F1 Hoverpod Racing: August 2015

09.08.2015

It was a warms summers day in August 2015 & Peter Hulbert decided to take his camera and share with you his pictures of where he lives.

My first picture below is taken from the world famous Snake Pass which is a great place to drive through in the summer but very testing in the winter & often closed for long periods due to the heavy snow fall.

Below and once again, a similar view as above but showing that the heather is starting to change colour and become the vibrant purple colour that it will be in the next few days.

Between the two prominent ridges, you will see a valley to which a stream of water was running at quite a pace.

Below is a fine example of one of the many valleys and dales that appear in this part of the world.

On this picture, Peter Hulbert has used a pink filter system to heighten the colour of the sky.

On this picture, the emphasis was upon the distance one can see and enjoy with unspoilt views and blue skies.

Looking up through the valley toward the west and the heather to which grows in abundance here is just starting to change colour to it's bright purple which will come through within the next 2 weeks as the start of the grouse shooting season starts on the 12th, known as the glorious 12th.

Here in the distance is a small farm house/cottage which is typical of this area. Peter Hulbert decided to take this picture to show people from overseas who have never visited England and more importantly Yorkshire, just what it's like to live as a sheep farmer in my area.

In the distance, you may notice that the heather is just starting to turn into it's glorious colour of purple for the whole of the autumn season.

Below you can see the start of the heather season coming into it's full bloom. It turns a bright purple and is a vital source of food for the Grouse to which live on the moors in abundance. There is much controversy surrounding the shooting of grouse which the season started on whats known as the glorious 12th of August. As a bird watcher, Peter Hulbert finds it hard to justify the shooting of grouse but to balance the scales, without the income from the shoot's, there would be no money to manage the moors so in this instance, Peter remains neutral.

As you can see by the picture below, the skies have started to change to a mixture of deep blue with cloud and it may signal a change in the weather is coming.

Here is a local beauty spot for hang gliding enthusiasts. They often take off from the top of this high cliff edge to which looks down upon Castleton Village.

This is quite an unusual view, it is quite rare to see the side of this hill empty of walker as it's a well known beauty spot where walkers and tourists alike take great strides to walk to the very top to admire the spectacular views.

Below is the side of one of the peak parks may hills and you can see just how steep the hills are and how remote they are positioned.

Here is a view from the top of Winnets Pass which gives a great impression of just what peace and quiet this location is like.

If Old Mac Donald really had a farm, I suspect it might have looked a little like this back in the day when the song was written.

A very unspoiled view across the valley toward Hope Valley. You can sit here all day and hear nothing else but the sound of birds, sheep and the occasional airplane heading for Manchester. The sound of silence is something to absorb in abundance when the opportunity arises.

Here is the distance is a very typical farm house in this part of the world, it's all been put together with local stone and will probably be at least 300 years old.

Here is a very typical sight of a sheep farm, what may be a little unusual for people outside of the UK to understand is just how a dry stone wall with no mortar or cement manages to stay up without falling down. Most of these walls are probably over 500 years old and some as old as 1000 years old and still standing.

Beyond the horizon is another horizon followed by another. The roaming hills just go on forever.

If I was not on the Yorkshire/Derbyshire boarders, one might be forgiven for assuming I was in Austria or Switzerland.

This is a small valley within the larger vale or valley within the Hope Valley area. The picture above shows a few walkers on the very top of the hill to which provides some kind of guide just how high it really it.

A very traditional section of dry stone walling to which appears to go on and on into the distance. It still question just how long it must have taken to build such walls when there was only bear hands and man power to manage such events.

Here is a good impression of just how quiet it can be here. As far as the eye can see there is no real motor traffic or noise except for the odd Bah from the sheep or Moo from a cow.

Another view across the valley to Hope Valley which shows the unspoiled open countryside and open land of fields and grazing land. You can just about hear your heart beat due to the sound of silence.

You can see by the cloud cover that the weather is beginning to close in and rain may be just a few hours away. It can be quite a bleak place to be when the rain and wind starts.

Below is a picture of Winnets Pass to which cuts through Castleton on it's way toward Manchester, Buxton etc. It's a people magnet for potholers, cliff climbers alike.

Here is a picture showing the narrow road through the pass, it does not show how steep it is but reat assured, it's quite a climb for the car. Peter Hulbert often has this drive to cover on his way to Buxton.

Below is a good view of the valley to which the picture shows the steep gauge but does not depict just how steep a climb it is for any car or transport trying to get through the valley.

If peace and quiet is what you want, it comes in abundance in this part of the world. Here is a view across one of the many reservoirs we have in Yorkshire and whilst you cant see it, Sheffield is in the distance and within 5-6 miles max away from this point.

The weather in the distance is beginning to turn a little blustery and the cloud is thickening and probably preparing to rain. What it does show is just how spectacular the valley of hope looks, even on a changing skyline.

On the picture below, you may notice a lot of cars parked on the open field. It turned out it was a local shoot and the sports people were having a local meet where they chat and practice shooting game etc.

No one here but me and the silence is simply wonderful. To my right is a local hunt and they are just closing down for the day.

Here you can see in the distance a local shoot or hunt. I'm not sure what they are shooting as the 12th is not for 2 days but they are free to shoot pheasant and other game birds.

You can see by the colour of the sky that a pending rain storm is about to break open and deposit it's wealth of water all over the moors.

In the very far distance, you can just make out some signs of houses etc. This is the outskirts of Sheffield which is the 4th largest city in England.

Another view across one of our local reservoirs and shows that the level of water has dropped slightly depicting both the level of water left and declaring that it has indeed been a hot summer here in the UK this year.