Andy Mitchell

 We are so fortunate to live in the Northeast of England with access to the country and seaside. This afternoon we had a wonderful walk around Derwent Reservoir. We've had a fairly dry summer which has affected our reservoirs.  Looking at the photographs it is possible to see where the levels should be when full of water.

Durham City Landscape From Observation Hill Had a lovely walk to Observation Hill in Durham. Sadly we didn't bring a picnic with us, but there was a family there who did. They were able to enjoy the back drop of the Durham landscape while eating. Fortunately I did bring a drone to take a few pictures and video. Observation Hill, Durham Video of Durham Lanscape taken at Observation Hill in Durham.

 Short video of St Nics in Durham Market Place. Hopefully you'll get a sense of height. Built to minister to the people in and around the market circa 1858.

 Tonya and me had a lovely day at Alnmouth, the sun was shining and we did plenty of walking. Alnmouth We walked past The Old Battery at Alnmouth. The gun battery was built in 1881. The Old Battery, Alnmouth The Old Battery, Alnmouth

I enjoyed the opportunity to take an aerial photograph of St Nic's in Durham.  The original Durham market was found in Palace Green. A rather smelly and dirty place, surrounded by people who lived and worked there. Not wanting to see his guest's or his views of Durham Castle and Cathedral spoilt Bishop Flambard saw fit to move anything that got in the way. He relocated the market place to where Durham Market Place can be found today and moved the people nearby. St Nicholas (St Nic's), the church in the market place was built.  According to Gavin Wakefield in his book St Nicholas' Church, Durham (2025) ,"We don't know exactly when St Nicolas' Church was built but it is most likely that it was by 1128". Known as the people's church, the folks of St Nic's served in and around the market place and continue to do so today. St Nic's Church, Market Place Durham This is a very simplified story of St Nic's Church, to find out more read St Nichol...

Driving along the A68 heading towards Darlington near the Slaley Hall turnoff, you can see a very strange looking church quite literally in a field. Tonya, my wife first saw it with the back drop of the sun setting. It looked beautiful. This afternoon we drove past the church and decided to pull over and have a walk. After a small bridge, one field, through a couple of gates along the footpath we arrived. Next to the church was some kind of structure. After Googling we found out the the church was St Andrew's Church and the structure was The Hopper Mausoleum. Both found on Greymare Hill. More information can be found here . St Andrew's Church, Shotley St Andrew's Church with The Hopper Mausoleum in the background. Have a look at  Northumberland: Outstanding Circular Walks

 I've driven along the B6275 (road to Piercebridge) and never really noticed this structure before. I'll be honest it looks old, but some might say not much to look at. The Leg's Cross is made from sandstone where the climate has literally had it's way and therefore looks less like a cross and more like a lump of 3 stones. aerial photograph of Leg's Cross It's a Saxon cross made around 9th Century and thought to be made from Roman masonry found at the local Roman fort. There are a lot of of myths surrounding Leg's or Legg's Cross and how the name came about. This includes Saxon stories through to a King of England. It's thought that this could be some kind of boundary marker, grave stone or a marking of a cross road. One thing for sure is that it is in good nick for its age! aerial photograph of Leg's Cross County Durham, the Noth Pennines, and the Eden Valley: 40 Favourite Walks

There are some wonderful walks around Dene Valley especially with a dog through the various wooded areas. Mrs Mitchell has a habit of finding different walks. She said that the walk goes past the former Eldon Brickwork. Rude not to take my drone along so I did. This is at a different angle to the previous images. Just saying so you don't think I'm recycling. Secretly I think my wife is looking for a discarded brick with Eldon Brickworks sketched on it. The "search continues" as said on The Apprentice! County Durham A Rare Insight - Old Photos of the Villages, Towns, Cities and Landscapes of Durham

 Had a great night watching the opening of #SDR200 celebrating 200 years of railways in the Northeast region in Bishop Auckland. A  part of a larger UK celebration called Railway 200.  To find out more about the celebrations visit https://railway200.co.uk/  or https://www.sdr200.co.uk/ .Here are some done light effects from the event. PRE-ORDER LOCOMOTION No.1: The True Story of the World’s First Public Service Steam Locomotive

 A short trip to see to a train in Darlington, a brick one! A sculpture built in 1997 by David Mach celebrating Darlington's railway heritage. This year we will be celebrating 200 years of the railway hertage in the region. Brick Train, near Morton Park, Darlington To find out more about S&D200 celebrations visit  https://www.sdr200.co.uk/ . PRE-ORDER LOCOMOTION No.1: The True Story of the World’s First Public Service Steam Locomotive

 One of the advantages of owning a drone is that you can check the state of the roof especially after experiencing some of the high winds we have had lately. Drones are great at getting to places where the head for heights is non exsistent. A simple photograph or video can be made that will enable you to assess a particular area for damage or decide what repairs or improvements might be required without the need for scaffold or a ladder. If you would like to talk further about how a drone could give you a video of photograph of an area you have in mind then get in contact.

Aerial photographsshowing the remains of the Eldon Brickworks near Shildon. Distant view of the Eldon Brickworks Eldon Brickworks Eldon Brickworks . County Durham A Rare Insight - Old Photos of the Villages, Towns, Cities and Landscapes of Durham

A refreshing walk along the River Tees in Barnard Castle this morning. Even managed to fly my drone. Barnard Castle Silver Bridge River Tees with Barnard Castle Bridge in the background Barnard Castle Bridge

 We had a lovely walk this morning in Auckland Park reminiscing about various childhood memories. It sounds glaringly obvious to say there is a lot of history in that there Park, but there is 800 years of it. I wonder where it will be in another 800 years? If you haven't been I would highly recommend it for the whole family including woofit. All it needs now is a coffee van to get a cuppa for the walk. 😉  Auckland Park Deer House Deer House Deer House Deer House Deer House

 We had a lovely time today having a walk along Ullswater and Poole Bridge. Managed to take some photos with my drone. Ullswater, Pooley Bridge Jetty Pooley Bridge Jetty wide view A few Yachts in Ullswater View down Ullswater from Pooley Bridge

Had a lovely walk and flying of my drone in Middleton-in-Teesdale today. After visiting our favourite cafe we had a short walk down to the River Tees over the Middleton Bridge which crosses over the river. Here are a few images. Middleton Bridge River Tees at Middleton-in-Teesdale Middleton-in-Teesdale (from River Tees)

 A bit cloudy, but wandered down to Bishop Auckland early doors to take a few images with the drone. Bishop Auckland Town Hall and Postchaise Town Hall, St Anne's and Market Place, Bishop Auckland St Anne's, Market Place and Auckland Tower (distance), Bishop Auckland Roof tops of Fore Bondgate, Bishop Auckland Newgate Street, Bishop Auckland