More peat pees

A few weeks ago, in the height(ish) of winter, I was out doing fieldwork again, but this time in Northern Ireland.  It was beautiful, but bloomin freezing.  We had snow and rain and hail and wind and sleet and sunshine....and a rainbow.  Here are a few of the views from the public facilities.

Sun....

Snow....

And a sunset view (my colleague had been warned!).

Up in the peat around the Dungonnell Reservoir, County Antrim, Northern Ireland.  A beautiful place with the friendliest of people.

Burncrooks' bog

Here are several scenic toilet stops I used this last week in a big area of boggy peat, about 30 mins from Glasgow.  I was out there doing some field work....or trying to, before Siberia sneezed on the area.  We turned back when the blizzards were hurting our faces and we couldn't see what we were meant to be surveying or where the ditches and ponds were, or each other.  It meant my toilet stop the next day (below) was then 5 inches under snow, but very beautiful.  I wouldn't recommend planning field work in Scotland in winter. 

Two beautiful sites, on two separate days (pre- and post-snow storm) near to Burncrooks Reservoir, in a big peaty water catchment, Stirlingshire, Scotland.

Early-morning Scottish stroll

A quick pre-ascent stop, looking down at yet another reservoir.  Part of a beautiful walk I took with a good, and wise Scottish lass I've known for years.  Feeling smug at 9am on a fine Tuesday morning; a welcome change from the usual computer-bound start to the day.

On the Pentland Hills behind Blinkbonny, Lothian, Scotland (still part of the United Kingdom!).

Post-wedding pee

A trip atop a stunning hillock proceeded wedding yester, 

Un-ending fun ensued in the sun, & a pee as a grateful gesture.

Thank you, beautiful newly-weds.

Somewhere hilly near to Colwall & Malvern, Worcestershire, England.

Beach-side views #2

I didn't think anywhere could beat Pembrokeshire (see previous post), and I don't believe this does, but it comes pretty bloomin' close.  I have the pink-stomached person in this photo to thank for introducing me to all things wonderfully Danish....including this never-ending, deserted beach, and the hygge that came with it.

Sand dunes on the never-ending beach, near to Aalborg, Denmark.

Beach-side views #1

A year on and back in sunny Wales!  (Difficult to convey the wind in a photograph though.)  Not many places beat the Pembrokeshire coastline.

A break from balancing stones, on Newgale beach, Pembrokeshire, Wales.

Approaching Ramsey Island, in the same magical county as above.

(a raised bog)

I had to add this in!  An example of an actual bog, made of peat.  A beauty.

A raised peat bog inside the Craig y Cilau Nature Reserve, about 3 miles from Crickhowell, Powys, mid Wales.