The Walter Scott monument looking a little incongruous among the colourful Edinburgh Christmas Market

Before the rain came; the 08:20 from Aberdeen to Plymouth skirts the Firth of Forth approaching Burntisland, Fyfe, 10 December 2026

Catch them while you can; 2026 may well be the last year of High Speed Trains in passenger service. This is the 07:10 from Aberdeen to Edinburgh Waverley entering Haymarket on 10 December 2025

Apologies for posting another photo of Blue Peter, but I find it so photogenic! Seen this morning leaving Edinburgh for Carlisle where a change to diesel traction was to take place

The power of a class A2; ‘Blue Peter’ leaving the Forth Bridge and approaching North Queensferry today on a circular itinerary from Edinburgh to Edinburgh

A stirring sight this morning; the 07:29 York to Edinburgh 'Edinburgh Christmas Market’ is seen between Drem and Longniddry in East Lothian behind Battle of Britain pacific no.34067 ‘Tangmere’

43049 ‘Neville Hill’ leads the Locomotive Services Blue Pullman set crossing the river Clyde at Crawford today, working the ‘Edinburgh Christmas Pullman’ from Watford Junction to Edinburgh

At this time of year, the sun sets in line with the Union Canal as seen from Viewforth in the Edinburgh suburbs today. Although there was a beautiful sky before sunset, grey cloud obscured the actual sunset. You soon learn in Edinburgh that the weather can change quickly and to expect anything!

The view from Ben A’an in the Trossachs last Saturday. Although a hill of fairly modest height, the view along Loch Katrine is spectacular!

The lovely view from Edinburgh’s Salisbury Crags near sunset yesterday; lots of Edinburgh landmarks to be seen!

On a day when the sun sets in line with Edinburgh’s Princes Street, as seen from Calton Hill; yesterday came up trumps!

On the beach at Seacliff, East Lothian before sunrise this morning; a great time to be out with nobody else around!

A favourite viewpoint for looking over Edinburgh; the view from Blackford Hill yesterday. The West Lomond hills can be seen across the Firth of Forth

A train on the lovely North Norfolk Railway last Sunday, travelling from Sheringham to Holt and about to cross the A149 road near Weybourne

Been coming to the North Norfolk coast on and off for about 20 years now; definitely one of our favourite places for a short holiday

35 miles on my trusty Brompton this morning, which I’ve now had for over 20 years; seen here at the one time inland port of Shardlow on the Trent and Mersey Canal

Looking back for the ‘right away’; visiting Merchant Navy pacific ‘Peninsular & Oriental S.N. Co.’ waits departure time at Kidderminster yesterday on the second day of the Severn Valley Railway’s Autumn Steam Gala

Beauty in the upper Clyde valley today; ‘Sir Nigel Gresley’ rounds the curve at Crawford working a railtour from Chester to Edinburgh

The so-called ‘bridge to nowhere’ at Belhaven Bay, Dunbar this morning; the approach paths are covered as the tide comes in. Bass Rock is in the background

Cycled through Tissington this morning; certainly one of the Peak District’s prettiest villages!

I’m a sucker for a steam locomotive; specially one as beautiful as ‘Blue Peter’, seen here pounding through Settle yesterday on ‘The Lakes Express 2025’ railtour yesterday

You wouldn’t want to mess with this bad boy; one of the lions seen at the Yorkshire Wildlife Park, near Doncaster yesterday; well worth a visit!

A timeless scene at Loughborough Central during the first day of the Great Central Railway’s Autumn Diesel Gala yesterday

Travelling on the Isle of Man steam railway from Douglas to Port Erin is like being transported back to the 19th century. This is ‘Maitland’ entering Castletown, the former capital of the island with a Port Erin train

Nice to see the horse trams still operating in Douglas Isle of Man, even if their trackage has been reduced by about half in recent years

Up at the summit of Snaefell yesterday, having taken the electric mountain railway from Laxey. Snaefell is the highest point on the Isle of Man with great views in every direction!

The sun sets behind the hills behind Llyn Dinas in Snowdonia two nights ago. Taken a few metres from where I was camped for the night.

Last night’s wild camp; a cracking view over Snowdonia despite the cloud, which continued to build during the evening blotting out all the views!

Glorious cycle ride around the limestone Peak District; mile after mile of cycling above 1000 feet elevation; ice cream reward in Matlock to finish!

Contrasting trains at Horton-in-Ribblesdale on the Settle to Carlisle line in the Yorkshire Dales yesterday

Enjoyed a walk on Moughton Scars in the Yorkshire Dales; the limestone scenery takes some beating! Ingleborough in the background

Seen while walking to the Greatest Gathering yesterday, Earl of Mount Edgcumbe leaves Derby on Vintage Trains’ ‘Shakespeare Express’ railtour to Stratford-on-Avon

Enjoyed today at the Greatest Gathering, Alstom’s Derby Carriage Works celebrating 200 years since the birth of railways; so much to see and great atmosphere!

That’s me working on the Ecclesbourne Valley heritage railway yesterday, running from Duffield to Wirksworth in Derbyshire

Another from our trip on the paddle steamer ‘Waverley’ last week, from Glasgow to Rothesay. This is the triple expansion steam engine that drives the ship, on full public view

Fantastic day yesterday going ‘doon the watter’ from Glasgow to Rothesay on the Isle of Bute on the paddle steamer Waverley’, the world’s last ocean going paddle steamer

Walked along part of the Fife Coast path today to Kinghorn, seen here with a High Speed Train approaching across the viaduct

Popular since Victorian times, the river Devon at Rumbling Bridge in Perthshire where it is forced through a narrow, deep canyon

A sight for sore eyes today; Earl of Mount Edgcumbe approaches Duffield, Derbyshire today on Vintage Trains’s ‘The White Rose’ from Birmingham to Scarborough

Layers of landscape; the view from a wild camp last week as the sun sets over Dent Dale in the Yorkshire Dales

The unmistakable profile of Ingleborough as seen from the north; not a cloud in the sky and getting uncomfortably warm

Wild camping on Great Knoutberry Hill in the Yorkshire Dales; smashing evening for it!

Off for a couple of days backpacking. With a bit of time to kill in Leeds, I visited the amazing corn exchange

A cycle ride up to Carsington Water, Derbyshire for coffee and a cake is always a nice way to spend a few hours, the reservoir looking quite low now

Celebrated a milestone birthday yesterday courtesy of Saphos Trains luxury train from Crewe to Carlisle hauled by steam loco ‘Blue Peter’ looking stunning. Train arrived at Crewe from Hereford behind EE Type 4 ‘Andania’ also looking stunning!

Lovely day’s walk on Kinder Scout, if a tad blowy! Trig point is at Kinder Low, 633m, not quite Kinder’s highest point, but considered by many to be its summit

Out on the bike before it gets too hot; now at East Leake enjoying coffee and cake! Photo shows the Trent and Mersey Canal at Shardlow

One of the new Evero trains passing through Atherstone, Warwickshire last Friday. I rather like the contrast between modern train and old station building, which is grade 2 listed

I could only be envious of the people on this luxury train going to Scarborough yesterday; it is seen leaving Milford Tunnel north of Derby

Bucolic scene on the Trent and Mersey canal at Stenson Lock, near Derby today; looks a very relaxing way to travel!