14th Century ceiling boss on display in the museum in Carlisle Cathedral yesterday.

Carlisle Cathedral started life in 1092. It’s one of the smallest cathedrals in the UK. This is mainly because a lot of it has been destroyed in conflicts. After the Reformation, Oliver Cromwell destroyed much of the west end. In 1645 the Scots destroyed much of the original nave.

Old barn in bright sunshine in West Cumbria a couple of weeks ago. Crow watching me from the roof ridge. #WallsOnWednesday #WindowsOnWednesday

Two oaks with lots of pollarded hazel along Buckholme Lonning on the edge of Isel Old Park Wood, Cumbria. Lonning is a Cumbrian dialect word for a country lane. #ThickTrunkTuesday

A late afternoon cycle ride to Bassenthwaite Lake on a beautiful day in north Cumbria. #BlueSkyMonday

Walked up to a low fell called Watches this morning. Thought we heard a Ring Ouzel but couldn't see it. Did see some wheatears.

A recent sunset from Ravenstone in the Lake District. #BlueSkyMonday

The Monymusk Reliquary During the Medieval period, containers called reliquaries protected and transported sacred relics. They were used for swearing oaths, establishing churches and bringing saintly protection into battle. In the National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh. #MedievalMonday

A light dusting of snow on Blencathra in the Lake District this morning after a cold and rainy night. Must have been a tough night for new lambs.

The Night Stair, Hexham Abbey. Before dawn each day, the Priory bell would summon the monks to matins, their first service of the day. They would descend from their dormitory, which no longer survives. #StaircaseSaturday

Cherry blossom in Keswick, Cumbria with Skiddaw in the background.

Yellow flag iris emerging from the saturated soil in the boggy wood.

The tangled trees of a marshy wood near Bassenthwaite in Cumbria. Because it is so wet, it is no longer of interest to farmers and there are no footpaths. So it is a haven for nature and natural processes.

Penrith Castle, Cumbria was begun at the end of the 14th century by Ralph Neville. It was later transformed into a luxurious residence by Richard, Duke of Gloucester, who became Richard III. #WallsOnWednesday

An unusual cloud on the north western side of the Skiddaw Group of fells in the Lake District this afternoon. The strong south easterly wind must have formed a standing wave causing the cloud to form.

Blue sky Ravenstone, Cumbria this morning. First day for three summer visitors, swallow, willow warbler and blackcap. 16 degC but gusty wind.

Late C15 table tombs at Isel Church , West Cumbria. One is probably for Sir William Leigh of nearby Isel Hall who died in 1484. #TombTuesday

Cloud watching today. Bassenthwaite, Cumbria. #BlueSkyMonday #CloudWatching

A clearing sky at sunset last night (Friday), Bassenthwaite, Cumbria. Occasionally, after a cloudy day, the clouds break letting some sunlight through.

Memorial to a Roman Standard Bearer of the 1st Century. Found in the foundations of Hexham Cathedral in 1881. It is thought to have come from the Roman fort of Coria at Corbridge. The scene represents a mounted soldier riding over the enemy. #RomanSiteSaturday

Anglo-Saxon Chalice, Hexham Abbey. The chalice was found in 1860 in a coffin whilst a trench was being dug. It was probably used with a portable altar by monks travelling to administer the sacrements. #FindsFriday

The fells around Lorton viewed from near Cockermouth in Cumbria yesterday.

The 12th century church of St Michael, Isel, West Cumbria in the sunshine yesterday. It’s not like that today!

First orange tip butterfly this year. Think we also heard a garden warbler. Both near Cockermouth School, Cumbria.

Castle How hillfort by Bassenthwaite Lake in Cumbria. Ditch defences at two ends. Collingwood found Roman tiles in the 1920s. Now has a nice selection of oak trees. Handily positioned near the Pheasant Inn, Dubwath. #HillfortsWednesday

Two fells disappearing behind a hail shower in the Lake District a few days ago.

New leaves opening on the conker tree. It’s always the first to get its leaves, leaving the ashes and the oaks behind. #ThicktrunkTuesday

Just been watching a peregrine falcon chasing a buzzard from its nesting territory. The speed of the peregrine was incredible. I guess the drag coefficient of a peregrine with its wings tucked in is very low. Cumbria.

8th century altar stone from Flotta, Orkney, Scotland. This stone was found in the ruins of a small, old church. Now in the National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh. #MedievalMonday

Bassenthwaite Lake on Saturday morning. The shape of the boulder in the foreground seems to mirror Dodd Fell in the background.

Yesterday it was showery with sunny intervals in Cumbria which made some good clouds.

16th century panel paintings in Hexham Abbey, Northumberland. For a time, these were painted over completely. The paintings were restored in 1963 and in 1990.

A painting of the Esplanade, Edinburgh Castle in about 1846-7 by David Octavius Hill (1802-1870). National Gallery of Scotland, Edinburgh. That canon that the child is sitting on is still there. #CastleSaturday

The 7th century crypt below Hexham Abbey. This was probably designed as a sacred space for displaying holy relics to pilgrims who would descend the narrow, steep stone staircase. The design is said to mimic the early Roman catacombs and the tomb of Christ, creating an intense and holy experience.

Old door, Hexham Abbey. #AdoorableThursday

Last Wednesday we visited Hexham Abbey. Approximately 12th Century. I was very impressed. Lots to see including a 7th century Anglo-Saxon crypt, a gold goblet, stone carvings and 16th century painted panels.

Loweswater in the Lake District on Saturday morning. #BlueskyMonday #Bluesky

The Hilton of Cadboll Stone, National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh. This carved stone was erected on the East coast of the Tarbat Peninsula, Scotland in about AD 800. There is a full-scale copy of the stone close to the original location. #StandingStoneSunday

The Skiddaw Group of fells viewed from Bassenthwaite Lake. I heard something drop back into the water and wondered if it was a water vole.

A young tree damaged by horses.

Edinburgh Old Town has preserved much of its medieval street plan and many Reformation-era buildings. Due to the topography and the advantages of living within the defensive wall, the Old Town became home to some of the world's earliest ‘high rise’ residential buildings.

Flowering catkins on goat willow this afternoon near Scarness in Cumbria.

Oak door from Rowallan Castle, Cunningham, Ayrshire, late 16th century. National Museum of Scotland. #AdoorableThursday

Flodden Wall, Edinburgh. Erected to protect the city after the Scots' defeat by the English at the 1513 Battle of Flodden Field. This section is in Greyfriars Kirkyard where it is embedded with memorials. #WallsOnWednesday

An oak tree on a frosty morning near Mirehouse in the Lake District a couple of weeks ago. #ThickTrunkTuesday

St Giles' Cathedral, Edinburgh originated in the 14th century. After the Reformation, St Giles' was internally partitioned to serve multiple congregations as well as secular purposes, such as a prison and a meeting place for the Parliament of Scotland. #MedievalMonday

Carved standing stone from Over Kirkhope, Scotland displayed in the National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh. I read that there was a gradual development of carving on standing stones with designs slowly becoming more complex. #StandingStoneSunday

By the marsh near Bassenthwaite this morning. Deer and reed bunting.

Morning sunshine coming through the fells near Dodd Wood in Cumbria.

Edinburgh Castle. Research has identified 26 sieges in its 1,100-year history, giving it a claim to having been ‘the most besieged place in Great Britain and one of the most attacked in the world’. #CastleSaturday