Week 35 walk - Moel Y Llyn, Mid Wales.

Last week was a total washout - with rain and grey skies everyday - my walks were dull and not worthy of any photos = so this week I will have to fit in 2 walks to make up for it. Yesterday was Bank holiday Monday and we escaped the crowds and took a very enjoyable hike up a lovely hill in Mid Wales known as Moel Y Llyn. We did not see another soul so it was very peaceful.

This is the view from where we parked, of where we were heading to.

Lovely white farmhouse nestled on the hillside - oh to live in such gorgeous surroundings.

As we started to climb up - there was a lovely well defined path to follow - we looked back and could see the sea.

Once we reached the top, we were stunned with the views all around. This lovely lake on one side, the Plynlimon mountain range one another, Snowdonia and Cadair Idris on another side and the coast on the final part - it was just breathtaking.

We took hundreds of photos - but I must admit I was very disappointed with the results using my new wide angle lens - I had expected so much and they were not good at all - so a ND grey grad filter is on order and I am keeping my fingers crossed for better results on my next outing.

The Snowdonia mountain range (on the left) above and views down to the Dyfi Estuary below.

More vibrant colours using my old lens with its polarizing filter on.

There was a cache hidden at the lake here and thank goodness for that because without coming to find it - we would never have discovered this gorgeous spot.

Week 34 walk - Henry Moore Foundation, Perry Green, Hertfordshire.

This week's walk was around the fabulous gardens at Perry Green, Hertfordshire, which is the home of the Henry Moore Foundation and in the gardens are these stunning Henry Moore sculptures.

First of all we were given a guided tour of Hoglands - Moore's home and his studios. It was utterly fascinating to see his light airy studio with all his materials and tools lying around.

Then we took a long and leisurely walk around the grounds snapping away at the gorgeous sculptures.

The family was quite a familiar subject.

The female form featured quite heavily.

Some of the works of art were huge and had a whole garden to themselves.

There were quite a few of these iconic reclining women sculptures.

Our favourites ones were the smooth and sexy bronze ones.

A very enjoyable day out - I love Henry Moore's work - I want to learn more about him now.

Week 33 walk - Hitchen Lavender Fields, Hertfordshire

I decided that my photo book needed an injection of colour after all these grey skies of summer - so I took a nice long drive down to Hertfordshire to visit Hitchen Lavender fields and I was not disappointed.

The lavender is planted in long rows across the fields making it look very much like you are in Provence. It is a very popular place to visit - so actually getting shots without people in was quite difficult.
As you can imagine, the smell in the fields was gorgeous. I have bought home some lavender - which I cut fresh from the fields, so my house smells beautiful too.

There was an abundance of wildlife buzzing around the flowers - but they never kept still so getting a decent shot of the bees was nearly impossible!

They also have a sunflower field - but these were nearly past their best now - but I did get a few sunny shots.

I must say a special thanks to fellow 365'r and 52 weeks walker Karen - whose gorgeous photos of these Lavender fields last year so impressed me and made me want to visit here so much - thanks Karen. My photos are not as good as yours - but at least my book has a bit of colour in it now!

Week 32 walk - Snowdon, North Wales

Oh dear the weather is determined to scupper the second 6 months worth of walk photos!!! The weather forecast promised nice weather in Wales - so an excellent chance of photos on my trip to Snowdon - but no - mist on the way up and a complete white out at the top!

If I can't fit another walk in this week we may have to make do with these pretty rubbish shots!!

We walked up Snowdon following the Snowdon Ranger path - this was a new route for me but Janet has done it a few times. It is a relatively easy route - but the views are not quite as spectacular as from other ways up. We parked next to this lake and made our way up past the farm - following this decent path.

The clouds hanging around the tops of these mountains did not move all day!

Behind this cloud is the summit of Snowdon - we kept praying that it would shift - but not today. Out of the 4 times I have been to the top - twice has been clear and the other 2 times a white out - so even odds at the moment.

I am so glad that I took some photos on the way up - or else I would have nothing to show for our day out.

We made a detour on the way down - over to this neighbouring mountain ( there was a cache hidden on the top of it!) It was a steep climb up but a lovely walk down along the grassy ridge to join up with the path at the bottom.

There were queues of people trying to get to the very top stone - so we made do with our photo here.
Usually you can see for miles behind the hoards of visitors on the top - but today - just nothingness!
Just to prove that we did it!

We could hear the trains approaching - but could not actually see them until they appeared out of the mist quite close to us.

Onwards into the mist.
So a lovely day out - but disappointing from my photos - point of view.

week 31 walk - Liverpool

We were back in Liverpool this weekend - it was nice to explore here again. For it's Year of Culture in 2008 - lots of street sculpture was produced - this one is quite stunning - its about all the immigrants and visitors to Liverpool who stay and make it their home.

This is the Philharmonia Dinning room pub - it is very nice and so unusual inside - its like an exclusive London Gentlemen's' Club - where they would go into separate rooms to eat. We tried to have our Sunday Lunch there - but it was fully booked.

This gorgeous Chinese arch is the largest outside China and is the gateway to Liverpool's China town. All the street names are in English & Chinese.

This is the Albert Docks - a very popular place now that it has been restored. We ate in a lovely restaurant here in the end.

The docks are in full use again - with lots of boats coming and going. Though they are all pleasure boats these days - not trading vessels.

The skyline of Liverpool is an impressive mix of old traditional and brand new striking contemporary architecture.

This is the new museum due to open in 2011 - I can't wait to see inside - if its as good as the outside it will be fab.

The reflections in the glass windows of the rest of the pier head were lovely to see.

You see old mixes with the new, quite seamlessly.

My favourite shot of the day.

The Liverbird building.