Natural beauty in the UK

Indeed. And living where I do means that we are off to Glencoe tomorrow - 'kids' are doing Anoach Eagach and mrs_oab and I might daunder up Sgòr na h-Ulaidh.

Anyway, this thread needs pictures.

"I am reminded of how beautiful parts of the UK are"

Parts that you wouldn't expect to be can throw up surprises.  Even Milton Keynes has a few spots that are worth a look.  Beauty is all around us if you have the right eyes.

I am doing 'photo a day' this year,so I always have a camera or phone with me . The one thing I love most ,is it makes me slow down,stop and look around more than usual,not so much for that 'perfect image' but just as a reminder that there is often beauty everywhere.

🙂

Even Milton Keynes has a few spots that are worth a look.

Photo evidence?

---laughing em0ji--------

I nearly fell off Sgòr na h-Ulaidh in deep winter about 20yrs ago. It was waist deep snow from the track up to the N ridge then the drop off SW from the summit was a sketchy as. It's complex terrain when covered in deep snow with patches of random compacted ice

The views are stunning from the summit. Enjoy !

Milton Keynes has some bloomin' lovely architecture. Though I realise that's against the title of this thread.

As requested by Matt OAB, view over the mighty Yorkshire Wolds on last night's ride.

one of my favourite spots

Exactly why we're about to mooch of to Northumberland for a week.

Enjoy it while it lasts TJ!

Just about to take the dog for a walk on the beach the looks over the Farne Islands.

If you haven't watched this yet, I really recommend it. Diving with seals on the Farnes.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m002255f/our-lives-series-8-3-the-seal-whisperer

Sadly i can only access one of my nice Mk photos,  sat here

The Wife and I had a meander around some of Herefordshire on Sunday. Places we’ve lived by for years, and in her case all her life, and never seen.

Herefordshire is quite lumpy, not on the scale of Scotland, Wales or The Dales, but it does offer some stunning scenery.

I forget how beautiful it is sometimes.

Peak is always on my happy list.

The Weekend / Midweek Ride thread is always a highlight of the week for me as I love seeing what and where people are riding.  I moan a LOT about living and riding in Suffolk with the lack of hills and fun (natural) stuff to ride, but it really does have some amazing vistas that are simply "big sky" beautiful that you'd struggle to find elsewhere.  Every now and then (on yet another XC loop with no gradient) I'll stop and think - maybe it's not so bad after all.

I would post a pic, but, you know...

I write a column about that spot in your top pic Tracey

The Weekend / Midweek Ride thread is always a highlight of the week for me as I love seeing what and where people are riding

It's a bit mixed feelings for me tbh, especially the midweek one, as I don't have anything nice nearby.

What amazes me is still how few people have opportunity or choose to get out into our more natural spaces regularly.

Ok, some of my favourite scenery shots of the last few years:

Backyard:
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51278024341_b60bc73794_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51278024341_b60bc73794_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2m8gh8X ]Ben Lomond in the evening[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/ ]Matt[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51117886970_65fb71d3df_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51117886970_65fb71d3df_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2kT7wSN ]Canoe on Loch Voil and Doine[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/ ]Matt[/url], on Flickr

Further afield:
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53621523664_931b5d4b90_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53621523664_931b5d4b90_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2pGmjQG ]Isle of Gigha[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/ ]Matt[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53726193282_20636c4eb6_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53726193282_20636c4eb6_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2pRAMth ]Corrieshalloch Gorge National Nature Reserve[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/ ]Matt[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53099663276_c08e0d5292_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53099663276_c08e0d5292_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2oUeDVN ]Glimps Holm Beach, Orkney[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/ ]Matt[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52258447539_7c792f2f6e_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52258447539_7c792f2f6e_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2nBUcNc ]North Goatfell (left), Cir Mhor (centre), Caisteal Abhail (centre right), A'Chir ridge (left distance) and Beinn Breac & Meall nan Damh (far distance left)[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/ ]Matt[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51329871356_589c719290_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51329871356_589c719290_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2mcR1s1 ]Holidays '21 - Harris, Lewis, Torridon[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/ ]Matt[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51329135772_18318ec8af_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51329135772_18318ec8af_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2mcMeMw ]Holidays '21 - Harris, Lewis, Torridon[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/ ]Matt[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51330079033_9bf0905119_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51330079033_9bf0905119_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2mcS5bD ]Holidays '21 - Harris, Lewis, Torridon[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/ ]Matt[/url], on Flickr

Taking photos whilst riding my bike is one of my favourite things, to the point where my Strava times would probably be much faster if I kept my phone in my pocket.

