Mark Simms Photography

Isle of Harris: Flora and Fauna

© Mark Simms Photography (2022)

Scarista Bay

A few images of Scarista Bay on the Isle of Harris in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland:

Sgarasta Mhòr, Isle of Harris, Scotland, UK

© Mark Simms Photography (2022)

The short walk to the pre-historic Macleod’s Stone, across the beach of Tràigh Iar, offers up some beautiful views over the bay to the Isle of Taransay, just off the west coast of the Isle of Harris in the Outer Hebrides.

As you can see our two-year old French Waterdog, Daisy (along with her favourite orange ball) also enjoyed the walk and the swim in the crystal clear blue waters. She’s also making a good effort at blending in with seaweed.

© Mark Simms Photography (2022)

The Yorkshire Dales

Because it’s taken me nearly 10 months to post all my photographs from our trip to the Yorkshire Dales back in November 2021, I’ve brought them all together again in one gallery below. Yorkshire is blessed with some magnificent ruined abbey’s, so if you like that sort of thing then this post is definitely for you:

© Mark Simms Photography (2022)

Fountains Abbey

We visited Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Gardens last November and although the weather wasn’t great it was still showing off some spectacular Autumn colours.

The Abbey was founded in 1132 and it was one of the largest and most important Cistercian monastries in England for much of it’s 407 year existence. By the early 16th Century it was also one of the wealthiest and therefore a prime target for Henry VIII and the dissolution of the monastories in 1539.

Jervaulx Abbey

There are a number of ruined abbeys in and around the Yorkshire Dales. I’ve already posted about Bolton Abbey, and I have a post on Fountains Abbey to come. Today though is the turn of Jervaulx Abbey.

Like many religious houses in England and Wales, the 12th Century Cistercian Abbey at Jervaulx was ravaged by Henry VIII’s Dissolution of the Monastries circa 1540.