Northumberland Landscapes - Roughting Linn

Roughting Linn waterfall on the Broomridgedean Burn, Northumberland

Roughting Linn

Travelling around in the countryside looking for viable Northumberland landscapes is an enjoyable pastime anyway but so much more so when you find a gem like Roughting Linn!!

This has got to be our best find to date and at times will leave you wondering whether your anywhere near it at all but persevere and you will be rewarded with a delightfull fairy-tale dell into which the Roughting Linn drops on the course of the Broomridgedean Burn.

Like kids in the sweet shop we explored every inch of this magical place, taking many shots, far more than we needed.

The water flow level was just enough to give us a nice effect but not too much to blanket everything in mist and prevent you getting closer. Blind luck!

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There wasn't a coffee or cake shop here, sadly :-(

The Shot

The light levels were low enough in the dell to allow a slow enough exposure without filters, especially if you composed without the sky.

A quick behind-the-scenes shot, courtesy of Jill

More Info

While we were here another visitor appeared and asked us if we knew where the Neolithic rock art was. Funnily enough we did, it was on our route card for the visit, off he went. We checked it out later, 50 yards or so on the other side of the main path we descended from. They are definitely visible but there isn't much contrast between the art and the surrounding rock, may be better after rain.

Links

Go This Place - Roughting Linn

The Modern Antiquarian - Neolithic Rock Art

Getting There

Just on the crossroads there is a verge big enough for a few cars, park here, cross back to the other side and walk up the path towards the farm, if you are still on the main path by the time you hear the falls then you have gone too far. After 40 yards (ish) you will see a track heading down the hill on the left. Follow this track down the hill and around in a horseshoe until you enter the dell where the fall is. Be careful on the track, as of May 2015 a tree fall has destroyed part of the track and a little scrambling is required.

Northern Landscapes - Jesmond Dene Weir

A view upstream on the Ouseburn over a weir in Jesmond Dene, Newcastle

Jesmond Dene

We were back in Jesmond Dene, Newcastle for this outing. Followers will recognise the name as we're quite fond of Jesmond Dene for Northern landscapes, a jewel hidden away in the heart of Newcastle.

We decided to walk right up to the North end of the dene this time to get some water shots before heading back along the Ouseburn to the car.

On the way through the dene we stopped at a picnic area and "lunched".

The Ouseburn is very picturesque as it flow through the length of the dene and you are spoilt for choice when it comes to picking shots, especially when time is of the essence. However, we simply could not pass this weir as the water level was just right to give a nice effect to the water.

There was a bit of a scramble involved to get down to the river (be careful), and we still had to stand in the water to get a good view upstream, but it was worth it.

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The Shot

A slower shutter speed of around half a second was selected here to try a capture the "flow" of the water rather that the "detail". It came out well.

Shot with a Canon FD 28mm on a Sony A7r.

Links

Jesmond Dene website

Wikipedia - Jesmond Dene

Trip Advisor - Jesmond Dene

Getting There

We parked on Benton Bank and crossed the Armstrong Bridge to entering Jesmond Dene Park at the southerly end.

Northumberland Landscapes - Kielder Woodland I

[caption id="attachment_5691" align="aligncenter" width="950"] Woodland on the shoreline of Kielder Reservoir (I)[/caption]

 

Kielder

On the hunt for Northumberland landscapes again, we headed out to Kielder Water in the Northumberland National Park.

It's a huge landscape consisting of the Kielder reservoir and surrounding forest park.

We had little time here, as it was an hours drive to get there, so it was more of a scouting mission for a later visit but it went quite well anyway.

We started off with the cake and coffee, first this time, in the Tower Knowe Visitors Centre. I know, I know, it's usually last as a kind of reward but we like to mix it up (rock 'n' roll baby).

After food we headed down to the shoreline, time was passing quickly so we only had a short while to explore before heading back to the dam to try and get something there as well. The woodland along the shore is very photogenic and we soon came across the scene you see in the main image.

Sort of "Lord of the Rings" style.

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More Info

Kielder also hosts the Northumberland International Dark Sky Park and was awarded Gold Tier Dark Sky Park status by the International Dark Skies Association (IDA) in December 2013 – the highest accolade the IDA can give. If astro photography is your thing you really can't miss this place.

Also, at the heart of the Dark Dky Park is the Kielder Observatory, astronomy facilities at there best.

