Furthermore, the Wales Coast Path (which is 870 miles long) will join up with Offa’s Dyke Path National Trail to provide 1,030 miles of walking opportunities right around the Welsh border. The sheer size and brilliance of the Path has already received public recognition with Coastal Wales being acknowledged as the world’s top destination to visit in 2012 by Lonely Planet, the travel guide experts.

St.Cwyfan's Church in the Sea - Isle of Anglesey

The Coast Path winds its way through towns and villages, across cliff tops and sandy beaches, sometimes darting inland before emerging once again at a sheltered cove or tiny hamlet that you would forever miss when travelling by car, bus or train. It will take you from the mouth of the River Dee, along the north Wales coast with its seaside towns, over the Menai Strait onto the Isle of Anglesey, from the Llyn Peninsula down the majestic sweep of Cardigan Bay, through Britain’s only coastal National Park in Pembrokeshire, along miles of golden sand, via Gower with its stunning scenery, along the waterfront of Cardiff Bay and Cardiff, the capital city of Wales, to the market town of Chepstow.  The path encompasses two National Parks, 11 National Nature Reserves and dozens of Sites of Special Scientific Interest.

Ynys Lochtyn - Ceredigion

Although I have travelled most of the Wales Coast, my photography to date has been limited to the Gower, Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and the Isle of Anglesey. A small number of my images of the incredible coastline are shown here and others can be found in the relevant galleries

Worm's Head - Gower

I am planning to return to Pembrokeshire shortly to capture more of the Coast National Park in its 60th anniversary  year which will also allow me the opportunity to walk parts of the Wales Coast Path not yet covered, particularly the North coast of the Park. When I return from that trip further images will be added to the gallery but in the meantime why not make your own visit. Details of the various areas that the Path covers can be found on Wales Coast Path website.

Loch Ewe Sunset

Don’t forget that that each image chosen will only be placed as Print of the Month once so if you like this particular image, buy it at the specially reduced price of 30% below normal prices (excluding postage) before the end of April.

The print will be 10 ins by 15 ins. This size is ideal for matting and framing in a 16 ins by 20 ins frame.

To start your collection just click on the image and you will be linked to where you can complete the purchase of the print. Don’t forget to indicate the finish you require, either matte, lustre or glossy.

If  ”Loch Ewe Sunset” is not one of your preferred images then by all means please share with me your favourites and I will see if we can make them available in due course.

If you wish to be notified directly about new issues you can sign up for my free update on the Print of the Month Collection by clicking this link and entering your details.

The first trip was almost a 1000 miles, 30 hours of driving and almost 50 miles of walking and saw me revisiting Norfolk and Suffolk an area of the country I had first visited at the beginning of my journey in 2006. On that occasion I concentrated on the North Norfolk coast and the coastal areas of Suffolk down to Southwold. This time I was taking the opportunity to base myself initially in southern Suffolk with the intention of popping over the boundary into the coastal areas of Essex and then moving onto the Norfolk Broads National Park and the coast.

I had allowed myself three days to take a look around the first area. Its never really enough time but I managed to visit most locations I had planned on.
The first day was very busy visiting Paglesham, Essex just north east of Southend where there is the only proper access to the River Roach and the land between that and the River Crouch. A 7 mile walk saw me start at Paglesham Eastend and returning to the same spot via the Paglesham Creek and Pool. Opportunities for decent images was more limited than I had anticipated and the light was difficult being very bright and harsh.

Paglesham Pool

Moving on from Paglesham I visited the Dengie Peninsula an area of land between the River Crouch and the Blackwater Estuary. This area is considered to be one of the remotest places in Southern Britain. The objective here was to visit and photograph the Church of St. Peter’s-on-the-Wall which stands defiantly on a bank exposed to the fury of the North Sea storms, although when I arrived it was bright blue skies. The church was built in AD 654 and is one of the oldest places of worship in England.

