Lancashire

7 moments of 2022

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2022 will soon be consigned to history. It was a year when Covid restrictions palpably melted away, although overseas travel remained elusive for me. 

But I visited many places closer to home in Manchester, and the photographs flowed. I’ve picked seven moments that made new memories – and revived old ones. A Happy New Year to you all!

What were your standout moments of 2022? Feel free to comment below.

NORFOLK NOSTALGIA

In August I visited Norfolk in East Anglia, with an emotional stop in the market town of Wymondham, my home for much of the 1990s. The seaside town of Cromer – also with personal connections – was sun-kissed and photogenic.

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Cromer pier in Norfolk at dusk

SNAP HAPPY IN MANCHESTER

In 2022 I finally dealt with my distaste for smartphone photography, exploring Manchester gathering images for Instagram Stories. This included the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in June and her sad passing three months later.

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Floral tributes for Queen Elizabeth II in St Ann's Square, Manchester

BEYOND THE GOLDEN MILE

In March, I went to the famous Lancashire seaside resort of Blackpool – and kept going. The nearby towns of Cleveleys and Fleetwood served up sea paths, giant seashells and even a touch of Brutalism.

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Concrete seating on the beach at Cleveleys in Lancashire

SALFORD’S STUNNING GARDEN

The temperatures soared in summer, so what better time to visit RHS Bridgewater in Salford, a sumptuous public garden encompassing both the old and new. A great place to have just half-an-hour from Manchester city centre.

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A bed of pink alium flowers at RHS Bridgewater in Salford

NORTH-WEST TO NORTH-EAST

My break on the Yorkshire coast was a highlight of the year. Using only public transport, I visited four seaside gems and was largely blessed with glorious weather. Having visitor magnet Whitby to myself at daybreak was very special.

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A colourful row of huts at Whitby beach in North Yorkshire

TWO SEASONS IN ONE PLACE

I discovered Entwistle Reservoir near Bolton on a fog-bound winter’s day, a place of water, forests and a magnificent railway viaduct. I went back at the height of our hot summer and found it very different – see for yourself.

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Railway viaduct at Entwistle Reservoir on a foggy winter's day

A BRUSH WITH THE BRONTËS

This was my first trip to the West Yorkshire village of Howarth, made famous by the Brontë sisters and their literary classics including Wuthering Heights. An incredibly atmospheric graveyard and beautiful location made this a day out to remember.

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A gravestone in the cemetery at Howarth in West Yorkshire

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Two seasons on the reservoir

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Entwistle Reservoir in Lancashire is just a 30 minute train journey from Manchester. It’s a beauty spot that changes greatly with the seasons. Enjoy the photographs and read more below

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My first visit to Entwistle was on a chilly February morning. The area was cloaked in a ghostly blanket of fog while the reservoir’s levels were very healthy.

Fast forward to July and a summer heatwave with piercing blue skies. The waterways were noticably depleted and green blooms of algae were taking hold. It looked a very different place to the winter.

A walk to the magnificent Entwistle Viaduct on both visits was a real contrast. In winter it reflected perfectly in plump waters. By summer the scene was drought-ridden and tainted by algae.

No matter what the season is, Entwistle and the adjacent Wayoh reservoir is a popular place for walkers and their dogs, with the calm waterways and surrounding tranquil forests.

Back in the heat of July, I had to stop for a refreshing drink and hearty pub lunch at the Strawbury Duck before heading back to Manchester.

Entwistle Reservoir is a place I’d go back to for a good walk with my camera and to observe the changing seasons.

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Morecambe: Blue and white

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When summer comes to the UK, you have to visit the coast. On a sunny day recently, I took a train from Manchester to Morecambe, a Lancashire seaside resort.

Have a look at the photographs, then read more below and let me know your impressions of Morecambe.

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The town sits on the edge of Morecambe Bay, a sweeping arm of the Irish Sea that stretches to neighbouring Cumbria.

This coastal setting is a pleasure to wander around – even when the sunshine is accompanied by a brisk, chilly breeze! I also explored the town’s West End area, where some of the buildings could use a little tender loving care.

But my favourite piece of architecture by far is the Midland Hotel, an Art Deco gem opened in 1933 and reopened in 2008. Curvy, elegant and whitewashed, it’s hard to ignore.

The standout Midland, along with fluffy clouds peppering a blue sky, seemed to be inescapably attractive that day.

Do you ever come home with a set of photographs where there is a distinct colour scheme?

The gleaming white Art Deco Midland Hotel in Morecambe against a blue sky

The Midland Hotel gleaming against a blue sky

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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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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