Manchester: November in 15�images
November in the north of England. Is it all cold, miserable and wet weather as the dark nights take hold?
Here in Manchester I spend most days capturing the citys architectural growth and how weather shifts from one day to the next.
Im armed with my trusty 12-year-old Fuji or Samsung mobile, now a handy mainstay after a reluctance to use it as a camera.
They produce different results, but my eye often looks upwards and maybe doesnt see the Manchester that many people expect.
Heres November through my lens. Im heading to warmer climes as it draws to a close more on that next time.
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A November photo walk in Manchester with my trusty old Fuji X-E1 camera
Manchester: Autumn inertia
An endless blanket of thick grey cloud. Barely a breath of wind. Nothing moves or changes.
This is the weather weve had on repeat in Manchester and much of the UK recently, as a vast autumn anticyclone settled over us.
Sluggish grey skies tend to put a downer on capturing colourful, active photographs.
But it wasnt all doom and gloom. In my Castlefield neighbourhood, the waterways were so still that reflections were solid and dynamic. Autumn leaves hadnt been strewn about in the wind.
One morning the gloom descended deeper in the guise of fog, making the local skyscrapers shrouded and eerie.
Do you like the dull calm or prefer your weather to move faster?
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I lay flat on the ground to see foggy skyscrapers!
Morecambe: Stay on the�bay
Why settle for a day out when you can stay over?
After my successful break on the Fylde Coast, I decided to repeat the feat for Morecambe Bay, a familiar seaside spot in north Lancashire.
I spent a couple of nights in the towns landmark Art Deco hotel and witnessed some jaw-dropping dawns and sunsets for the first time.
So I didnt rush back home to Manchester for once. Was it worth the extra effort? CONTINUE READING BELOW.
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Morecambes Midland Hotel, a stylish slab of Art Deco concrete close to the beach, had long been on my list of places to spend a night or two.
The building won my heart with its elegant circular staircase, while I was given Room 101 a large double room on a curve of the property.
It wasnt a cheap stay, but I was in the perfect place to witness Morecambe Bays legendary sunsets. Ample skies, a scattering of cloud and the still waters providing a perfect mirror I struck gold.
I also rose around 6am to see the sun rise with scarlet ribbons of colour layering the sky and Cumbrias fells lining the horizon. The sea front was very quiet, settling my inner peace.
Dusk beauty awaits Morecambe visitors
There was plenty of time during my extended stay to take a walk to Heysham, a little seaside village Ive visited on a previous occasion.
I wandered through Morecambes West End on the way, through streets full of historical markers but waiting for a good dose of TLC.
As a regular solo traveller, it was lovely to speak to local people on my walks. They admitted the town needs a boost and whispered that the Midland Hotel has lost a little of its sheen in recent years.
This was a little staycation that proved a success you can experience so much more if you decide to stay for a night or two. So wheres next?&
Kazakhstan: Natural wonders
If you visit Kazakhstan, youll definitely see some of this vast countrys impressive landscapes.
Between the contrasting cities of Astana and Almaty, my trip was filled with geographical highlights of a nation blessed by nature.
Lakes, canyons, mountains and water give Kazakhstan a lot to boast about. Heres just a brief glance of views making the long journey to Central Asia worth every mile.
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The vast Kazakh steppe seen from a train
Coastal hike: St Annes to�Fleetwood
My Manchester home is a great base for visiting the sights of North-West England.
After countless day trips to the seaside and hills, I stayed a few nights at St Annes on Lancashires Fylde Coast.
There was no rush to catch the train home, I saw sunsets turn into summer nights and I had time for a long coastal photo hike after some shorter efforts on day visits.
From my base in St Annes I walked the 20km (12 miles) north to Fleetwood. It was a very warm day with a blue sky etched with some white candyfloss clouds.
Was there a lot to see and photograph? See for yourself the gallery follows my route. Continue reading below for some hike highlights.
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- St Annes
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- St Annes
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- St Annes
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- South Shore, Blackpool
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- South Shore, Blackpool
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- South Shore, Blackpool
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- Blackpool
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- Blackpool
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- Blackpool
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- Queens Promenade, Blackpool
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- Norbreck
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- Thornton Cleveleys
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- Cleveleys Beach
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- Rossall Beach
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- Rossall Beach
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- Rossall Point
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- Fleetwood
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- Fleetwood
ST ANNES: With its vast beach and far distant tide, this was a tranquil (if warm) start to the trek. Just a few dog walkers to share the sand with, not far from the might of Britains best-known seaside resort.
BLACKPOOL: Walking towards a large glitterball on the towns South Shore means you have arrived. With three piers, a vast tower and plenty of visitors on a sunny day, it can be an assault on the senses but sparkles under the blue sky.
CLEVELEYS: Calmer compared to the razzmatazz of Blackpool, this beachfront has the elaborate architecture of sea defences and a giant seashell sculpture which is losing its lustre to the sea.
ROSSALL: More of a long stretch of coastal footpath with beach and open sea attached, this is a peaceful place to walk. At the end youll see the curious and unexpected Rossall Point watchtower.
FLEETWOOD: I tracked inland to see this towns boating lake, which hides the sea and shimmers in the hot sunshine. A brief look at the impressive Mount Church before finding the tram stop to take me back south.
Staying for the sunset
I rode the entire Blackpool tram line from Fleetwood to Starr Gate, then faced a considerable walk back to my base on St Annes Promenade. After some refreshing drinks and refuelling, dusk and then sunset arrived.
The beach was busy with other sunset watchers, but not crowded. The pier created a focal point while silhouettes darted here and there.
This was the reason for staying over and not rushing back to Manchester. A little staycation with no flights, passports or other travel worries.
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