25 November 2021

Flash

Above, a crippled tree bent double by the prevailing wind. It was in the Staffordshire Moorlands south west of the spa town  of  Buxton and I was there yesterday.

It took me  exactly one hour to reach the village of Flash which is where I parked my South Korean jalopy - Clint. Flash is a small village but pretty noteworthy because it is the highest village in The British Isles. It also has the highest parish church and the highest village pub - "The New Inn"'. Perhaps the altitude got to the signwriter - no apostrophe in "Britains" and an unnecessary capital "V" in  "village". Tut-tut!

Below you can see Three Shires Head which is where the counties of Cheshire, Staffordshire and Derbyshire meet.  According to legend this is where crooks would meet in past times to complete business deals or traffic goods - in days when each county had its own discrete law enforcement arrangements. One county could easily be played off against the other.

In the middle of the afternoon, as I returned to Flash via Wolf Edge, I  captured the following two images that seem to  convey something of  the character of that wild and lonely  upland region.

The north wind blew and there was a  distinct chill in the air. We have enjoyed a mild November so far  but up  there around Flash and the outlying farms, it was clear that Winter is on her way - like the scary Snow Queen on her sleigh.

30 comments:

  1. That last photo looks like the essence of late November.

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    1. Because of this comment I called the photograph "November View" when I posted it to the Geograph photo library.

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  2. Anonymous2:14 am

    I gather as you haven't mentioned it, you did not take a spa bath.
    We have similar sign writing problems here. I am not saying sign writers should be perfect, but they should know enough to wonder is that right, and so check.
    The last two photos are very atmospheric, and the old bridge and waterfall nice too.

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    1. Even the occupying Romans had spa baths in Buxton. It was like a holiday resort for them. Thanks for dropping by again Andrew. It is puzzling to see obvious errors in professionally made signs.

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  3. Your photos are just getting better and better. That last one is positively eerie.

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    1. You are so kind. I like the pale November light in that last picture.

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  4. When I see your hikes I always say , "What a beautiful land," No wonder you take so many walks.

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    1. Exercise, map reading, history and photography - what a great combination.

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  5. For me, the last photo achieves particularly well what you intended with it, to convey the character of that region. If I had not already had my 2022 photo calendars printed, I would definitely want to use this picture for November.
    I see there are still crooks meeting at the Three Shires Head. I wonder what shady business they were plotting.
    Winter is already here in my area; we've had a row of frosty nights already, and the first snowfall of the season is forecast for Sunday.

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    1. Those two fellows were plotting some photography I think - unless they were lovers.

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  6. Great photos, it is good to see the lonelier aspects of this country beautifully portrayed. The last photo has a religious cross element to it.

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    1. I have sometimes noticed that about lonely signposts.

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  7. What about the Tan Hill Inn?
    Is Clint's number BL06GER?

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    1. You are right about "The Tan Hill Inn". The pub in Flash is the highest village pub. Mistake now amended. Clint's number is CLINT which onlookers sometimes misread.

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  8. Your photos are always excellent. The last one is my favorite today--so very evocative. Always love a wide open spaces bathed in a glorious light.

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    1. It was a great day for walking. Glad you liked that image Mary.

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  9. I agree that the signpost photo is so quintessentially wintry. Brrr...

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  10. Why don't you write a walking book featuring your saunters and your super photos?

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    1. Because it would be very hard to get it published and it would involve many hours of work.

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  11. I often wonder why signwriters / sign makers make mistakes - especially random capitals which are very common - you'd think that as it is their job they'd see the errors.
    I have been to Flash many years ago - I do like the Derbyshire and Staffordshire moors. Many happy days spent climbing at the Roaches and Windgather.

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    1. I had not heard of Windgather before. Now I see that it's just north west of Fernilee Reservoir. I will go for a walk there before too long. I like the name "Windgather". Very evocative.

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  12. That last photo is very atmospheric and beautiful. Gave me all the feels!

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    1. Thanks Margaret. It's funny that a few respondents have given that photo the thumbs up.

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  13. How funny it is that I came here to say that I really love that old signpost set against the backdrop of a land even more ancient than it. It goes on forever, doesn't it?

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    1. Yes, it certainly seems so in that image Debby Thanks.

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  14. Those last three photos are so atmospheric YP, and really capture the bleakness of the land in the late November weather. Something melancholy about them.

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    1. It had a melancholy feel about it Carol - possibly connected with the time of year.

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  15. Very wintry looking indeed! "Flash" is an unusual name for a Village. (See what I did there? :) )

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    1. Yes I do see what you did there! Were you trying to wind me up?

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Mr Pudding welcomes all genuine comments - even those with which he disagrees. However, puerile or abusive comments from anonymous contributors will continue to be given the short shrift they deserve. Any spam comments that get through Google/Blogger defences will also be quickly deleted.

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