St.Peter's Church on the Wall

Day 2 I decided to stay around my base on the Essex/Suffolk border with a 8 mile walk around Constable country and in particular Dedham Vale taking in parts of the Stour Valley Path and the Essex Way. Photographic opportunities were again more limited than I anticipated and was only glad that my visit was just before the Easter holidays with the area around Flatford Mill already very busy.

The following day a trip to Mersea Island via Tollesbury. The island, the most easterly inhabited island in England is joined to the mainland by The Strood a causeway liable to flooding at high tide. But first Tollesbury which I had been drawn to for the boathouses which appeared from my research to be very photogenic but of course when I arrived the majority had been renovated and therefore not as appealing as I had first thought. Still a walk out over Woodrolfe Creek provided some photographic opportunities including the “Trinity” lightship which is now the hub of activity for the Fellowship Afloat Charitable Trust (FACT).  Moving on I crossed The Strood and completed a 6 mile walk round the East Mersea almost completing a Coast to Coast across the island.

"Trinty" - Woodrolfe Creek, Tollesbury

Well that was my brief visit to Essex and Constable Country over has I moved on to my new base on the Broads via walks at Shingle Street and Dunwich in all that shingle which was very tiring. Shingle Street reminded me very much off Dungeness, Kent although on a much smaller scale. Its little more than a row of cottages built above a stretch of shingle, which the sea has pushed up into a high bank. Dunwich of course being the town lost beneath the waves, carried away by the relentless erosion of wind and tide where it is said that at times the submerged church bells can be heard, ringing out a warning of an approaching storm.

My first day on the Broads produced probably the best day photographically  so I took the opportunity to visit as many of the locations on my list as possible and capturing almost 100 images,  a third of the total captured on the trip. I started off with a 9 mile walk from my base firstly to visit the ruins of Benedictine St Benet’s Abbey. Unfortunately the gatehouse which is the largest of the remains, curiously surmounted by the brick tower of a windmill built some 200 years ago was surround in scaffolding and inaccessible. Thanks to the Norfolk Archaeological Trust for placing notices to advise me before I had walked two miles there and back down a lane to visit.:-(  Things could only get better and they did with the thick cloud disappearing and being replaced with sunlight and clouds. The walk was completed via How Hill, Turf Fen wind pump and the River Ant. Having recovered from the walk visits were then made to Thurne and Winterton on Sea. A good day after all despite the bad start.

Winterton Dunes

My next day on the Broads also proved to be fruitful with a walk around Horsey Mere visiting Brograve Mill and then moving on to the coast at Horsey Gap, Sea Palling and Happisburgh, the latter of which I had visited in 2006. I had not visited Sea Palling before and although the main entrance to the beach was quiet busy moving North up the coast I managed to find an alternative access where it was considerably less busy producing some interesting photographic opportunities of the nine reefs installed just off the shore in 1995 by the Environment Agency to help protect the area. On revisiting Happisburgh late afternoon I ran out of time to access the beach area North of the village due to the incoming tide so decided to revisit the next day.

Brograve Mill

The following morning at Happisburgh the weather was again perfect for a few hours but upon arrival found that path I used the day before to gain access had now disappeared and a JCB digger was busily rearranging all the cliffs. After walking northwards for a mile or so I managed to gain access to the beach by climbing down an area of collapsed cliff face on pieces of broken concrete. The walk back to towards Happisburgh from here must be the worst area of coastal erosion I have seen anywhere in the British Isles and even the staircase that use to provide access to the beach has now been left isolated from the land, the connecting bridge having collapsed sometime prior to my visit. I found it quiet amusing that the “No Admittance” sign was still fixed to the stair landing despite the fact it was abundantly clear that no one would be gain accessing anytime soon. If visiting this location you must be extremely careful that you do not get stranded on the beach due to the current lack of safe access and the incoming tides.

"No Admittance" - Happisburgh

I completed my return visit to Norfolk by following the coast road North as far as Brancaster Staithe, a location I had visited in 2006 before returning to my base to prepare for my journey home and to start planning for the next stage of my journey. Images from this trip have been added to the renamed East Anglia Gallery along with some images from my trip in 2006.

