Tagged: Ribble Valley

  1. Today’s Photo Fly You Fools! The tiny bridge that crosses the stream upon first entering Over Hacking Wood, 50% of the way through the Tolkien Trail. At this point, Fie and Bamber had wandered off downstream to skip across the rocks in the stream. =] This is not a full HDR photo; this shot is mostly the -1EV exposure, but I’ve masked in some of the “base” HDR image created back into the bridge textures and some of the rocks. HDR really loves wood and rock textures. =] Click here for the full-size image. Today’s Photo Fly You Fools! The tiny bridge that crosses the stream upon first entering Over Hacking Wood, 50% of the way through the Tolkien Trail. At this point, Fie and Bamber had wandered off downstream to skip across the rocks in the stream. =] This is not a full HDR photo; this shot is mostly the -1EV exposure, but I’ve masked in some of the “base” HDR image created back into the bridge textures and some of the rocks. HDR really loves wood and rock textures. =] Click here for the full-size image.

    Today’s Photo

    Fly You Fools! The tiny bridge that crosses the stream upon first entering Over Hacking Wood, 50% of the way through the Tolkien Trail. At this point, Fie and Bamber had wandered off downstream to skip across the rocks in the stream. =]

    This is not a full HDR photo; this shot is mostly the -1EV exposure, but I’ve masked in some of the “base” HDR image created back into the bridge textures and some of the rocks. HDR really loves wood and rock textures. =]

    Click here for the full-size image.

  2. Today’s Photo Triple Arch. This is the Aqueduct that crosses the River Ribble, shot during mine, Bamber and Fie’s hike through the Tolkien Trail. The triple-arch structure marked us as being about 90% of the way through our journey.  This graceful stone aqueduct was constructed in the 1880s by the Blackburn Corporation. It originally carried water from Whitehall via an underground pipeline. We also rested upon reaching the Aqueduct, more for Bamber’s sake: as in order to get here, we had to cross through a field of very tall grass and Bamber suffered one of the worst hayfever attacks I’d ever seen. Poor guy.  Click here for the full-size image. Today’s Photo Triple Arch. This is the Aqueduct that crosses the River Ribble, shot during mine, Bamber and Fie’s hike through the Tolkien Trail. The triple-arch structure marked us as being about 90% of the way through our journey.  This graceful stone aqueduct was constructed in the 1880s by the Blackburn Corporation. It originally carried water from Whitehall via an underground pipeline. We also rested upon reaching the Aqueduct, more for Bamber’s sake: as in order to get here, we had to cross through a field of very tall grass and Bamber suffered one of the worst hayfever attacks I’d ever seen. Poor guy.  Click here for the full-size image.

    Today’s Photo

    Triple Arch. This is the Aqueduct that crosses the River Ribble, shot during mine, Bamber and Fie’s hike through the Tolkien Trail. The triple-arch structure marked us as being about 90% of the way through our journey. 

    This graceful stone aqueduct was constructed in the 1880s by the Blackburn Corporation. It originally carried water from Whitehall via an underground pipeline.

    We also rested upon reaching the Aqueduct, more for Bamber’s sake: as in order to get here, we had to cross through a field of very tall grass and Bamber suffered one of the worst hayfever attacks I’d ever seen. Poor guy. 

    Click here for the full-size image.

  3. Today’s Photo Life Stream. After the leaving the Stonyhurst College grounds on the Tolkien Trail, we eventually entered our first forest, representing halfway through the hike. This is the stream you cross upon first entering Over Hacking Wood. Whilst I was busy setting up a shot of the bridge, the rest of the guys played around this lovely bubbling stream here. After passing through the ancient college grounds and hiking through fields, suddenly entering a forest like this made the experience more magical. As is the case with my forest shots these days, this is a single exposure, the -1EV one, but I’ve blended some HDR here and there; mainly for textures in the ground and rocks in the stream. Click here for the full-size image. Today’s Photo Life Stream. After the leaving the Stonyhurst College grounds on the Tolkien Trail, we eventually entered our first forest, representing halfway through the hike. This is the stream you cross upon first entering Over Hacking Wood. Whilst I was busy setting up a shot of the bridge, the rest of the guys played around this lovely bubbling stream here. After passing through the ancient college grounds and hiking through fields, suddenly entering a forest like this made the experience more magical. As is the case with my forest shots these days, this is a single exposure, the -1EV one, but I’ve blended some HDR here and there; mainly for textures in the ground and rocks in the stream. Click here for the full-size image.

    Today’s Photo

    Life Stream. After the leaving the Stonyhurst College grounds on the Tolkien Trail, we eventually entered our first forest, representing halfway through the hike. This is the stream you cross upon first entering Over Hacking Wood.

    Whilst I was busy setting up a shot of the bridge, the rest of the guys played around this lovely bubbling stream here. After passing through the ancient college grounds and hiking through fields, suddenly entering a forest like this made the experience more magical.

    As is the case with my forest shots these days, this is a single exposure, the -1EV one, but I’ve blended some HDR here and there; mainly for textures in the ground and rocks in the stream.

    Click here for the full-size image.