Aye, Scotland is shiite.

[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51278742054_a206cb28fd_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51278742054_a206cb28fd_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2m8jXuj ]Ben Lomond in the evening[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/ ]Matt[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53099663276_c08e0d5292_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53099663276_c08e0d5292_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2oUeDVN ]Glimps Holm Beach, Orkney[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/ ]Matt[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52349461593_e7bf0e5f55_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52349461593_e7bf0e5f55_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2nKWF72 ]Calmac Ferry landing on Lismore[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/ ]Matt[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53574115497_978e0292b3_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53574115497_978e0292b3_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2pCam3v ]Glen Affric[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/ ]Matt[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53086266650_48dad7d222_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53086266650_48dad7d222_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2oT3Zzu ]Talmine, Achivner and Tongue area[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/ ]Matt[/url], on Flickr

Aye, Scotland is shiite.

[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51278742054_a206cb28fd_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51278742054_a206cb28fd_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2m8jXuj ]Ben Lomond in the evening[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/ ]Matt[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53099663276_c08e0d5292_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53099663276_c08e0d5292_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2oUeDVN ]Glimps Holm Beach, Orkney[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/ ]Matt[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53574115497_978e0292b3_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53574115497_978e0292b3_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2pCam3v ]Glen Affric[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/ ]Matt[/url], on Flickr

About 7 miles south of that charming Welsh town of Bridgend.

Yesterday evening after work. Had the Downs to myself bar the sheep and cows. Guess something was on the One Show worth watching instead.

gobuchul Fee Member

Just about to take the dog for a walk on the beach the looks over the Farne Islands.

I did pop into your shop a couple of times while on holiday the other week gobuchul, but you weren't there.

Henry on the same beach.

Friend of mine is a Swiss Italian and she was fascinated by what she called the big skies; open fields, unbroken for miles. This was after a trip to the Berkshire Downs and Uffington White Horse..

Even the industrial wasteland that is East Ayrshire with it's surface pot marked from giant abandoned opencasts and the near continuous blanket of windfarms has it's moments. I have grown to love the riding here (mostly during lockdown)...

@tthew - We've opened another shop, it's much quieter and smaller. I've been relegated to the new one and the Mrs does the heavy lifting in the other.

There are a few reasons I returned to Devon (I went to Uni down here, and moved back at 27, and have now lived here for 22 years), but the main one was being close to nature, both countryside and coast. It never fails to cheer me up 🙂

Sadly i can only access one of my nice Mk photos,  sat here

I've been to Milton Keynes a few times and its never looked like that. Maybe it's nicer when the sun is out? 😀

Quite a lot of what's been posted here isn't natural beauty though..... not that it isn't nice all the same

@Idlejohn

I’m not going to get into ridiculous online argument about how MK is a national beauty spot, it isn’t.

However you made an interesting point. If you drive through Milton Keynes you aren’t seeing the green spaces. Which is you think about is quite clever. Because if you can’t see the nice bits from your car, you car isn’t visible from turn nice bits.

So there are loads of places in Milton Keynes, all connected up by traffic free gravel parts, where you’d be hard pressed to know you were in a big town

Branscombe?

If you drive through Milton Keynes you aren’t seeing the green spaces. Which is you think about is quite clever. Because if you can’t see the nice bits from your car, you car isn’t visible from turn nice bits.

😀

I wasn't being serious.. On one work trip to MK I commented that I didn't think anyone actually lived in MK because I'd seen so few houses on my trips through the place. Everything is well hidden, as you say.

So there are loads of places in Milton Keynes, all connected up by traffic free gravel parts, where you’d be hard pressed to know you were in a big town

I get that - a walk or pedal around Livingston (another new town) has a similar feeling.

Driven up through Glencoe at sunrise this morning to a gloriously sunny Skye, so hard to focus on the road!

@tjagain

Beautiful. Is that in the Cairngorms?