Thurne Mill

Don’t forget that that each image chosen will only be placed as Print of the Month once so if you like this particular image, buy it at the specially reduced price of 30% below normal prices (excluding postage) before the end of April.

The print will be 10 ins by 15 ins. This size is ideal for matting and framing in a 16 ins by 20 ins frame.

To start your collection just click on the image and you will be linked to where you can complete the purchase of the print. Don’t forget to indicate the finish you require, either matte, lustre or glossy.

If  ”Thurne Mill” is not one of your preferred images then by all means please share with me your favourites and I will see if we can make them available in due course.

If you wish to be notified directly about new issues you can sign up for my free update on the Print of the Month Collection by clicking this link and entering your details.

Porthselau

I also have plans to revisit Cornwall, Norfolk and Suffolk all of which I have had brief photographic trips to before in 2006 and 2007 respectively.  I may find time to include part of the northern part of Essex in my East Anglia trip as it is one of the few areas of the country I have never visited. Whilst in Suffolk I was hoping to revisit Benacre to photograph the marooned skeleton of an old Pine tree again but recently discovered that last winter’s storm’s may have at last removed it from the landscape forever.

Benacre Sands

I normally make two trips to Scotland each year and one of those trips this year will include my first photographic trip to the Cairngorms National Park, the largest in Britain and whilst in this area I am hoping to cover at least part of the Moray coast. If not there may be an opportunity in my second trip, final destination still to be decided.

Phew, justing typing these few words about my plans has taken my breath away never mind still having to complete all the planning and then to actually complete the trips.

Lets hope I can stick to this years plan and we all have a great photographic year ahead.

The Cuillin Ridge - Isle of Skye

Don’t forget that that each image chosen will only be placed as Print of the Month once so if you like this particular image, buy it at the specially reduced price of 30% below normal prices (excluding postage) before the end of March.

The print will be 10 ins by 15 ins. This size is ideal for matting and framing in a 16 ins by 20 ins frame.

To start your collection just click on the image and you will be linked to where you can complete the purchase of the print. Don’t forget to indicate the finish you require, either matte, lustre or glossy.

If  ”The Cuillin Ridge – Isle of Skye” is not one of your preferred images then by all means please share with me your favourites and I will see if we can make them available in due course.

If you wish to be notified directly about new issues you can sign up for my free update on the Print of the Month Collection by clicking this link and entering your details.

In 2011 National Geographic magazine voted Pembrokeshire the second best coastal destination in the world

Serious walkers will enjoy the 186 mile Pembrokeshire Coast Path, which celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2010, and is a demanding but very rewarding trail from Amroth to St Dogmael’s, which would take around two weeks to complete and part of which passes by the dramatic coastline shown in the image below. From next May it will link to the Wales Coastal Path, the world’s first national coast perimeter walk.

Above Porthysgi Bay

Although I had visited Pembrokeshire before, having spent holidays there in my youth, my first photographic trip was in early Autumn 2007 and only then for 3 days following a visit to the Gower. This trip was one of the first I undertook in starting my journey round the British Isles. My base was just down the road from Whitesands Bay where one evening I managed to capture this sunset image.

Whitesands Sunset

My time in Pembrokeshire was too short to do it justice only having the opportunity to walk and photograph some of the coastal areas around St.David’s so I have already planned to revisit the National Park in this its anniversary year. This time I hope to spend more time in the area and looking at my list of potential photo locations it looks if I may be there for a while.

Make sure you follow My Photographic Journey to ensure you don’t miss this revisit.
 

Seeing as this month includes Valentine’s Day I thought it would be appropriate to use an image that reflected that theme so that all the romantics could take the opportunity to acquire an unusual but appropriate gift for their loved ones.

This image was captured on the Isle of Iona on my trip to Ardnamurchan, Mull and Iona during September 2010. This was my first visit to Iona and whilst spending the week on the adjacent Isle of Mull I was fortunate enough to find one of those days with reasonable weather to take the ferry over to Iona.  St Columba’s Bay is located on the southern tip of the island and to get there and back involves a 5 mile walk from the ferry landing.

