Colourful Cloudscape

This week's Sky Watch is looking across the Tame Valley in Mossley, just over the hill from Ashton.

I was fascinated by the colours that the clouds above the moors were taking on a few days ago, and was pleased to be able to capture something of it with my camera. This view is looking eastwards so the clouds are reflecting the glow from the sun setting in the west, out of sight because of the hill behind me.

See Google Street View of this location.

Sky Watch is a regular weekly feature on this photo blog. It links with websites all over the world with the general theme each week of looking upwards. Please take the opportunity to visit some of these other sites. I hope some new visitors have found their way here today, watching the skies!

Sky Watch: Vapour Trails

Today's photo shows traces of at least seven vapour trails in the same area of sky. (If you check the larger view you will see a small one, just left of centre, in the process of being made!)

The view is looking across the Tame Valley in Mossley, near Ashton, towards the Pennine moors. Most of the vapour trails in the picture have been made by planes flying from east to west across Northern England, probably originating from Europe. The trail visible in the top right corner is being made by a plane heading north-westwards from London towards North America.

Occasionally, when there is a blue sky with lots of trails and I have nothing else better to do, I zoom in on the map on this fascinating site to see where the planes making the trails have come from and where they are going.

What could be more appropriate for Sky Watch?

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See Google Street View of this location.

Sky Watch is a regular weekly feature on this photo blog. It links with websites all over the world with the general theme each week of looking upwards. Please take the opportunity to visit some of these other sites. I hope some new visitors have found their way here today, watching the skies!

Sky Watch: Branching Out

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After the windy weather of a few days ago, this tree has been completely stripped of its leaves, allowing a view through its branches to the Pennine moorland in the distance.

Not a terribly marvellous composition, but the light was rather stunning that morning, as the mists cleared, so I thought that it was worth sharing.

The solitary bird sitting in the tree seems to add to the bareness of the branches!

Sky Watch is a regular weekly feature on this photo blog. It links with websites all over the world with the general theme each week of looking upwards. Please take the opportunity to visit some of these other sites. I hope some new visitors have found their way here today, watching the skies!

Heather on the Hill

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"H" is for "Heather on the Hill" and today's photo shows the heather on the hilltop at Hartshead Pike above Ashton.

There are only small areas of heather here, unlike on the slopes of the Pennine moorland, a mile or so to the east.

The photo looks southwards from the slopes of the pike, towards Luzley, Ridge Hill and Hough Hill, with the hills of the Peak District in the background.

See Birds Eye View of this location.

"Heather on the Hill" is a contribution to ABC Wednesday. For more "H" posts from around the world please follow this link.

Sky Watch: Pylon

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A view over the upland hamlet of Broadcarr, on the border between Ashton and Mossley.

Taking centre stage is an enormous pylon carrying electricity cables across the hills. In the foreground is an example of a traditional dry stone wall.

The Pennine moors form the background, with Alderman's Hill to the left and Alphin Pike to the right.

See Birds Eye View of this location.

Sky Watch is a regular weekly feature on this photo blog. It links with websites all over the world with the general theme each week of looking upwards. Please take the opportunity to visit some of these other sites. I hope some new visitors have found their way here today, watching the skies. You are most welcome!

Hartshead Pike in the Snow

Yet another double-bill of snow photos! Today's photos were taken on Hartshead Pike. Six inches of snow did not stop people from making the journey up to this local landmark. Of course, the opportunity to have a go at tobogganing down the grassy slopes can make the journey even better.

See Birds Eye View of this location.


The second photo is looking south-eastwards from Hartshead Pike with the low sun lighting up the Pennine moors.

Mossley on Monday: Puddle

The recent rainy period couldn't be allowed to pass without more damp photos appearing here!

Today's image looks along Argyle Street in Mossley after a heavy downpour.

Mossley police station is seen on the right and the Pennine moors above Carrbrook are seen in the background.

See Google Aerial View of this location.
See LiveSearch Birds Eye View of this location.

Sunday Stroll: Hobson Moor (2)

Another photo today from the walk over Hobson Moor shown in previous weeks.

The ground becomes rougher as the path climbs nearer the summit of the hill and climbs a stile over a dry stone wall.

