Mike Winter
@mikedwinter.bsky.social
Leeds-based Warwickshire Lad, Husband, Father, Francophile, European, love wild places, EV & renewables fan. Here since 328.13ppm. https://tinyurl.com/2cunjbmh
Married 33 years today - still loving the adventure.
September 5, 2025 at 5:56 AM
Married 33 years today - still loving the adventure.
Today’s walk, nice loop from Ilkley to Denton, then up to Middleton and back through the woods. Got pretty wet at one point, but there was some lovely light too.
Definite areas they don’t want you to go - 3x “Private” signs in one frame. ;)
Definite areas they don’t want you to go - 3x “Private” signs in one frame. ;)
August 31, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Today’s walk, nice loop from Ilkley to Denton, then up to Middleton and back through the woods. Got pretty wet at one point, but there was some lovely light too.
Definite areas they don’t want you to go - 3x “Private” signs in one frame. ;)
Definite areas they don’t want you to go - 3x “Private” signs in one frame. ;)
Look who’s back from her year abroad 😀
August 26, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Look who’s back from her year abroad 😀
Pint at the end most welcome, as was the opportunity to meet up with old friends as we arrived in Middleham.
A fun 3 day walk, all done with public transport to the start and home again this evening :)
A fun 3 day walk, all done with public transport to the start and home again this evening :)
August 25, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Pint at the end most welcome, as was the opportunity to meet up with old friends as we arrived in Middleham.
A fun 3 day walk, all done with public transport to the start and home again this evening :)
A fun 3 day walk, all done with public transport to the start and home again this evening :)
Mini-adventure day 3 - Six Dales Trail, Leeds Pals Memorial to Middleham.
Had about 3 miles this morning to rejoin the route, but some fabulous views again as we went over the moors.
Had about 3 miles this morning to rejoin the route, but some fabulous views again as we went over the moors.
August 25, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Mini-adventure day 3 - Six Dales Trail, Leeds Pals Memorial to Middleham.
Had about 3 miles this morning to rejoin the route, but some fabulous views again as we went over the moors.
Had about 3 miles this morning to rejoin the route, but some fabulous views again as we went over the moors.
Wonderful short video of Goldfinches gilding a large patch of thistledown. Heaven for them.
August 24, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Wonderful short video of Goldfinches gilding a large patch of thistledown. Heaven for them.
Practical example of the environmental pressure releasing thousands of pheasants brings, courtesy of Swinton Estate.
Had to walk a few miles off route once we reached the memorial to get to where we’re staying tonight. Last leg tomorrow.
Had to walk a few miles off route once we reached the memorial to get to where we’re staying tonight. Last leg tomorrow.
August 24, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Practical example of the environmental pressure releasing thousands of pheasants brings, courtesy of Swinton Estate.
Had to walk a few miles off route once we reached the memorial to get to where we’re staying tonight. Last leg tomorrow.
Had to walk a few miles off route once we reached the memorial to get to where we’re staying tonight. Last leg tomorrow.
Mini adventure day 2 - Pateley Bridge up to the Leeds Pals memorial. More moorland today.
We found Nidderdale’s answer to Sycamore Gap too.
We found Nidderdale’s answer to Sycamore Gap too.
August 24, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Mini adventure day 2 - Pateley Bridge up to the Leeds Pals memorial. More moorland today.
We found Nidderdale’s answer to Sycamore Gap too.
We found Nidderdale’s answer to Sycamore Gap too.
Mini adventure day 2 - Pateley Bridge up to the Leeds Pals memorial. More moorland today.
We found Nidderdale’s answer to Sycamore Gap too.
We found Nidderdale’s answer to Sycamore Gap too.
August 24, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Mini adventure day 2 - Pateley Bridge up to the Leeds Pals memorial. More moorland today.
We found Nidderdale’s answer to Sycamore Gap too.
We found Nidderdale’s answer to Sycamore Gap too.
This weekend’s mini-adventure… Six Dales Trail. Today was Otley to Pateley Bridge. Quite varied walking. The reservoirs are looking desperate.
Fabulous inosculation of beech :)
Fabulous inosculation of beech :)
August 23, 2025 at 9:05 PM
This weekend’s mini-adventure… Six Dales Trail. Today was Otley to Pateley Bridge. Quite varied walking. The reservoirs are looking desperate.
Fabulous inosculation of beech :)
Fabulous inosculation of beech :)
Thought for the day, from the wonderful Wendell Berry’s Sabbath Poems.
August 16, 2025 at 9:17 AM
Thought for the day, from the wonderful Wendell Berry’s Sabbath Poems.
Our Tawny Chicks are much bigger now, but as vocal as ever.
August 3, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Our Tawny Chicks are much bigger now, but as vocal as ever.
Just stumbled across treasure :)
July 18, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Just stumbled across treasure :)
The skies above Gourdon are heaving with Swifts tonight. More than I could possibly count. An absolute joy.
July 11, 2025 at 7:35 PM
The skies above Gourdon are heaving with Swifts tonight. More than I could possibly count. An absolute joy.
Off down a new (to me) rabbit hole, with thanks to @daeganmiller.bsky.social for the suggestion :)
July 4, 2025 at 10:27 AM
Off down a new (to me) rabbit hole, with thanks to @daeganmiller.bsky.social for the suggestion :)
Was lovely to watch these two in the field behind the house yesterday morning.
June 8, 2025 at 7:14 AM
Was lovely to watch these two in the field behind the house yesterday morning.
A few other highlights… quite the way for cygnets to ride.
May 27, 2025 at 2:29 PM
A few other highlights… quite the way for cygnets to ride.
Celebrating 55 orbits of the sun with a Warwickshire walk. Somewhat leaden skies, but filled with larksong.
May 27, 2025 at 8:17 AM
Celebrating 55 orbits of the sun with a Warwickshire walk. Somewhat leaden skies, but filled with larksong.
Batcliffe beeches, bluebells and blue sky.
April 20, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Batcliffe beeches, bluebells and blue sky.
It has been showers and then occasional sun all afternoon. Does mean you get views like this from the back of the house though :)
March 22, 2025 at 3:13 PM
It has been showers and then occasional sun all afternoon. Does mean you get views like this from the back of the house though :)
For anyone who needs a bit of a lift - a Blackcap in the blossom at the side of our barn yesterday afternoon. Joyful, uplifting song with Robin accompaniment.
March 20, 2025 at 8:12 AM
For anyone who needs a bit of a lift - a Blackcap in the blossom at the side of our barn yesterday afternoon. Joyful, uplifting song with Robin accompaniment.
Fifth and final leg of Leeds Country Way today. Abby’s Dad joined us today too. Fabulous weather and probably the most countryside-ish leg we’ve done. As ever way-marking really poor and wrong enough in one place to cause a couple of miles detour..
March 8, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Fifth and final leg of Leeds Country Way today. Abby’s Dad joined us today too. Fabulous weather and probably the most countryside-ish leg we’ve done. As ever way-marking really poor and wrong enough in one place to cause a couple of miles detour..