Granite rocks with personality

Typical granite extravaganza. Favourite scrambling, rock-hopping and walking country, La Sierra de La Cabrera. This would have been on one of my very early walks here, when I was blown away by the granite forms. 100 + walks later and I still am!

Typical granite, La Sierra de La Cabrera. I'm not sure if it's a Henry Moore or a Barbare Hepworth.

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

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.

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.

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!!!***

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.

Strange hand shape. I once knew what this granite oddity is called but I've long since forgotten. Behind is the summit of Cancho de La Bola, home of vultures.

Cornish granite at Logan Rock, near Porthcurno, at high tide. This also looks good at low tide with a fabulous beach here!

Sierra de La Cabrera. This was my last visit, now well over a year ago. In 2011 and 12, I was walking here twice a week. In ideal circumstances I would like to walk here every day!

I can't resist showing this favourite rock of mine from time to time!

Sierra de La Cabrera. The Four Towers, Madrid can be seen as a stub on the horizon. (and because I taught at the top of all of them, I also recognise La Torre Europa and La Tore Picasso in this shot).

Penberth Cove, Cornwall

Seeing as we will be off-line tomorrow at some point, and for between 24 and 48 hours, I wonder if this large boulder will have tumbled inbetween times? :o) www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivhauEr3KxU Well ... rock. - Rock and roll, this rock about to roll off ... or maybe not. But the origin of true rock and roll with Little Richard, respect and R.I.P. I think I have to wait another hour or so as I forgot I posted another to the group last night too!