The United Kingdom Archives

Mar 29

by Nicola in London, Nature, The United Kingdom 0 comments tags: Blue Bells, Hampstead, Hampstead Heath, London, nature, Nicola Ann Art, Nicola Beykirch

blue bells blooming early Hampstead Heath

The blue bells blooming early this year, due to the balmy weather, in Hampstead Heath during lockdown. A treat to see them each day, as long as they lasted, while ‘participating in one form of daily exercise outdoors’, as instructed by Boris. “Moments of solitude with Mother Nature is sunshine to a soul.” — Anthony Douglas Williams

Mar 20

by Nicola in Back2Blighty, Black & White, Hiking, London, Nature, The United Kingdom 0 comments tags: Back2Blighty, BeanOn Photography, blizzard, England, Hampstead Heath, Hampstead Village, ice, nature, snow, Sunset

Let it snow London

Let it snow London; blizzards of heavy snow hit London three times this past winter, from December 2017 until end of March 2018, almost springtime. The last time I experienced snow settling in London was during January / February 2011. What a pleasure trudging through Hampstead Heath, up towards Kenwood House and around the ponds and the village during all three snow-dumps.

Feb 14

by Nicola in Adventure, Architecture, Back2Blighty, Beach, Nature, The United Kingdom 0 comments tags: Back2Blighty, BeanOn Photography, Exploring, Llandudno, nature, North Wales, Rugged Terrain, seaside resort, The United Kingdom, Wales

Llandudno, seaside resort, North Wales

Based at Llandudno North Wales, it really wasn’t such a good idea trying to climb Mount Snowdon, the highest mountain in Wales at an elevation of 1,085 metres above sea level, middle of February and especially when it’s snowing. Taking heed of the warning: “Ice axe and crampons are essential! Wind gusts 80mph! Feels like -15℃” Ouch! No thank you. If only I’d brought my crampons! Sometimes resistance is fruitful. Out of the snow and icy cold, Llandudno, a beautiful Victorian seaside resort at the foot of Great Orme, North Wales, proved a delight to explore. Affectionately known as the Queen of the Welsh Resorts, it boasts some of the most elegant seafront architecture in Britain.

Road Trip from London to Dunnet Head: Kirkstone Pass, Lake District

Road Trip from London to Dunnet Head: Whaligoe Haven

Road Trip from London to Dunnet Head: John O'Groates

Road Trip from London to Dunnet Head: Dunnet Head

Road Trip from London to Dunnet Head: Cairngorms National Park

Road Trip from London to Dunnet Head: Yorkshire Dales

Impromptu Road Trip from London to Dunnet Head

With a change of plans over the festive period, we bravely set off on an impromptu road trip from London to Dunnet Head, the most northerly point in mainland Britain, Scotland. Heading to Scotland we travelled through the Lake District, exploring Kirkstone Pass; Lybster; Whaligoe Haven where the famous Billy Connolly filmed part of his television series titled The World Tour of Scotland; John O’ Groats; Dunnet Head; North West Highlands, Inverness; Cairngorms National Park with the snow-capped CairnGorm mountain range where disappointed skiers turned to sledging. Such serene vistas almost all looked fake, too perfect. Lost in its beauty, I experienced another side to Scotland (Fort William and Ben Nevis previously posted) that appealed to all of my senses in dramatic force. Forcefully dramatic; dramatically forceful. Four days later, the journey back to London took us through the Yorkshire Dales with miles of moors, valleys, waterfalls, hills and stone-built villages. Remote, rugged and rejuvenating, travelling the UK during the Christmas holidays proved to be an adventure that has to be repeated. With only Indian or Chinese restaurants open or rather still with availability at the last minute, I didn’t mind eating Indian food two nights in a row. […]

Wood statue in front of Glenfinnan Viaduct

Nov 09

by Nicola in Architecture, Back2Blighty, Nature, The United Kingdom 0 comments tags: Adventure, Architecture, Back2Blighty, BeanOn Photography, Exploring, Glenfinnan, Glenfinnan Viaduct, Harry Potter, nature, Scotland, Scottish Highlands, The United Kingdom

Glenfinnan Viaduct Made Famous by Harry Potter

Made famous by Harry Potter, Genfinnan viaduct is the longest concrete railway bridge in Scotland at 380m, and crosses the River Finnan at a height of 30m. The Hogwarts Express calls at Glenfinnan in the second and third Harry Potter books, Harry Potter and the Chambers of Secret and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. The impressive 21 semicicular spans of 15m mass concrete are built on a curve of 241m. An image speaks a thousands words and more…

Ben Nevis, Scottish Highlands

In Edinburgh, the day before my Ben Nevis adventure, a street photographer warned me about the hike. “It’s steep at the start, in the middle and at the end. And it’s mostly steps, steep slippery steps. It’s tough, tougher than you could imagine.” Nonsense, I said to myself. How bad could it be, really?! After all I’d whizzed up Sani Pass (starting at 1544m and rises 1332 vertical meters to summit at 2876m) and Table Mountain (1,086 metres above sea level). Ben Nevis stands at 1352m above sea level, not that much higher than Sani Pass. The gradient only being 15 percent steeper. What’s 15 percent in the grand scheme of things, right? Well… Only after reading the article discovered on Walkhighlands about the hike, I thought much better of it. Perhaps Steve, the street photographer, wasn’t exaggerating after all. And not training for the walk was perhaps a little unwise from my side. From Fort William, a town nestled along the shores of Lock Linnhe, in the western Scottish Highlands, we accessed Ben Nevis. The United Kingdom’s highest peak. With the ground wet, rocks glistening, and the mist lifting at the beginning of the hike, the two of […]