The pebbles from the beach at St Columba’s Bay have often been collected by pilgrims. The white limestone pebbles found are known as Iona Marble. In the 18th and 19th centuries tourists bought them from local children as a souvenir.  Some pilgrims visiting the island today pick up two stones from the beach. One is thrown back into the sea as a symbol of something in their life that they would like to leave behind. The other is taken home as a sign of a new commitment they have made. The heart shaped pebble formation captured in the image is exactly as I found it on the day.

St Columba's Bay - Iona

Don’t forget that that each image chosen will only be placed as Print of the Month once so if you like this particular image, buy it at the specially reduced price of 30% below normal prices (excluding postage) before the end of February.

The print will be 10 ins by 15 ins. This size is ideal for matting and framing in a 16 ins by 20 ins frame.

To start your collection just click on the image and you will be linked to where you can complete the purchase of the print. Don’t forget to indicate the finish you require, either matte, lustre or glossy.

If  ”St. Columba’s Bay- Iona” is not one of your preferred images then by all means please share with me your favourites and I will see if we can make them available in due course.

If you wish to be notified directly about new issues you can sign up for my free update on the Print of the Month Collection by clicking this link and entering your details.

This months image was captured in late August 2006 at Hunstanton on one of my earliest photography trips for a week around the coasts of Norfolk and Suffolk.

The cliffs at Hunstanton on the North Norfolk coast make a spectacular view. They show an amazing slice of Britain’s history and originate from just after the Jurassic period. This makes them 100 million years old and some of the oldest rocks visible in East Anglia. Hunstanton is an east coast town but faces west and is one of the few places on the east coast in England where the sun can be seen to set over the sea.

This stretch of Norfolk’s coastline is truly the sunset coast. In Hunstanton the progression of the setting sun lasts hours longer than in other west facing locations – up to a staggering 5½ hours is possible!! So when it is a great sunset you have literally hours to enjoy it. Once the sun goes below the horizon in Hunstanton it remains light for hours after – often aided by a beautiful moon rising from the East. Although I did not manage to capture a sunset on this trip I did capture some images of the cliffs, one of which has been in the Norfolk and Suffolk gallery for sometime.

Sheraton - Hunstanton

The difference with the image above is that it is taken closer to the cliffs and  includes the wreck of the trawler Sheraton and was captured on my second digital camera the Canon 20D with a 17-85mm EFS lens set at its widest 17mm f20 @ 1/8th sec.

How do you think this image compares with the one included in my portfolio since shortly after the original trip. This can be found in the Norfolk and Suffolk Gallery. Your thoughts would be most welcome.

I have decided that the first print will not be one of those featured in the announcement last month.

This be may be a disappointment to some of you that  had already decided which you were going to buy at the discounted price,  but don’t be too concerned as I am sure they may become part of the collection in due course and if you want to be notified directly about new issues you can sign up for my free update on the Print of the Month Collection by clicking this link and entering your details.

The first image I have chosen is “The First Snow” which captures the famous Snowdon Horseshoe immediately after the first snowfall of the winter of 2010 but before the start of the heavy snowfalls of late November which in some areas was the earliest heavy snowfall for 17 years.

The First Snow - Snowdon Horsehoe

Don’t forget that that each image chosen will only be placed as Print of the Month once so if you like this particular image, buy it at the specially reduced price of 30% below normal prices (excluding postage) before the end of January.

The print will be 10 ins by 15 ins. This size is ideal for matting and framing in a 16 ins by 20 ins frame.

To start your collection just click on the image and you will be linked to where you can complete the purchase of the print. Don’t forget to indicate the finish you require, either matte, lustre or glossy.

In the first announcement I did indicate that the number of prints available at the discounted price each month would be restricted to 10 however to try to compensate for any of you who may be disappointed that your favourite print has not been chosen this month I am making the discounted offer available to everyone who wishes to acquire this months release.

If “The First Snow” is not one of your preferred images then by all means please share with me your favourites and I will see if we can make them available in due course.