Sun in April...!

 

It has been strangely warm for April. 
Is it climate change? 
Yes, one ascribes (wrongly) every odd weather-happening to climate change, but, then, odd things are happening.

PS  I was standing on a railway crossing to take this photo.  Not trespassing.

++++

To comment on this post, just use the Comments field down this page

To get an email alert into your inbox every time we make a new post (about once a week), just put your email address into the Follow By Email Box (in the column to the right on this page) and hit Submit.  Your email address is kept private and never reused

Late in the last days

It's no wonder you get big skies over Flash - for here we are at the top of Staffordshire, and (they say) in the highest inhabited village in England. Midway on the road from Leek to Buxton, it clings on to its existence, far from other towns.

I love the drive from Leek to Buxton, the gateway to the Peak District. It is a rollercoaster of peaks and troughs, yet with some of the longest, emptiest and most stirring vistas of open moorland too.
And it is at its most thoughtful best when the light is falling.

And so the end of the year goes.

Sunset tree

April is the best month to find leafless trees and strong sunsets occurring together.  The fine delineation of the twigs and branches against the strong golden light always gives a thrill.

The last of - the year

So – goodbye to 2011. It won’t be mourned much, but at least those who read this post will have survived it…

Sunset pubs

There are a number of pubs in Staffordshire where one might go specifically for the sunsets. They have to have a sloping beer garden (facing west of course), and a good long view to an even horizon.

The two pubs in Dilhorne, the White Lion (excellent view) and the Royal Oak (not bad) both fit this bill – I took this photo there.The best of all though for a sunset must be the Cheshire View pub, high up at Mow Cop, at the north end of the county. It has a view stretching seventy miles, from where you can see over three counties; people often go there just for the sunsets.