The Lady's Bridge, The Kennet & Avon Canal, Wiltshire

Aug 09

Kennet & Avon Canal, Wiltshire, The United Kingdom

Since my arrival in West Stowell, Marlborough of Wiltshire, a week ago, I discovered a pleasant walk to the Kennet & Avon Canal at Wilcot by avoiding all roads. Oh how I adore off-road! With the warm sun heating my bones and gilding everything in it’s path, beneath a bright blue sky, I set off on my journey of exploration: Over the fence at the end of the property; through the corner of the field with the heifers and a lone bull (must research how fast a cow or bull can run – anyone know?); a hop over the fence in to the next field, around the outskirt of lush grass; under a fence; another climb over a fence coated in barbs, in to a wheat field stretching for kilometres; along the bare meter-wide track through the middle of the wheat; over the final fence and on to the canal path. For at least an hour along the water’s edge, I hiked with many pauses in between to take photographs of all that caught my eye, hoping most of it’s the creative one. And we can all be the judges… Not long to go now… The row […]

Jan 09

by Nicola in Back2Blighty, Hiking, Nature, Sunset, The United Kingdom 0 comments tags: Back2Blighty, BeanOn Photography, cattle, England, Exploring, fox, Guildford, Hiking, nature, semi-rural village, Sunset, Surrey, The United Kingdom, woods

A few moments worthy of photographing

As I was about to put on my trainers for a run through the woods, the heavens, yet again, released its floodgates. Over the past couple of weeks, during a rather damp festive season that’s crept in to the New Year, I’d managed to steal a few moments worthy of photographing. With five days left, my time here in this quaint, semi-rural village in Guildford is soon to end. If only it would stop raining until after the day I leave so that I may enjoy one, just one, mud-free run through the woods. I suppose I should carry on dreaming… But soon, so soon I can feel the heat already, I’ll be back in Durban with humidity warmer than an incinerator – the type of weather I’ve never found fault with. Having an ocean less than a kilometre away, solves many issues accompanying overheating.

Farewell to Windsor

On Friday, 13 November, I bade farewell to Windsor; my work assignment ended and I have temporarily returned to London. Until the next adventure! I spent a last few hours strolling along the River Thames, admiring the birdlife – the path I took to reach The Long Walk, from Windsor Castle, George IV gateway, along the double avenue of trees to The Copper Horse on Snow Hill. I didn’t quite make The Copper Horse as time eluded me, which caused a silent curse. I don’t know why I didn’t enjoy the 4.25 kilometers walk earlier, when I had more time. King Charles II had the double rows of Elm trees, over 1600, planted the entire length of the route. The king desired to remodel Windsor in a renewed style and The Long Walk was a tick from his lengthy list of improvements. In 1710, Queen Anne had a road constructed down the centre of the tree lined avenue to ensure the coaches enjoyed a comfortably smooth surface. The royal carriages still use The Long Walk every year as part of the route from Windsor Castle to the Ascot Races at the start of the summer social season. […]

Sep 21

by Nicola in Back2Blighty, Nature, The United Kingdom 0 comments tags: Back2Blighty, BeanOn Photography, canal path, Early morning, mist, misty morning, nature, swans, the River Thames, The United Kingdom, Windsor

Misty morning in Windsor

First thing this misty morning in Windsor (yes, I have returned), I grabbed my camera and rushed out to photograph the sun breaking through the moist air. With hardly anyone around, I freely captured the dim, blurry freshness of the ending summer. A few days to go before autumn officially begins. Oh how I look forward to nature’s colours when the leaves change.

Quintessentially charming Windsor

As a recently self-appointed self-employed contractor – sole purpose to experience as much of Blighty as possible at every presented opportunity – I now find myself luxuriating in everything the quintessentially charming Windsor has to offer. Many years previously I’d before only visited Windsor Castle; drove to the castle, explored inside and out and then back to London. I missed the chance to discover further afield; however, now I have returned and, for a total of 3 weeks, I am making up for the miss. With less than a ten-minute walk to Windsor’s town centre and of course the castle, I absorb myself in the surrounding beauty, mostly along the river’s edge, at least two hours every day or evening. At weekends it’s a bit longer. This past Sunday, my friend travelled from London to join me on a hike amongst Maidenhead Thicket, a twenty-minute drive from Windsor town centre, through cool woodlands and golden wheat fields. Back to Windsor, we next explored Windsor Great Park that appeared to be lightning struck land. With dead silver bark spiking the threatening sky in such vast openness, I couldn’t help feeling connected to nature. And then the heavens […]

Jun 07

St Ives in Cornwall

End of April (for my birthday), I ventured down to St Ives in Cornwall and explored the seaside town, on the coast of the Celtic Sea, and its surrounding areas (St Just, Lands End, Mousehole – don’t get me started on the pronunciation of such place – and St Michael’s Mount) for a few days. The moment the sea filled my vision when arriving at St Ives I felt my jaw drop – the stunning colours of the water caused awe to wash over me. “Is this really England?” I’d asked my friend. I’d never known England to present such exquisite beauty before. About 12 years ago I first visited Cornwall and I did not recall it to be as vividly pleasing. Unless it’s taken my eyes and mind thus long to be fully open and aware and appreciative… Another delight took place while dining at the Porthmeor Beach Café, less than a 5 minute walk from St Ives’ harbour. The heated booths outside on the balcony overlooked the beach without any interruption, and the tapas of fresh fish couldn’t have been cooked better elsewhere. The dramatic sky added to the ambiance of the place, to the […]