Architecture

A magnificent northern garden

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A warm summer’s day is the perfect time to visit the RHS Bridgewater Garden in Salford, just a 30-minute bus ride from central Manchester. CONTINUES BELOW

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The garden, which opened last year, is on the site of stately pile Worsley New Hall.

Some of the old architecture remains, while there’s a sleek new building which houses visitor amenities.

Bridgewater’s focal point is a large walled garden which was bursting with plants and colourful blooms on my visit. It looks like it’s been established for decades, not just a couple of years.

Woodland and meadow trails are also part of the site, full of grasses and wild foxgloves as I wandered around the site.

RHS Bridgewater is already a huge success, with many visitors which I hadn’t expected. It was a challenge to take photographs giving the impression I had the place to myself!

Have you been to Bridgewater or another RHS garden? Share your thoughts below.

A pair of seats in the walled garden at RHS Bridgewater

There are plenty of spots to rest and enjoy the gardens

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Manchester at dawn

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Summer mornings start very early, so I got up, grabbed my camera and had a wander around Manchester city centre. But this wasn’t a normal Saturday… CONTINUES BELOW

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This was a extra long weekend to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Both Thursday and Friday were designated public holidays, very unusual in the UK.

As I wandered around the centre of Manchester from 5am in the early summer light, I got the distinct impression that this was the morning after the night before.

The streets and squares were practically deserted as most Mancunians decided to sleep in after their celebrations.

It meant I had the place to myself and could go about photographing some familiar landmarks that can be difficult in a bustling city centre.

What gets you up early to go out and take photos? Let us know below!

An empty Deansgate in Manchester on an early summer morning

You can’t usually stand in the middle of Manchester’s busy Deansgate

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Clitheroe: A castle and sausages

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Clitheroe is an ancient Lancashire town with a castle, great views – and famous sausages. I visited recently armed with my camera. CONTINUES BELOW

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It took me around an hour by train to reach Clitheroe from Manchester, which sits at the heart of Lancashire’s picturesque Ribble Valley.

The town is dominated by its compact castle keep, and climbing up there will reward you with good views of the surrounding countryside, and also well-kept grounds to amble around.

Clitheroe is a decent size to explore on foot and I even took the time to find a ginnel – a Lancashire alleyway at the back of houses – and a typical line of terraces.

You have to pay a visit to Cowmans, a well-known sausage seller with a bewildering array of varieties. That was tea sorted for a few nights!

View of church and factory smoke in Clitheroe, Lancashire

Clitheroe’s cement factory emits a plume of smoke over the town

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Salford skies

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Salford. A city in its own right? A Manchester borough? Manchester’s twin?

It’s a debate that’s never gone away, but Salford is a large area with waterways, sparkling new buildings, gritty urban pockets and even its own village. 

Salford is literally on my Manchester doorstep and an immediate place for me to explore with my camera. This gallery is based on three walks with architecture and light at its heart. 

What do you think of these Salford views? Please leave a comment below.

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Beyond Blackpool

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The glitzy, brash UK seaside resort of Blackpool is a huge tourist attraction. But keep going and there’s more Lancashire seaside to visit. CONTINUES BELOW

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I arrived by train from Manchester at Blackpool North station, and jumped on the sleek, modern tram service at North Pier heading north out of the town.

My stop was Little Bispham and the start of my Wyre Coast-hugging walk. First stop was Cleveleys and its elaborate concrete promenade and sea defences, which have Brutalist and Communist era vibes.

The sea front is also peppered with art works, the most prominent being Mary’s Shell which was being lapped by the high tide.

It’s easy to stay at Cleveleys but I pressed on along the wide seaside path, an invigorating trudge around this nub of land. At the top is Rossall Point, hard to miss with its striking observation tower made for bird watchers.

Stark and minimalist

The path leads you to Fleetwood, a small seaside town with two lighthouses (one little, one large), the elegantly domed Marine Hall and a smattering of beach huts and a few dunes.

Fleetwood marks the northern end of the Blackpool tramway, so a convenient way to return – unless you’re feeling energetic and fancy walking back. 

This stretch of coast was a welcome getaway from city life and a contrast the bright lights of Blackpool. Photographically it was quite stark and minimalist with eye-catching architecture.

So head to the Wyre Coast if you get the chance, you’ll enjoy the ride.

The small beachside lighthouse at Fleetwood

The ‘baby brother’ lighthouse at Fleetwood