The Ribblehead Viaduct, on the Settle-Carlisle railway line is a classic example of how beautiful architecture can really add to a landscape. The 24 enormous stone arches span the Batty Moss valley at Ribblehead, providing both valuable transport links but also a visual link, allowing the eye to wander around the scene. Built between 1870 and 1874, the Ribblehead Viaduct is now a Grade II listed structure. It shouldn't be forgotten the toll that the construction of Ribblehead Viaduct had. 100's of Navvies lost their life, either as a direct result of the construction or due to the outbreak of disease in the supporting settlements.
The famous arches of Fountains Abbey Cellarium provide a wonderful, spider-like focal point to a room so full of detail and light. The arched windows light the vaulted ceiling, casting a lattice work of shadow. The architecture in this room is simply incredible. Fountains Abbey is near to Ripon, in Yorkshire. Jointly owned and managed by the National Trustand English Heritage<, this site is easily a full day to explore. With the ruins of the abbey, a working water mill, the old manor house, Studley Church, the river side walk, deer park, the photographic options are endless.
This is the image that I wanted to capture of Chrome Hill. A valley full of rolling fog, predawn light, and mystery a-plenty. This ridgeline is call the Dragons Backbone for fairly obvious reasons. I wanted a shot that encapsulated all of the aspects of a dragon, the ridge, the fire (in the sky) and the smoke (fog). Chrome Hill in the Peak District National Park is rapidly becoming a popular location for photographers as it is fairly accessible and just happens to be one of the 2016 Landscape Photographer Of the Year winning locations! On this particular morning shortly after I captured this shot the valley filled with dense fog, leaving me with only one option, to head uphill to try and get above it. The view from the top was stunning, and many of those shots can be seen in my gallery. The whole area, as far as the eye could see, was covered in thick fog caused by a temperature inversion. This is where warm air traps cold air underneath it, not allowing the moisture to rise, causing dense fog. An incredible view, a moment to remember, and it all started with this simple shot, of the Dragons Backbone.
