Clouds and Weather

A view ESE from Sìdhean Mòr over Culkein and Loch Cùl Fraioch on the Stoer peninsula; the Torridonian mountains beyond. L-R: Ben Stack (extreme left), Quinag (just left of centre), Canisp, Suilven, Cùl Mòr, Cùl Beag, Stac Pollaidh.

A view SSE from Sìdhean Mòr on the Stoer peninsula with Loch Cùl Fraioch in the foreground and the Torridonan mountains in the distance. L-R: edge of Cùl Mòr, Cùl Beag, Stac Pollaidh, edge of Beinn Mhòr na Còigich.

A view ESE from Sìdhean Mòr on the Stoer peninsula over Culkein; the mountains of Assynt in shadow beyond.

The distinctive profile of Suilven rises over the Lewisian Gneiss foreland and the smooth sunny slopes of the Stoer peninsula in the foreground.

A view E from Sìdhean Mòr over Culkein and Loch Cùl Fraioch on the Stoer peninsula; the Torridonian mountains beyond. L-R: Canisp, Suilven, Cùl Mòr, Cùl Beag, Stac Pollaidh, Beinn Mhòr na Còigich.

Balchladich Bay is a quiet, peaceful spot on the south-west coast of the Stoer peninsula in Sutherland. In this southerly view, the Coigach peninsula is visible on the far skyline. The rocks here are reddish sandstones with subordinate mudstone and conglomerate beds of the Stoer Group. They are similar to the unconformably overlying Torridonian sandstones but predate them by around 200 million years.

Originally uploaded for the Guesswhere UK group. An excellent storm beach at Aberbach, a nice secluded spot on the north-west Pembrokeshire coast. There is no vehicular access to this place.

This is a wide-angle view westwards over the Landshipping Pill and Daugleddau River at low tide from Landshipping Quay, Pembrokeshire, Wales. Close by here is a small but poignant memorial to the 40 miners killed in Pembrokeshire's worst ever coal mining disaster on 14th February 1844, when the rising tide broke through into a mine roadway heading out from the Garden Pit under the estuary with very little depth of cover to the sea bed. There are several contemporary accounts of the disaster which vary somewhat in the details, and are summarised here: www.welshcoalmines.co.uk/Carm/Landshipping.htm www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/wales/posts/landshipping_mining_disas... Having worked underground in the coal mines of Yorkshire and South Wales, I find these stories especially moving. Even today, I feel there is an intense sadness about this place which still lingers, even on a bright sunny day. A memorial service for the lost miners (which included children and probably some women too) is held annually on St Valentine's Day at St Burnett's Hill Chapel nearby.

Originally uploaded for the Guesswhere UK group. This is a view westwards over the Landshipping Pill and Daugleddau River at low tide from Landshipping Quay, Pembrokeshire, Wales. Close by here is a small but poignant memorial to the 40 miners killed in Pembrokeshire's worst ever coal mining disaster on 14th February 1844, when the rising tide broke through into a mine roadway heading out from the Garden Pit under the estuary with very little depth of cover to the sea bed. There are several contemporary accounts of the disaster which vary somewhat in the details, and are summarised here: www.welshcoalmines.co.uk/Carm/Landshipping.htm www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/wales/posts/landshipping_mining_disas... Having worked underground in the coal mines of Yorkshire and South Wales, I find these stories especially moving. Even today, I feel there is an intense sadness about this place which still lingers, even on a bright sunny day. A memorial service for the lost miners (which included children and probably some women too) is held annually on St Valentine's Day at St Burnett's Hill Chapel nearby.

Originally uploaded for the Guesswhere UK group. A view SSW over Loch Garry, Glengarry Forest and the mountains beyond, of which Meall na h-Eilde is the neat pyramid-shaped peak just left of the centre skyline. Taken from the viewpoint on the A87 at grid ref. NH 2112 0286.

It was a coolish, clammy, misty day, though every so often the sun would break through and the temperature would soar. The objective of the day was a walk over the moorlands to Mynydd Carningli, which I'm never quite sure whether to class in the Preseli Hills proper, as it lies at the western end of a northern ridge separated from the main Preseli group. We were rewarded frequently with mysterious views and glimpses of the main Preseli group emerging from a close shroud of mist which shifted and changed from minute to minute. Stunningly beautiful! The highest top visible here is Foel Cwmcerwen, the highest point of the Preseli Hills at 536 m. The photo was taken from Carn Edward on the south-west flank of Mynydd Carningli.

High summer cloudscape with fair-weather cumulus clouds over the fields of Everton Carr, Nottinghamshire. View northwards from the tow-path of the Chesterfield Canal.

Haven Croft Reach in high summer on the Chesterfield Canal just north of Drakeholes, Nottinghamshire.

Spectacular cirrus clouds over Scourie Bay, Sutherland, Scotland.

A blusterous day in September 2011. View ENE towards Rumps Point from Pentire Point.

The small rocky islet of The Mouls, north Cornwall, on a blusterous day in September 2011. Viewed from Rumps Point on Pentire Head.

This is the River Otter just east of Budleigh Salterton, Devon, taken from the pebble spit which nearly blocks the river mouth. The sea is just to the right of the camera location. There used to be a harbour here but the great storm of 1824 enlarged and extended the pebble spit so as to nearly block the river mouth completely and the harbour fell into disuse. The estuary today is a nature reserve - an extensive area of salt marsh and a Site of Special Scientific Interest.