Odds & ends to finish our UK visit

You know you like blog posts with an assortment of photos so here we go!

Firstly it looked like we were being attacked by aliens when I was walking down to Shipley to meet my mate Murray for a couple of drinks.

Our big mate Steve:  'It's Grim Up North' or 'Fresh from the North'. You choose!

Valley Parade, Bradford City FC's ground. Sacred to some, eh Matt?

Look what Philippe found! These cèpes (porcini) were enormous...

...now dried and ready for the winter. We even got a jar for us!

We were lucky enough to help Nadine's old uni mates Catherine & Adam celebrate their wedding.

Open your eyes, I said to Alfie...

...and he did!

The Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth, marking our farewell after visiting three countries of the British Isles.

Penistone Hill walk with Meryl & Dave

We love catching up with old Bingley friends Meryl & Dave who suggested we visited Penistone Hill above Haworth.

It's rather bleak on the moors as you arrive...

...but what's that down below?

It's a number of giant butterflies...

...part of 'Wild Uplands' an art installation for Bradord's City of Culture 2025.

These fantastic creatures weren't quite as impressive.

'The Tower' using local sheep's wool

I think you can see how windy it was!

Tine posing in front of one of the more modern 'sculptures'...

...minutes after Meryl fell off 🤣

We drove back down into Haworth to have a coffee and a cake (as you do).

These two shops have certainly made the effort for the many tourists who come to visit the home town of the Brontës.

The Aire Valley

 The first photos are taken from our caravan.

It was pretty misty down in the Aire Valley.

  

Next day, no mist but a view of industrial Shipley & Saltaire. 

Walking up onto Baildon Moor, Yorkshire's beloved drystone walls.

 

My intrepid explorer battling through the ferns...

...and what good weather we had!

Down in the valley a few days later, a little walk along the Leeds & Liverpool Canal in Bingley.

It's a good spot for pleasure craft

To finish, 5-Rise Locks not far from from where we used to live. That's Damart chimney in the distance.

Back in Yorkshire

It's always good to be back in our adopted city of Bradford.

 

Especially when you get to view your sister's new bungalow... 

 

...with views over Horsfall playing fields... 

 

...and a welcome cuppa. Well done, Kate & Dave! 

We visited the new Darley Street Market and were impressed. 

There was a brassbound festival on in the city centre...

...HONK! Sound of the Streets.

In the background some of Bradford's old architecture...

...City Hall...

...and the old Wool Exchange, now a beautiful bookstore.

Amlwch Port & a gentle stroll

Next day Martin took us down to Amlwch port, still used by pleasure craft but once important for ship-building.

The view as you first arrive...

...and the Watch House at the harbour entrance, now used by Martin and his GeoMôn colleagues as an information centre. 

The once busy port was used by ships exporting copper ore mined in the nearby Parys Mountain

An illustration from one of the books on display.

Evidence of fishing activity.

There's an influence from Cornwall too, the harbour walls having vertical stones

In the afternoon Caroline took us to nearby Cefni Reservoir

It's a beautiful open space...

...complete with lone fisherman.

The disused railway track has become a useful footpath.

Porth Padrig

We spent a couple of nights with old Bingley friends, Caroline & Martin who now leave in Amlwch, not far from Holyhead.

Caroline took us (and the dog) out for a walk nearby...

...with beautiful views over Cemaes Bay.

We scrambled down to Porth Padrig...

...some more agile than others!

We saw some beautiful rock formations...

...and a mysterious cave.

Tine as intrepid as ever...

...leaving me at the entrance.

I love a good pebble photo!