 

The Shot

Still had to stand in the water for this one but the shot itself wasn't too technical. Shot with a Canon FD 28mm on a Sony A7r.

 

Links

Wikipedia - Kielder Water

Kielder Water website

Visit Northumberland - Kielder Water

 

Getting there ...

Northumberland Landscapes - Warkworth Weir

[caption id="attachment_4680" align="aligncenter" width="950"] Warkworth Castle over the weir on the River Coquet, Northumberland[/caption]

 

Warkworth

We've been to Warkworth, looking for Northumberland landscapes, a good few times, it has an iconic castle that's a magnet for photographers.

This time, however, something was different. The tide was just right to show off the weir whilst revealing a small patch of barely submerged land below it. The cogs started turning!

Wellies were in the car boot so out they came and into the water we went. Now then, I wouldn't recommend this as it was very slippy and the tide was coming in fast, on your own head be it (seriously)!

Getting below the weir afforded a nice view of the castle and village up the River Coquet. We took the shot and got out before the water came over the top of the wellies.

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Drained the tripod then off into Warkworth for a bite to eat.

 

The Shot

As you can see, the water was very fast moving so it took a little while to get the tripod settled and stable and a short-ish shutter speed prevented any movement caused by the tide buffeting the tripod legs.

 

Links

Wikipedia - Warkworth

Visit Northumberland - Warkworth

Warkworth Website

 

Getting there ...

There is a layby off the A1068 (Beal bank)

Northumberland Landscapes - Morpeth Viaduct

[caption id="attachment_4669" align="aligncenter" width="950"] Morpeth viaduct crossing the River Wansbeck in Northumberland[/caption]

 

The Viaduct

A recent spell without transport allowed us the chance to find Northumberland landscapes in the more local area of Morpeth.

Following the River Wansbeck right through Morpeth we found a crossing just before the mill on the Whorral Bank, crossed over and kept going.

To our delight, there was a huge viaduct hidden along the valley. I had heard of the viaduct but was unsure of its location and wasn't expecting to run into it today.

The sun was providing dappled light through the trees and the river was lazy so the refelections were looking particularly good beneath the viaduct.

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One of the more hidden Northumberland landscapes.

The Shot

It was very calm that day and there was little wind to upset the surface of the water. The River was lazy and the clouds were not moving so a long exposure would have provided no obvious benefit.

 

Links

Wikipedia - Morpeth

Northumberland Cam - Morpeth Viaduct

 

Getting there ...

You can park in Morpeth and follow the river or there is a layby on the main road, under the NHS Health Centre as you leave Morpeth, just before you start to climb up the Whorral Bank.

Canon FD Buyers Guide | Vintage Lenses For Video

I’m often asked about good lens options for M4/3 & Sony E-mount cameras. Most people are hoping to save quite a lot of money when building a vintage set, so this guide will concentrate on affordable lenses with a price tag no higher than $300 per lens (I’ll also share a full set option for under $500 at the end of this guide). It’s important to note that this guide is written with M4/3 & Sony E-mount users in mind (these lenses will not work well on Canon EF cameras without expensive mounts).

Source: Canon FD Buyers Guide | Vintage Lenses For Video

Northumberland Landscapes - Mortuary Chapel, Alnmouth

[caption id="attachment_4156" align="aligncenter" width="950"] Mortuary Chapel, Alnmouth, Northumberland[/caption]

 

Northumberland Landscapes - Alnmouth

We recently visited St.Cuthberts Cross, Alnmouth to grab a shot across the Aln Estuary and the cross itself along with other Northumberland landscapes.

On our way back down from the top of Church Hill we took a different path to shelter from the wind and came across this ruin on the shore. It is the Mortuary Chapel built in 1869 as part of a plan to re-open the cemetery on Church Hill.

Atmospheric place!

 

The Shot

It was very windy and a storm was coming so, to minimise camera shake, a fast exposure was selected. A long exposure was out of the question as ghosting and camera shake would probably occur to an unacceptable degree.

That said, a remote shutter release and tripod were still used. Live view was enabled so mirror lock-up was not necessary (in case you don't know, when you use live view to compose the mirror is already locked up so you don't need to worry about that, useful for landscapes)

 

Links

Derelict Places - Mortuary Chapel

Wikipedia - Alnmouth

 

Getting there ...