Last Saturday and it was my turn to choose a walk. After going through a pile of assorted maps and books that Mick and Rose had accumulated, I had ear-marked a few. Trouble was they all involved sections of wetlands I am familiar with and at this time of the year could be muddy underfoot. I settled on what I thought would be the easiest, following the River Ant from Ludham Bridge upstream to How Hill then across fields to Ludham village. I was hoping for a bit of brightness but unfortunately the day got gloomier and by the time we had done the seven or so miles it was almost dark. It made photography tricky with such low light but I think adds an atmosphere to the landscape shots.

When I worked at the last boatyard, I would spend a fair bit of time ferrying boats to and from different yards in the winter. Scenes like these are very familiar and to me captures the nicest season on the Broads. This mill was built in 1875 to drain the Horning Marshes into the River Ant so they could be used for livestock grazing.


How Hill is an 800 acre estate with the mansion house built for Edward Boardman in 1905, it is now an environmental education centre and nature reserve.


The men who worked the marshes cutting reed lived in cottages like this. Very basic with no luxuries like running water and electricity. Toad Hole is now a museum and furnished to show the marshman’s life.


Super …
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Thanks!
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Great photos indeed.
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Many thanks, appreciated.
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Hello Brian, these are great and very interesting pictures for me. I have a request for you, I collect photos of windmills from all over the world. I would be happy if you could send these two photos with the mills in one email. It’s good if you could write where they are, I’ll find the rest myself.
Email in my imprint
Greetings Werner
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Looks like you chose well! Shame about the weather/light, but it does rather reflect the English winter at this time of year. A very nice series of images.
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Cheers Mike, yes it’s the season of gloom, we even had snow today!
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Snow – in Norfolk? Wow! And they talk about global warming! We have snow too but that’s normal, though it does curtail the walking somewhat. 😟
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The low light didn’t hinder you at all. It was a challenge I know however you mastered it and captured some magnificent shots.
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Big thanks Wayne for the nice comment, the river looks so different to the kind you fish.
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These rivers around here are very shallow. Some places you can wade the river for a mile and never get water above your waist.
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Oh, these are lovely! I love the windmill reflections and that Swan! Gorgeous!
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Thanks Deborah. It may have been gloomy but no wind so I could get those reflections. For some reason the images haven’t come across as sharp as they are, they all look a touch soft.
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Something WP is doing perhaps. I’ve had the same thing happen to me.
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Possibly, I’ve had compression issues before but just lately they have seemed ok. That Grebe shot is very soft.
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Smashing collection Mr. B. Seven mile hike? You must be reasonably fit.
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Since I retired Mrs H says I need to get out more! With our covid restrictions it’s a good way to meet our friends. They have a few years on us and do this type of walk at least twice a week.
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Very nice series of images! Enjoyed seeing your images from your walk!
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Pleasure to show them Reed.
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Beautiful photos, Brian. I just love the reflections! What a wonderful place to hike–thanks for taking us along.
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A good day for reflections Tina! This is my type of walk and the others enjoyed it as well, glad you did virtually.
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The light shortage gave this landscape captures a somewhat mystical flair that I like very much. The mills are beautifully reflected and It is very interesting to see how working class people lived at that time. As they did everywhere in the world, working hard, and hardly able to feed their families.
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Those people who lived and worked out in the countryside certainly had a very tough life especially in the winter.
Glad you like the images (though they are not as sharp as the originals for some reason) sometimes poor light can be an advantage.
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What marvellously atmospheric photos, Brian.
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You have to make the most of our dire weather Tish, these came out well but are not as sharp as the originals.
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Yes, best foot forward in all the sludge. Our field path is almost floating.
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Very intrigued by that Great Crested Grebe – fi9rst time I’ve been exposed to one of those. I see you have the Mute – they are considered invasive over here – not sure what your variety is like, but ours are very aggressive/territorial and will push the other species out of the ponds/lakes. Usually see them attacking Geese that have the audacity to land in their waters. Thanks for sharing B., I do like the white sky background making the focus of the shot pop.
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Hi B. The Mute is the only swan we have all year (Whooper & Bewick in winter) and yes they are everything you describe but they are the property of the Queen so can do as they like!
Disappointed with the Grebe shot, indeed all these images have lost their sharpness. Hope wp haven’t upped the compression again. I had this conversation with them in the past and the only way to override this is to pay top dollar to get a plan which excepts plug-ins. With these type of shots it’s not too much of a problem (except I notice it and others might think I’ve posted a poor quality image) but if it’s poor when I put out macro shots I won’t be a happy bunny!
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I love this mood! Great pictures of a beautiful place!
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Indeed Simone, it’s this light that gives the wetlands the atmosphere I like. Sure sunny days are nice but it also brings out hordes of other people to enjoy the countryside.
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Love those pictures and the light really captures the “feel” this time of the year. Keep up the hikes, wish I could get out and stretch my hiking legs… maybe in 2021…
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Hi CJ, just realised with your comment that you haven’t done any legs on your hiking route this year. Let’s hope for better times soon.
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Yes, you are correct. That sucks! Hopefully that will change in the next 6 months so I can finish it! If it was all in nature I could do it now but many parts on this last half wandel through populated areas so pretty risky. Plus, taking public transport with several change points is not something I relish in a pandemic… if I didn’t struggle with autoimmune issues I wouldn’t care but not taking any risk with this crap. I am thus grateful for people like you and “B” who can still get out and post. Stay safe and healthy!
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It’s good to know you are able to get out and about for a walk such as this one.
I agree with you about the prevailing weather providing a special mood for wetland photography. Very interesting slice of history here. I know you are not pleased with the apparent “softness” of the images, but I really like the atmosphere you captured.
A new week! May it be kind to us all.
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With our covid restrictions going out on these walks is the only way we can meet up with our friends (no indoor meetings allowed).
Even at this time of the year with the wildlife at it’s quietest there is still plenty to see and the gloomy weather? Well that’s par for the course, oh and it really makes those golden reedbeds stand out.
Take care Wally and post some sunshine!
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Some beautiful shots of wonderful environment Brian!
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Thanks Michael it has a special ‘feel’ this time of the year, can’t wait for the new growth of spring though!
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The beauty of Norfolk well captured.
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Thanks Pit, love to showcase my area.
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