I’m currently in Milton Keynes, though moving to Scotland soon (yay). I’m snapping pics of all my favourite parts there are so many I want to remember. It’s not exactly the Lakes, but it’s got many pretty bits. My eight km commute has less than 500 meters of tarmac, the rest is woods, parks, fields, canal path, and a little bit of bridalway.

I said to someone this very morning that I loved that they still appreciate their local surroundings after they sent me a beautiful photo.  So many people seem oblivious to what's around them, even those who live in places like Matt's pics above.  I don't think I'd ever get tired of looking at scenery.

I think the Scottish Tourist Board should sign up MOAB

Scotland has some nice bits. A few bits of Wales /England but most of the beauty spots aren't very natural at all. The lakes for example is largely a sheep fueled ecological disaster.

Go to France and you'll soon go, oh no they spoiled that amazing view with a cell tower on top of that hill. Then at some point you'll realise that the amazing view isn't actually seen as amazing in France and you'll go to a national park and see something they actually think is amazing.

(Currently in France and about to drive home and a bit depressed about it)

@smiffy - first pic is, yes.

Second is Woodbury, and third is East Hill.

This was one of my happy places that I used to head for in Galloway, never met anyone there in 30 years of visiting

Just me and my dog

[img] [/img]

One of my issues, living in Aviemore, is that I often fail to see the natural beauty surrounding me. It's basically become so commonplace that I just don't "see" it anymore. I do occasionally stop and just look around but it also helps if I'm with visitors as they'll be astonished at some points, making me then appreciate them all over again.

I ran a 28km loop today, through Abernethy Forest, past Ryvoan Bothy, An Lochan Uaine and Loch Morlich. I did have my GoPro with me so might see what I managed to capture, but I wasn't really paying all that much attention!

Feel very lucky to live on the edge of the South Downs National Park. Rarely take pics while out on the bike, but do take the camera when walking the dog.........Colours a bit muddy on a couple of these.

One of the finest beaches in the UK - Knockvologan

Beautiful photos, Matt, the Ben Lomond in the evening one is gorgeous, the aerial perspective with the mist is beautiful. The photo with the canoe has me wondering if the water is all going to run out of the bottom right corner… (winking emoji)

The Marlborough Downs, from the Wansdyke, West Woods, the source of the Stonehenge Sarcen Stones on the  horizon, and Silbury Hill  is somewhere in the middle distance. Great skies around here.

I am in a similar position to scotroutes but living in the Highlands north of Inverness. You can't avoid amazing views and beautiful landscapes, but you certainly can become blinkered to them. Now and again though, maybe a misty morning perhaps, it blows you away.

After our kayak trip down the thames a few years ago I discovered that the view from Richmond Hill along the river was considered so beautiful that in 1902 an act of parliament was passed to protect it. Pretty amazing, and a shame that more such acts don't exist.

https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/marble-hill/history-and-stories/the-view-from-richmond-hill/

There is beauty all over the UK and it could be in cities too. It's clearly not natural but a London street with a low sun, frosty mornings on Calton hill, the stone and statues of Edinburgh rimed with ice and your fingertips aching.

Sometimes the unnatural makes the natural beautiful. The view down to loch maree from the pass, the winding road leading your gaze to the water and punctuating the vista perfectly.

Almost all of the UK including Scotland isn’t natural and has been ravaged by humans for millennia but seeing as it’s turning into a photo willy-waving contest ?

(Currently in France and about to drive home and a bit depressed about it)

This is normal, do not be alarmed. It is the risk one takes when visiting France

These kinds of threads are the best of STW - lovely to see different bits of the UK

Agree w Ampthill, I spent a couple of very enjoyable years enjoying the countryside around MK soon after graduation

North of the border - that's a hell of a lot of human ravaging to create those landscapes 😉 I need to get up north of the border looking at those and MOABs pics

Yep - just spent the day canoeing from Glenridding to Howtown on Ullswater, having a picnic and back again with my family. Not high octane ww but probably one of the prettiest paddles I’ve done for a while.

Would not have wanted to be anywhere else today,

North of the border – that’s a hell of a lot of human ravaging to create those landscapes 😉 I need to get up north of the border looking at those and MOABs pics

It was actually the sheep and the lack of people.

After the clearances huge areas were turned into sheep farms. They ate everything.

No bushes or trees, no birds. No birds, loads of midge.