The village of Tintwistle is seen in the background, with the high moorland of Bleaklow in the distance.

See Google Aerial View of this location.
See LiveSearch Birds Eye View of this location.

Sunday Stroll: Hobson Moor

Today's photo was taken on the same walk as the photo that appeared here two weeks ago. The tree in the centre of the photo is near the stile that features in that previous photo.

This is looking back a little further up the hill in an area known as Hobson Moor. The extra height gives a wider view across the Longdendale Valley. Behind the tree is Arnfield Reservoir and behind that, strung out along the A628 Woodhead Road is the village of Tintwistle.

Beyond Tintwistle is Bottoms Reservoir and to the right of that is the small town of Hadfield. The backdrop is formed by the mass of Bleaklow, part of the Pennine chain.

See Google Aerial View of this location.
See LiveSearch Birds Eye View of this location.

Sky Watch: Oakwood Mill

Oakwood Mill is on the edge of the village of Millbrook, between Stalybridge and Mossley, and about 4 miles from Ashton.

The mill, which is part of a conservation area, is a Grade II Listed Building but is becoming increasingly dilapidated.

There are hopes that the mill buildings can be preserved and converted for residential use.

In the background on the right is the spire of St James' Church, Millbrook. In the centre of the photo the green dome of St Raphael's Church is just visible, while on the left the houses of the Churchfields development can be seen.

The steep moorland rises up beyond, with the earthworks of Buckton Castle on top of the hill to the left of the chimney. This hill was seen from a different angle in last week's Sky watch.

The chimney draws the eyes up towards the soft clouds that are not quite succeeding in blocking out the blue winter sky.

See Google Aerial View of this location.
See LiveSearch Birds Eye View of this location.

Sky Watch is the regular Friday feature on this photo blog. It links with websites all over the world with the general theme each week of looking upwards. Please take the opportunity to visit some of these other sites. I hope some new visitors have found their way here today, watching the skies!

Sunday Stroll: Longdendale

A short bus ride from Ashton under Lyne will take you to Mottram Road cutting, from where there are many field paths and lanes running along the slopes of Longdendale, giving far ranging views towards Glossop, Bleaklow and Kinder Scout.

To get the best views you need to do a little climbing but the slopes are easier on this side of the moorland than they are over on the steeper Mossley side (see yesterday's photo showing the moors looking from Millbrook).

A group of walkers queues to climb over a stile near Moorside Farm, on the slopes below Hobson Moor, just 5 miles from the centre of Ashton. In the background are Arnfield Reservoir and Bottoms Reservoir. The Longdendale Valley continues past the reservoirs towards the Woodhead Pass that leads to Sheffield.

See Google Aerial View of this location.
See LiveSearch Birds Eye View of this location.

Stalybridge Saturday: Dreary View

The view from Platform 2 of Stalybridge Station on a wet weekend is not the most welcoming or inspiring. The platform overlooks an area of industrial muddle that has seen better days.

However, Longlands Mill, on the right of the photo, is now being refurbished into smart apartments, which should help to improve the first impressions of visitors alighting from their trains.

In the centre of the picture you can see the splendid former Market Hall and beyond that the majestic bulk of the Pennine moors.

See Google Aerial View of this location.

Sky Watch: Just Before Dawn

This is the view looking eastwards towards the Pennine moorland just before dawn on a winter's morning. I didn't have to wake up early to see this - dawn comes late in the winter and it was around 8.00 am.

The photo is completely untouched and is exactly as it came from the camera (except being reduced in size). The brilliant colours were quite startling to see but had faded into pastel shades only a few minutes later.

The hills are seen across Mossley and Micklehurst, in the Tame Valley, 4 miles from Ashton under Lyne. The hills can be seen from Ashton, but not as dramatically!

Sky Watch is the regular Friday feature on this photo blog. It links with websites all over the world with the general theme each week of looking upwards. Please take the opportunity to visit some of these other sites. I hope some new visitors have found their way here today, watching the skies!

Mossley on Monday: Mossley Park

Some brand new gates have appeared at the entrance to Mossley Park on Old Brow this last week. They are painted in the green and gold of the civic colour scheme for Mossley (i.e. the lamp posts, litter bins, bollards, etc. are all in these colours).

