There is a lot going on in Bath, which probably explains its popularity. Only steps apart you have “baths” dating back to the Roman era, a large central church, shopping districts, and more. Walk a little further and there’s a river, plenty of places to eat, and increasingly less tourist-oriented facilities. Cross that river and perhaps walk up some hills, and the place seems quite different from the central tourist-centric zone.
Continue reading Brock Street, Bath
We spent a couple of days in the quaint English town (center) of Shrewsbury this past June. After close to three weeks of exploring Scotland and Ireland followed by a weeklong walk in the Cotswolds, we had several weeks left to visit various English towns and cities. Shrewsbury sounded like a slightly lower key stop compared to our previous stay in Bath.
Continue reading River Severn, Shrewsbury
We were out for a walk in Shrewsbury, and as we crossed a bridge over the River Severn we spotted this swan family in the water. The trick is usually to get critters to align themselves with the rest of the scene in a way that is compositionally interesting and makes them the primarily focus. Darned birds don’t always cooperate! But this time I only had to wait a moment — and then photograph quickly — for them to cross the river in the foreground.
Continue reading River Severn Swans
The northwest Scotland landscape is spectacular in so many ways — the highlands mountains of course, but also the coast, and the lower elevation valleys and rivers. It is relatively “empty,” in the sense that you are often out of sight of signs of civilization, aside from the single-track road you might be driving. But empty as it is, it is not wilderness, and there are plenty of little hamlets and isolated homes and lodgings.
Continue reading Rural Stone Buildings at Loch Stack