(The 18th Century packhorse bridge).
I finally got out and used my new lens, it's been a long time coming but due to work and/or weather it's been hard to try and get out, even though I've been itching to put the lens through it's paces.
The reason I got my new lens was that I realise the adapated Canon lenses wasn't working for some kinds of photography, so I could afford the new Sony Lens, I had to exchange all my lenses apart from one, however, after seeing just how sharp this 24-105mm F4.0 lens is, it was a good decision.
(the road heading deep into the peak district).
I initially wanted to go to the coast, but after checking out google maps, there had been accidents and diversions on the routes I was going to take, so I decided to head out to the peak district instead, which is less than an hours drive away, again I did change where I wanted to go as my initial idea was to go to three shires head, but they say you need to get there early to get parked up, and it was about 10.30am before I even set off.
As I got the the carpark where I usually park if I visit Stannage Edge, I noticed that it was fairly empty, although a few cars were parked in the laybys, I soon realised that the council had put in parking metres, anyhow, I didn't have any cash on me, there was an option for paying via an app, but I had no mobile phone signal, and the option to pay by card didn't even work, from where I was standing though, I could see a couple of spaces in the layby, so I parked there instead.
The weather was lovely when I got there, the clouds where sweeping over the landscape casting shadows over the gorgeous lush green scenery. As I got onto the path, there is a brook that runs down the valley and comes under the road, so I had a little explore around there before I headed off to the packhorse bridge.
The walk was lovely, I headed down the path, it looked like miles to where I wanted to be, but the information at the start of the path said it was only a mile from where I was, unless it was talking about another bridge as the end of the walk, my phone said I'd walked 6 miles, I blame those aliens lol.
(Carl Wark to the left and Higgar Tor to the right).
It was great to actually get the drone up too, as anyone who lives in the UK will know that the weather hasn't been the best, we seem to be getting storm after storm at the moment, I can't even remember the last time I saw a star in the sky, it seems like constant cloud, rain and wind apart from the odd day.
For a monday, there were more people there than I expected, although not too busy, it wasn't long before you bumped into another hiker. Eventually, the sun broke through the clouds, the nicer light had gone and it was very humid and warm, not my favourite weather, but still great to be out.
Finally I made it down to the packhorse bridge, this was a reccy mission as I have an idea for a shoot, however, I think it's too far in the valley for what I had in mind and there's too much grass, or is there, will have to plan this shoot a bit more, but if I wanted to do a milkyway shot, you can't really see the bridge from the other side due to grass and fallen trees, so this is the best view I can get of it, but this is looking North and for the milkyway, we need to be looking south, basically from the other side.
I spent a good half hour down by the bridge, listening to the calfs moo, watching the wildlife and listening to the water gently flowing and meandering through the valley, it was lovely there.
I was in two minds to walk up to Carl Wark, one of my favourite places in the peaks, but I didn't have my boots on and only my trainers and it gets really muddy on the way up there. So decided not to, especially with all the rain we've had.
I really hope you've enjoyed this blog and the shots I got on my walk, not my best work, but I am off to Angelesey in Wales in just over a week and there's loads of places I want to get shots off which will put the lens to it's limits. Can't wait lol.
Thanks for reading :-)