The hillside location of the park offers stunning views across the valley towards the moors. However, the children who enjoy the extensive play area (when the weather is warmer) probably don't spend a lot of time admiring the view!

The photo in last week's "Sunday Stroll" was taken from a spot directly behind the gold spike above the letter "M" on the gate. It was looking towards Noonsun Hill, which is on the left of today's photo. Buckton Castle is on the hill top above the letter "Y".

See Google Aerial View of this location.

Sunday Stroll: The "Roman" Road

A rewarding walk for those who do not mind a few small hills is along the ancient road that runs around the hillside below the moors between Carrbrook and Greenfield.

This road is sometimes called the Roman Road and indeed the Romans did use it as their route between the forts at Melandra (near Glossop) and Castleshaw (near Delph). However, the road is anything but straight, as the Romans did not build it, but made use of a road that was already in existence.

Ancient tracks such as this usually kept to high ground to avoid the boggy valley floors. This was the main route up the valley until the construction of the turnpike roads - Huddersfield Road in 1783 and Manchester Road in 1826.

The photo shows the road on the hillside above Micklehurst. The hill ahead is part of Noonsun Hill, but the road swings to the left to avoid climbing too high. The remains of the ancient Buckton Castle are on the hilltop, out of view to the right.

The road gives splendid views across Mossley and Saddleworth. The walk can be done by bus from Ashton, catching the 348 to Carrbrook and returning from Greenfield on the 350.
See Google Aerial View of this location.

Mossley on Monday: O little Town

O little town of Mossley (twinned with Hem)
How still we see thee lie.
Above thy deep and streamless valley
The incoming flights to Manchester Airport go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
Some humble Christmas lights.
The homes and mills and all the hills
Are seen in Mossley tonight.

Please excuse my singing! This photo of Mossley was taken last week looking down from the footpath that runs along the top of Brown Edge, near the trig point at just over 1000 feet above sea level. Click on the photo to see a much larger version (click your back button to return here).

Waterton Lane runs along the bottom of the hill towards the red-bricked Co-op store. To the right of that are the fire station, with its red doors visible, and St George's Church. To the left of Waterton Lane you can see the cleared site of the recently-demolished Hart Mill.

In the far distance on the left you can see the village of Carrbrook nestled beneath the moorland of Harridge Pike.

Oh, and the white bits in the foreground are actually small patches of snow!

See Google Aerial View of this location.

Waterloo Street

Waterloo Street is off Kings Road, Hurst, rather than in the area called Waterloo. No doubt gets its name from the same battle but the houses were built rather later than 1815 when the battle took place. Perhaps someone out there knows why this street was given its name?

In fact the houses in this photo were built in a variety of periods, with the modern houses at the bottom of the hill being built on the site of Alger Mill.

The tall buildings in the distance are part of Tameside Hospital, with a backdrop of Hobson Moor, above Stalybridge.

See Google Aerial View of this location.

Chew Valley

Time to get out on the hills again! Following the popularity of the moorland views seen in February, I thought I would share this photo looking down Chew Valley towards Dovestones Reservoir, Greenfield. This scene is only around 7 miles from Ashton but you would hardly think so!
behind the walkers you can see the narrow roadway that winds up to valley to Chew Reservoir, at the head of the valley, 470 metres above sea level.

Dovestones

Looking down on Dovestones Reservoir, Greenfield, from Slack Head Brow, close to Alphin Pike. This is a bit further west along the hill from yesterday's photo (about 5 miles from Ashton). The white things are the sails of yachts on the reservoir. The road to Holmfirth can be seen climbing the other side of the valley.

Bog Trotting

By request - a photo of the moorland above Dovestones Reservoir, Greenfield.
This scene is a mere half dozen miles from Ashton but is so different that you might as well be walking on the moon! The walkers are crossing an area of bare peat at Wimberry Moss. The rocks in the background are Wimberry Stones, known as "Indian's Head" because, when seen on the skyline from the valley below, they resemble the profile of a "red indian chief" if you turn your head to one side and use a little imagination!