MY 2025 HIGHLIGHTS

As usual the year has come and gone in a rush. Some years involve exciting trips away, such as Iceland last year, but 2025 has been shooting closer to home. And that’s perfectly fine. The UK has a bountiful choice of locations to keep landscape photographers busy and I didn’t even go further north than Weston super Mare, my home town.

So I’ll show you five locations that I visited in 2025, some I got to tick off my list for the first time and others it was a repeat visit. Although, I don’t really like to “tick things off”. You are very lucky if you get perfect conditions the first time of visiting somewhere, so it’s always good to return although obviously travel distance and costs are a factor.

Brighton Pier starling murmuration

THE APPROACH

The year started strongly with a visit in January to Brighton to witness a starling murmuration. It’s a spectacular winter wildlife highlight peaking in January and February. There are various locations around the UK where you can witness this spectacle but Brighton Pier was a no brainer as I also love helter skelters and carousels. So I figured that, regardless of the conditions, it would just be the most amazing thing to shoot.

On arrival we were sitting on the beach surrounded by people with the same idea. It had the atmosphere of being at the theatre or a gig venue waiting for the main act only with free tickets. As dusk fell they started to come in gradually at first then the numbers grew into huge flocks simultaneously throwing incredible shapes and patterns, swirling around the end of the pier before funnelling into roost.

I’ll have to slightly retract on what I was saying about not getting perfect conditions on your first visit. I soon realised that the most amazing sunset was kicking off to my right not quite hitting the end of the main pier where the starlings were coming in. It was one of those very brief intense sunsets and I ended up running backwards and forwards trying to capture everything. It was quite an adrenaline rush.

It was an incredible shoot and I am generally happy with what I captured. See my Rest of the UK gallery for more images of the starlings throwing shapes and that amazing sunset.

Would I return? Yes but I think I would also like to visit a different murmuration especially the display on the Somerset Levels with Glastonbury Tor in the background.

The dead trees of Porlock Marsh, Somerset

THE TWO TREES AT HIGH TIDE

I have long been fascinated by these skeletal trees located in a remote coastal location on the North Somerset coast between Porlock and Minehead near the start of the South West coastal path. They come into their own as a subject during a high tide where the trees are completely flooded. Even better are those still conditions with no breeze meaning you are likely to get reflections.

A bit of tidal research is needed. The tide needs to come in to at least 10 metres to completely flood the trees. A good bet is to look out for an even higher spring tide of around 11 metres. It can be a bit hairy; fisherman’s waders are a good idea. Obviously it’s nice if you can time the highest tides with good light at sunset or sunrise but a moody day with cloud reflections will also work really well. There is a rustic barn that can be a subject on its own or with the trees; a wide angled lens is best.

After a recce at low tide I finally got my shots back in March. It was just after sunrise catching some gentle early morning light and making sure there was some degree of separation between the two trees.

Would I return? I only really got one image I liked so yes. As you can see there are no reflections being a breezy, chilly morning. I took long exposure shots to simplify the scene adding calmness to a peaceful location. So I will definatly return in 2026.

Hartland Quay, North Devon

LUNER SEASCAPE

This is on the North Devon coast and is a coastal photographers paradise with jagged rock ledges that look like from another planet.

I was there late June this year during the long hot summer. I was staying in Bude which is just a 30 minute drive away over the border in Cornwall. The whole area just has such a nice feel to it with lovely open walks along the clifftop. The tide had receded so I was able to scramble (in a rather ungainly fashion) across to various vantage points to shoot the rock ledges at sunset with a rather nice sky and light.

Hartland Quay and the whole area including the north Cornwall coast is great for sunset during the spring and summer months. I live on the south coast which loses light because the sun rises and sets too far back during this time so this is a great alternative. Bude is an ideal base for various coastal locations in both North Cornwall and Devon.

Would I return? I would love to keep returning to Hartland Quay. Although it’s well positioned for summer sunsets some winter drama would be great. There are endless composition options including shooting from the clifftop.

Stourhead, Wiltshire

THE GOTHIC COTTAGE

A National Trust location in Wiltshire, this is an autumn highlight for photographers with its spectacular colours and classic views over the lake and gardens. But a big shout out to their first light sessions where, for an extra £10, you can get in at 7.30am for, hopefully, a nice sunrise, better light and no crowds. Such a lovely idea. It is a gamble as these sessions have to be pre-booked so you have to hope the conditions are favourable on the day. I got some lovely sky colour and gentle light and I was so excited to get this old gothic cottage to myself with the vivid acer tree in full bloom.

Would I return? Yes because I didn’t get mist. There is always a reason to return! See my Wiltshire gallery for more Stourhead views.

Nuns Cross Farm - Dartmoor

THE DERELICT NUNS CROSS FARM

This incredible national park much like the New Forest has its own ponies but I would say it’s wilder and more rugged. Formidable looking hills, tors and a couple of intriguing little spots, my favourites being Windy Post and Nuns Cross Farm. I hadn’t visited Nuns Cross before and have always wanted to as I love remote derelict houses and buildings.

I visited late October with the threat of rain but some autumn sun fell on the house so I was happy with that. It’s a bit of a trek out there driving out on a remote county road from Princeton. There is a small parking area near the track from where it’s approximately a 20 minute walk out to the building. I wore hiking boots but the ground was extremely boggy so wellies would have been advisable. Of course I tripped and fell at one point - caution is recommended, as if I had broken my ankle I would have been in trouble in such a remote area.

Apparently you can bunk down here; a popular spot for hikers, outward bound, Duke of Edinburgh participants etc. For photography this is not a blue sky location. You want overcast conditions or fog to really bring out the atmosphere and spookiness. I was pleased with the brooding sky and light but I would have loved a rainbow.

Would I return? Yes I will happily do another shower dodging visit to try and get that rainbow. Maybe even snow but I would need to find a companion with an SUV! And of course there is the rest of Dartmoor - tors, rushing rivers and the twisted tree trunks of the intriguing Wistman’s Wood. See my Devon & Cornwall gallery for photos of other Dartmoor locations.