Hi @ammonyte.com regarding the awful new metoffice app, I've been happily using the old one but am now getting notices that they will switch this off. Do you have any suggestions. The old app gives me everything I need and concisely too. The new app is just a noisy clunky thing! Thanks M

Three remaining blue tit chicks leaving my nestbox 🙂 I'd assumed they'd gone very early on Friday, before my recording schedule started. However they actually left Thursday evening, at 8.12pm! Never knew they'd leave so late. All three were out within 5 minutes, the last one did go eventually 🙂

Another random photo today, nice to see this sign hasn't been changed 👍

Random one from on Skye today 🙂

I don't like sultanas, but I buy copious amounts for moments like this 👍

Back in the Lakes for Clough Head, the Dodds & Glencoyne. A great choice for a Bank Holiday weekend and my first views from Clough Head. Not too many people especially once down to the impressive Glencoyne. PS last time we were there our boot laces froze 🙂

Up in the Cheviots today for my 2 circuits of Windy Gyle fitness 'experience' 🤔 🙂 I whipped round the 1st circuit then trudged round the 2nd. Windy, cloudy, bit of drizzle, improved later. The Met Office got it about right. 15 miles, 2,457ft ascent First visit since last June. Feet & knees ache!

Back on Hadrian's Wall today, it's been a while. Hexham bus to Brocolitia, then over the high section to Cawfields, then down the impressive Haltwhistle Burn, bus back to Hexham. Apart from one squally shower the weather was rather good. 13 miles, my knees are typically distressed 🙂

Planned a short walk Wednesday to get the hill legs going again. Decided on Talkin Fell & Simmerson Hill from Talkin Village. Then decided to add Tarnmonoth Fell then Cold Fell. Really enjoyed it. Nice new area with great views of the northern Lakeland fells, and the weather was great👍

Watch this space! The webcams are now live. Our male Osprey, White YW, came back on 24 March last year so it could be soon. All the osps will be en route now so keep your eyes peeled and fingers crossed for a safe return. #FoushawOspreys @cumbriawildlife.bsky.social

Tried the new Steam & Salt sauna at Tynemouth today, can recommend, great view of the swelly sea today 👍 steamandsalt.co.uk?fbclid=IwT01...

Looking forward to trying this at Tynemouth soon 👍

Snow at Tynemouth Long Sands Saturday, and the locals dress accordingly 🙂

Powerful sea at Whitley Bay today.

A top place to stay and I'm not surprised

North Shields on Sunday. Fiddler's Green statue, a memorial to fishermen lost at sea. And on the left is Molten, a quirky gallery and cafe ran by an architect and artist. Offering the very best home made ice cream and cones, with a superb view across the mouth of the Tyne.

When two blue tit's decide to roost in your bird box the same night! I'd had an app notification that a bird had arrived, so checked my camera and it's chaos in there. One must've arrived just after the other, and they do not share roosts!

Fascinating building on North Shields Fish Quay. Interesting chatty architect and now lovely gelato, with tasty home made cones too 👍 youtu.be/zghTv5ucT00?...

Out on the bike in Tynemouth, lost loads of calories 🙂

Well worth a read.

Look up!

Super weather for the equally super Tynemouth Festival street acts. Jugglers, comedy, acrobats, dancey stuff, music and weird characters 🙂 Comperes Garaghty & Thom are probably the best I've seen 🙂👍

Eilean Donan Castle yesterdy. Maybe the ghost of Lt-Colonel John MacRae-Gilstrap, (taken at closing time 🙂)

First visit to Dunvegan Castle, Isle of Skye on Thursday, £17 including the gardens. Better than expected and a good choice on a rainy day 👍

Spidean Choire Leith on Liathac yesterday, been on our to do list for far too many years. Quite a day, steep steep ascent and descent. About the limit now for my worn knees, but what a mountain!

Quick half at this iconic refreshment spot. If anyone's got a spare £4.5 million it's up for sale, includes a Fort William pub. Immense scenery and nice beer range. Music is currently quintessential highland, Prince 1999, and a bit too loud 😀

Return to Windy Gyle and managed a twice round. Good ascent training. As usual the first round felt quite decent, I thought my fitness had come back really quickly. Reality hit on the second round plod 😀 #Cheviots #Northumberland

North Berwick Law, great views again even on a hazy day. Plenty gorse, geese and Exmoor ponies out. Bacon, egg & aioli at the amazing Drift cafe after, then a stroll down to the beach before heading home. Another lovely trip here and only 2hrs drive away👍 👍

Sunset over the Forth last night through the van window from North Berwick. Sipping wine and a little Aldi chocolate helps one appreciate these simple things 🙂

Cuteness alert - my male blue tit arriving home after a long day, then turning himself into a fluffy tennis ball within 2 minutes 🐦🙂

Really sad news about Heavy, been reading his blogs for years. Always inspirational and educational, what a life he had. Rest in peace in the mountains you loved Heavy.

Helsinki one year ago today. Fascinating trip and the public bathrooms we visited all played birdsong, which is thoroughly recommended 👍

Ooh 👍

bit.ly/3tgxjGS My garden bird watch results. Tiny garden but it's unlike any previous winter; there's less birds, very few starlings, more pigeons. My regular male sparrow hawk visitor may be mainly responsible.

St Mary's, Whitley Bay on Saturday. Lovely light, lots of lapwing, and 70 seals resting on the protected eastern side 👍

Hiking gear I liked in 2024 www.christownsendoutdoors.com/2024/12/favo...

Christmas Day dip in Cullercoats bay with wonderful people 👍

Really windy at Tynemouth today, with really nice light 👍

Today was the day! Sunset 😎 crept to 15.38! One whole minute later than yesterday, according to my Met Office app. I wonder what exciting things people did with these welcome extra seconds of late light? I spent it typing this post 🙄

Welcome Jen(ny) 🙂 👍

One of these things isn't like the other 🤔 🙂

Had a guest pop round for lunch today. I know he was hungry but my sultana obsessed blackbirds are strictly off the menu. A male sparrowhawk, now a frequent visitor, only when I got really close did he reluctantly fly off.

A very special remote place in the Northumberland hills 👍

@deanread.bsky.social Hi Dean good to see you on here. How's things?

Agree about the northern fells, and often quieter too 👍

@annieeaves.bsky.social welcome, it does seem pleasant here, for now at least 🙂

@northlakesuk.bsky.social eh up 🙂 👍