www.tomsteel.co.uk » countryside

Winkworth Arboretum

Tom — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 14:27:00 +0000

Just outside Gadolming, Surrey is Winkworth Arboretum. Donated to the National Trust in 1952 by Dr Fox it has more of the character of a woodland garden than a tree collection.

Brighton Marathon 2010

Tom — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 16:11:07 +0000

Brighton held it’s inaugural maration in 2010, 26.2 miles along the sea front in the unusually hot April sun. 8,000 runners took part, including a Storm Trooper, Scooby Doo, Mr Potato Head and Rambo. Nice.

North Yorkshire in the snow

Tom — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 14:46:07 +0000

New year in Yorkshire, through the snowy hills to Leeming Bar

Alfriston and Cuckmere

Tom — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 11:57:21 +0000

Along the Sussex coast is the small village of Alfriston, home to the Alfriston Gallery. Further south is the Cuckmere valley, a beautiful meandering river slightly west of Eastbourne.

Autumn Yorkshire

Tom — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 13:51:51 +0000

Away from the city smoke and up into the Yorkshire Dales. Home to some very fine pubs, stunny landscapes and fine friends.

Summer arrives in Checkendon

Tom — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 21:43:22 +0000

Escaping London for another weekend catching up with friends. This time Reading was the destination and on the Sunday we decided to make the most of the unusually fine weather and find ourselves a good pub with nearby walking potential. The Four Horse Shoes was picked in Checkendon, a charming little village where very little has changed for very many years.

It’s all white up north

Tom — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 14:54:22 +0000

Thanks to a special offer from National Express trains I was able to visit some friends in North Yorkshire for £10. There was still a decent amount of snow on the fields and it made for some stunning views. We visited Richmond which is a very picturesque town set on a hill with a ruined castle and river running past, and Masham, home of the Black Sheep and Theakston breweries.

It’s a fine part of the country and well worth a visit.

Blown away by Seven Sisters

Tom — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 21:49:45 +0000

The Seven Sisters cliffs, photos taken from Birling Gap on a very cold and windy January day.

The gales almost made it difficult to stand at some points, but thankfully the wind was blowing from the sea so there wasn’t a risk of adding to the already infamous reputation of Beachy Head.

I imagine on a sunny day the cliffs can be quite dazzling, but today the angry weather made them stunning enough for me.

View the set on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tomsteel/sets/72157612753676398/

Bodiam Castle

Tom — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 17:52:34 +0000

Bodiam Castle was first built in 1385 and is a fine example of a moated castle. Now owned by the National trust it is open all year round and viewing the grounds and the exterior is free.

View the full set on Flickr:
www.flickr.com/photos/tomsteel/sets/72157612701385341/

A walk to Elgar's house

Tom — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 17:15:46 +0000

Edward Elgar lived in a cottage called ‘Brinkwells’ near Fittleworth in West Sussex between 1917 and 1921. My fiancée’s family is from this area and over the Christmas break we took their two dogs for a long walk to counteract all the chocolate and turkey we’d been eating. It was a stunningly clear cold day where you could see for miles.