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Happy 75th Anniversary of VE Day, that is, “Victory In Europe” Day, when the Allies triumphed over the fascist Nazis. Never forget the sacrifice of those who fought to retain our freedoms and liberties over authoritarian fascists.

Today’s Government Permitted Outdoor Exercise was somewhat shorter, but no less enjoyable. One of our favourite local hikes we’ve enjoyed since the UK Coronavirus Lockdown has been a circuit up to Helsfell Nab and back, with Serpentine Woods along the way. With the woods looking more lush everyday, and the scenery growing vibrant and brighter, this simple hike really does make you feel very grateful.

After a week where the spring rain finally arrived, it was good to get out and enjoy a warmer day, with a clear atmosphere, and gorgeous light.

The limestone ridges on the cliff face of Scout Scar. Today is my 37th birthday.

Cunswick Hall. What you see has been standing since its modernisation in the 1800s, but there aspects of the property still remaining from the 1500s, including a window which is said to contain the oldest glass in Westmorland. Historically the manor belonged to the Leyburn family.

The limestone cliff of Scout Scar, which suddenly drops 100 ft or so down into the Lyth Valley.

The weather’s really been glorious in the last week or so. Thankfully, it’s made our daily One Government Sanctioned Outdoor Exercise Session Per Day a lot more pleasant.

The weather was warmer and brighter today, so on our Government Allotted Outdoor Exercise period we ventured up Park Side Road, passed Castle Green Hotel, through Singleton Park, and onwards towards Fisher Tarn Reservoir.

It’s so easy to become lethargic when you’re having to spend most of your time in lockdown in your house. Activity breeds energy. The opposite is also true.

My Lisabet, navigating through a narrow stile in the wall. The yellow fell in the distance on the right is Cunswick Fell, with the jagged peaks in the distance being the Lake District fells.

This is the point where the wide and lazy River Kent drastically narrows into a limestone gorge. The colour of the water was mesmerising.

Sgwd Gwladys (pronounced “Sgood Goo-LAD-us”, meaning “the Lady Falls”), found on the Elidir Trail in the Waterfall Country of the Brecon Beacons National Park, South Wales.

Golden sunset light. River channels cut through the beach and drain into the sea. St. Bees Head remains steadfast.

A burst of light breaks through the overcast sky, picking out the details on High Crag’s (744 m/2,441 ft) shoulder.

A famous Wasdale peak, Yewbarrow (628 m/2,060 ft), with the only road going in and out of the valley curling its way towards the fell’s foot.

A small trio of images from around Staffin on the Isle of Skye, Scotland. Specifically, these photos were taken from a small chunk of coastline east of Staffin village called An Corran, which became rather well-known from 2002 onwards for the Jurassic-era dinosaur footprints discovered there.

Even though we’ve been to Skye a few times now, we’d never actually explored the Sleat peninsula of southern Skye until recently. See more beautiful photos of the Isle of Skye, Scotland.

After two weeks of illness kicking both me and Lisabet hard in the dick, it was nice to have a weekend where we were both well and the weather looked good.

I’ve been sick since Thursday this week. It’s not very often that I’m stricken down with the Common Cold but it’s happened this year and has knocked me for six.

Today wasn’t forecast to be all that nice in terms of weather, but the best chances were said to be more towards the Eastern Fells.

Lisabet and I saw out the last light of 2019 on top of one of our places: Scout Scar, in the Lake District. It’s the place where I first experienced the joy of the Lake District, and where Lisabet and I first hung out. Back then, I was very much in the thrall of shooting and editing HDR photography à la Trey Ratcliff. These days, my Eye has got better (even if one of my actual eyes has physically deteriorated), and my taste has developed.

How was your Christmas? I enjoyed a wonderfully chilled and wholesome Christmas with my Dad and Lisabet, at Dad’s farm cottage in the middle of nowhere.

A week ago, in the Yorkshire Dales, we experienced a winter fairytale. Today, all the snow has gone. The air is damp and drizzly, everything is wet, and the fells are cloaked in swirling clouds.

A trio of compositions from probably my favourite place on the Isle of Skye: Elgol. Once you get down to the village’s seashore, your view north gives you almost unparalleled views of the Black Cuillins of Skye. More interesting coast awaits as you hike north, navigating a beach covered in rugby-ball boulders until you arrive at a fantasy-like shore of jenga-like rock stacks, raised geometric platforms, and weather-beaten slopes and scree.

Finally, snow arrives for winter 2019. Lisabet and I drove up to Ribblehead Viaduct for a gentle waddle in the snow and some photography. Lovely light and conditions, too.

The ruins of Warkworth Castle in Warkworth, Northumberland. Built 800–900 years ago and still remarkably complete. All shots taken with my Google Pixel 3XL and a Moment Wide v2 lens.

The Quiraing of the Isle of Skye, Scotland. Just an otherworldly place. Shot with my Fujifilm X-T2 using a Samyang 12mm ƒ/2.0 lens.

“Britain’s Patagonia” by Ian Cylkowski. A view towards the Black Cuillins from the Allt Dearg Mór . Photographed in 2014.

“Hikers near Ben A’an summit” by Pampuco, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. “Devils Pulpit 5” by G_Mcfadden, licensed CC BY-NC 2.0. “The Cobbler / Ben Arthur” by Dr. Nils Wiese, licensed CC BY-NC 2.0. “Falls of Falloch” by August Schwerdfeger, licensed CC BY 4.0.