  4. Today’s Photo The Church for the College. This is the Parish Church of St. Peter that’s attached to the highly-regarded Stonyhurst College grounds. The grounds indicated that me, Bamber and Fie were ¼ of the way through the Tolkien Trail. It is known that Tolkien spent a lot of time at the college working on his epic trilogy. Stonyhurst itself was built by the Shireburn family, who may have also inspired the similar sounding River Shirebourne in the Lord of the Rings. There was also a ferry across the River Hodder, which was still active when the author visited the area and matches the description of the Buckleberry Ferry in The Fellowship of the Ring. Also the grey stone New Lodge matches the description of Tom Bombadil’s home, which suggests further Ribble Valley influences in the first book of the trilogy. We also had these epic clouds follow us around all day. Thankfully, no rain. =] At least, not until we got home. Click here for the full-size image. Today’s Photo The Church for the College. This is the Parish Church of St. Peter that’s attached to the highly-regarded Stonyhurst College grounds. The grounds indicated that me, Bamber and Fie were ¼ of the way through the Tolkien Trail. It is known that Tolkien spent a lot of time at the college working on his epic trilogy. Stonyhurst itself was built by the Shireburn family, who may have also inspired the similar sounding River Shirebourne in the Lord of the Rings. There was also a ferry across the River Hodder, which was still active when the author visited the area and matches the description of the Buckleberry Ferry in The Fellowship of the Ring. Also the grey stone New Lodge matches the description of Tom Bombadil’s home, which suggests further Ribble Valley influences in the first book of the trilogy. We also had these epic clouds follow us around all day. Thankfully, no rain. =] At least, not until we got home. Click here for the full-size image.

    Today’s Photo

    The Church for the College. This is the Parish Church of St. Peter that’s attached to the highly-regarded Stonyhurst College grounds. The grounds indicated that me, Bamber and Fie were ¼ of the way through the Tolkien Trail.

    It is known that Tolkien spent a lot of time at the college working on his epic trilogy. Stonyhurst itself was built by the Shireburn family, who may have also inspired the similar sounding River Shirebourne in the Lord of the Rings. There was also a ferry across the River Hodder, which was still active when the author visited the area and matches the description of the Buckleberry Ferry in The Fellowship of the Ring. Also the grey stone New Lodge matches the description of Tom Bombadil’s home, which suggests further Ribble Valley influences in the first book of the trilogy.

    We also had these epic clouds follow us around all day. Thankfully, no rain. =] At least, not until we got home.

    Click here for the full-size image.

  5. Today’s Photo Cromwell’s Bridge. Before I begin, if you don’t know who Oliver Cromwell is, learn your history. ;-] This is Cromwell’s Bridge, about ¾ of the way through the Tolkien Trail, shot from the newer Lower Hodder Bridge. Also known as Devil’s Bridge, this packhorse bridge across the River Hodder was built by Sir Richard Shireburn in 1562, replacing a wooden bridge dating from at least 1331. So Cromwell’s Bridge is at least 450 years old! Legend says that it was used by Oliver Cromwell and his 8,000-strong army during his march from Skipton to intercept the Royalists at the Battle of Preston in 1648. I had to be super careful when shooting. See, the more modern Lower Hodder Bridge, where this photo was shot from, has no pedestrian footway. So I was taking this photo as cars were whizzing past, inches from my back! Nervewracking? Definitely. Worth it, though. =] Click here for the full-size image. Today’s Photo Cromwell’s Bridge. Before I begin, if you don’t know who Oliver Cromwell is, learn your history. ;-] This is Cromwell’s Bridge, about ¾ of the way through the Tolkien Trail, shot from the newer Lower Hodder Bridge. Also known as Devil’s Bridge, this packhorse bridge across the River Hodder was built by Sir Richard Shireburn in 1562, replacing a wooden bridge dating from at least 1331. So Cromwell’s Bridge is at least 450 years old! Legend says that it was used by Oliver Cromwell and his 8,000-strong army during his march from Skipton to intercept the Royalists at the Battle of Preston in 1648. I had to be super careful when shooting. See, the more modern Lower Hodder Bridge, where this photo was shot from, has no pedestrian footway. So I was taking this photo as cars were whizzing past, inches from my back! Nervewracking? Definitely. Worth it, though. =] Click here for the full-size image.

    Today’s Photo

    Cromwell’s Bridge. Before I begin, if you don’t know who Oliver Cromwell is, learn your history. ;-]

    This is Cromwell’s Bridge, about ¾ of the way through the Tolkien Trail, shot from the newer Lower Hodder Bridge.

    Also known as Devil’s Bridge, this packhorse bridge across the River Hodder was built by Sir Richard Shireburn in 1562, replacing a wooden bridge dating from at least 1331. So Cromwell’s Bridge is at least 450 years old! Legend says that it was used by Oliver Cromwell and his 8,000-strong army during his march from Skipton to intercept the Royalists at the Battle of Preston in 1648.

    I had to be super careful when shooting. See, the more modern Lower Hodder Bridge, where this photo was shot from, has no pedestrian footway. So I was taking this photo as cars were whizzing past, inches from my back! Nervewracking? Definitely. Worth it, though. =]

    Click here for the full-size image.

  6. Today’s Photo Hodder, Meet The Ribble. During our hike around the Tolkien Trail, we came across this beautiful scene that you could only access by hiking down a steep stepping path. This is where the River Hoddle joins the River Ribble and continues on as such. It marked the ¾ point of our journey. From here, you carry on following the Ribble bank all the way back to the start of the Tolkien Trail, which is of course the Shireburne Arms. ;-] Click here for the full-size image. Today’s Photo Hodder, Meet The Ribble. During our hike around the Tolkien Trail, we came across this beautiful scene that you could only access by hiking down a steep stepping path. This is where the River Hoddle joins the River Ribble and continues on as such. It marked the ¾ point of our journey. From here, you carry on following the Ribble bank all the way back to the start of the Tolkien Trail, which is of course the Shireburne Arms. ;-] Click here for the full-size image.

    Today’s Photo

    Hodder, Meet The Ribble. During our hike around the Tolkien Trail, we came across this beautiful scene that you could only access by hiking down a steep stepping path.

    This is where the River Hoddle joins the River Ribble and continues on as such. It marked the ¾ point of our journey. From here, you carry on following the Ribble bank all the way back to the start of the Tolkien Trail, which is of course the Shireburne Arms. ;-]

    Click here for the full-size image.