking along the beach at Whitby. I was drawn to the bright colours and the patterns and textures. Now, however, whilst posting this tonight, I have started wondering what has been pouring out of those little holes, making the dark stains, and thinking it might be best viewed from a distance!!

Camera/lens settings: ISO 200, f/5, 1/60s, 22mm, hand held

Toadstools growing out of a log in woodland.

I took this one at Hardcastle Crags in early November last year. I love how there's so much going on around this fallen branch. It may be dead itself but it's now the home of all kinds of other plant-life (and, no doubt, insects too). When writing the title of this blog post, I wasn't sure whether to call the fungi mushrooms or toadstools, so I looked up the difference - apparently the general difference is that mushrooms are edible and toadstools are poisonous. Still no idea what this one is!

Camera/lens settings: ISO 200, f/6.3, 1/60s, 18mm, hand held.

Little waterfall at Maple Dean Clough, Norland (3)

Today my eldest son and I walked up through the (very muddy!) woods above Copley to Maple Dean Clough. I took my little beanbag, knowing there would be opportunities for long exposure shots in the stream. The low camera angle and the fact that the water was quite fast flowing today, make this little waterfall look much bigger than it actually is.

Camera/lens settings: ISO 100, f/22, 1.3s, 35mm, bean bag & remote release.

Overgrown mill ruins at Jumble Hole Clough

I did another new walk today - from Great Rock above Todmorden, down through Jumble Hole Clough, along the canal bank in the valley bottom, then back up the hillside from Eastwood. The fast-flowing stream down Jumble Hole Clough is stunning, but I'm not sure I've got any photos that really do it justice - I always felt like I needed to be on the other side of the stream. I did look for ways across at various points but (for once!) was sensible and didn't risk slipping off the mossy rocks and breaking bones or camera.

There are ruins of old textile mills at various points in the Clough - this is one of the smaller ones towards the bottom. It has a huge tree growing on top of it and a little waterfall in its side - hardly recognisable as a building any more.

Camera/lens settings: ISO 100, f/3.2, 1/125s, 35mm, hand held.

Roots entwining a fallen log on a river bank.

Another one from Hardcastle Crags, a local National Trust propery and one of my favourite haunts. I took this one in June last year - the River Hebden is sparkling in the background.

Camera/lens settings: ISO 200, f/11, 1/125s, 34mm, hand held.

Moss-covered rocks beneath trees above Mytholmroyd.

I took this one a couple of days before Christmas last year, right at the end of a walk from Cragg Vale, around Broadhead Clough and back down to Mytholmroyd. At this point I was actually a bit lost! I'd been trying to connect 2 different walks which I had guides for, but couldn't relate the sketchy maps provided to what I was actually seeing. The kids were getting fed up and we'd already walked a long way, so we decided to abort and find our way straight down the hill to the valley bottom again.

Camera/lens settings: ISO 200, f/8, 1/80s, 24mm, hand held.

Moss-covered tree trunk and roots in woodland.

I took this today at Hardcastle Crags on a walk with my lovely friend, Hattie. We passed this tree on the main track just up the hill past Gibson Mill.

Camera/lens settings: ISO 200,  f/3.5, 1/100s, 18mm, hand held.

Colourful mixture of plants and autumn foliage on the woodland floor.

I took this next to Maple Dean Clough on the hillside below Norland in November last year. I love how there's such a variety of colours, shapes and textures in such a small space.

Camera/lens settings: ISO 400, f/5.3, 1/100s, 44mm, hand held.

Little stream running through sunlit winter woodland.

This is the Caty Well Brook, just below the pub at Lower Saltonstall. I took the photo in February last year on a walk around the Luddenden valley. The sun was just about breaking through, lighting up sections of the mossy branches and water.

Camera/lens settings: ISO 200, f/11, 1/60s, 30mm, hand held.

Twisted, mossy tree trunks in woodland.

This is a section of woodland beside the path near Broadhead Clough in Mytholmroyd. I took the photo this morning on a walk with my sons - the first time any of us has done this route (Mytholmroyd-Broadhead Clough-Erringden Moor-Mytholmroyd). It was a nice enough walk, but really boggy because of all the recent rain - lots of clothes and boots washing to be done when we got back!

Camera/lens settings: ISO 200, f/4, 1/100s, 20mm, hand held.

Muddy path between trees and mossy walls.

This is the Luddenden end of the path that runs past the church and alongside the river up the valley bottom. I took the photo at the end of a walk around the valley back in February this year. I love the different bright shades of green in the moss and leaves and the way the light catches the muddy puddles.

Camera/lens settings: ISO 200, f/11, 1/80s, 20mm, hand  held.