Granite scenery

These are profuse here between April and June, as are others including a Snake's Tongue variety. Well, early June is still spring in the Sierra. Anacamptis picta, is the name of this variety. I have Ronald Losure to thank for this information. He has included more information and photos in a useful link alongside his comment below. Shot taken 2013 and first posted on ipernity 2016.

Spring 2012 in the Sierra de La Cabrera, Madrid province.

Please enlarge to see the granite detail. It's not perfect but this is definitely a favourite of mine. Photo from 2011.

View from Carn Marth to Carrick Roads (Falmouth Docks just about visible), Cornwall. Yes, there is a fence in there! Photo from 2011, first posted on ipernity 2016. Montbretia and heather in the foreground.

Chun Quoit (quoit = Cornish for dolmen). Although small, it is the best preserved quoit in Cornwall. All the others have dislodged capstones or some other disturbance. These are presumed to be burial chambers but no burial remains have ever been found. They were all originally buried under a mound of stones and earth but erosion in the harsh environment of West Penwith and the action of tomb robbers has meant that you can see the vestiges of the mound only at one quoit; here, at Chun. Estimated to be approx. 6,000 years old. Sited in Morvah parish, West Penwith, Cornwall. Misspelt Quiot on Google maps! Photo; July 20, 2012.

A scorching day - the one where I forgot my sun cream and had ears like pork scratchings (the Spanish would better understand 'toreznos') at the end of it! It also persuaded me that a hat was essential! Taken in 2012 and first posted in ipernity in 2018. Perhaps better on full screen.

I know I've posted this before but I fell upon it by chance again and thought it worth another airing! I would ordinarily have gone straight ahead at this point, over the foreground granite slab but I thought better of it. Later, as I looked back at the goats, I saw a nanny goat suckling its kid, not something I could see from here. Unfortunately no photo was possible as it was in direct line with the sun! This video is worth a look!!!! www.youtube.com/watch?v=RG9TMn1FJzc

A climbing weekend. The university climbing club. About to climb up the East side of Tryfan, in Snowdonia, North Wales. I am sitting second from the left. You see here a mix of professors, lecturers, students and one grandson (of the lady who took the shot!), 11 years old and the best climber of us all! This would have been in early 1978, The club was tiny - maybe a dozen members and it was called the SSEES Mountaineering Club, affiliated to the London University Mountaineering Club (SSEES = The School of Slavonic and Eastern European Studies - now part of University College, London). Great times were had by all, from memory! Originally posted in ipernity 2018.

Lichen and rock samphire in the foreground. Taken July 2012 and first posted on ipernity 2016.

From the ridge looking down onto the town of La Cabrera. Granite scenery. I waited ages to get some vultures in view but not that day, alas! I had to move on as eventually I had to catch my bus back to Madrid! Taken august 2015, first posted on ipernity 2017.

Viewed from Carn Gloose. For Pam! A strange day where the light was generally good but there was a pervading misty atmosphere, hence no horizon to speak of. Taken 2018 and posted first 2018.

Lane to Men-an-Tol. Without wellies (most people were braving sandals or similar) the best way was to roll up your trouser legs or tuck your skirt into whatever was available, or trespass in the adjoining field. Most people did the latter! Taken and posted in 2017, re-posted New Year's Day 2021

Rock window (perhaps hopefully onto a brighter future for us all?). The way I took (not a path at all really) went under this rock. Very common to have a giant boulder wedged over a gully in granite country! Granite forms on Pena del Tejo, a little to one side of La Sierra de La Cabrera proper but terrific scrambling territory in its own right. Indeed I spent a whole day here, intending to move on to the main ridge but finding a day's worth of interest at this place, including the mountain stream close-ups I sometimes post. photo taken 2012 and first posted on ipernity in 2017.

More granite shapes. La Sierra de La Cabrera. Shot taken in 2012 and first posted here in 2017. ***HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL MY IPERNITY FRIENDS. FINGERS CROSSED FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN ALL THINGS!!!***

Penberth Cove, Southwest Peninsula Coast Path, Cornwall. Taken August 2015, re-posted December 2020. For Pam.

Pure granite scenery. Only 25 miles from Madrid. Superb walking country. Firste posted on ipernity in 2016 and taken in Janury 2012.

***'Watch the Master and learn!'*** Griffon Vultures, Cancho de La Bola, Sierra de La Cabrera. Granite. Madrid Province This one again (first shown on ipernity in 2016), simply because it is a favourite of mine.

Sometimes called rock rose in English and quite appropriate here in granite country! Also called gum cistus (yes, it's sticky to the touch). First aired in 2015.