While visiting England, I have developed a most affectionate relationship with the landscape. The magnificence of the old stone buildings, the winding lanes and snug hamlets, the majestic granite cliffs, the translucent sea, the carefully proportioned fields, and the profusion of wildflowers growing everywhere are just a few examples of the great diversity of the English countryside I find so fascinating.
Adding to the country’s natural splendor, there is a certain intimacy I feel with the landscape when I set off tramping around farmland, following footpaths across private property through a farmyard and across fields of grazing sheep, feeling a bit flushed yet quietly exhilarated as I walk through a worked and lived-in landscape that is eminently accessible almost everywhere. This affinity to the land is enticement enough for me to continue exploring the distinctive character and special qualities of different parts of England, and embracing some of the most satisfying views I have come across.
Out and About in England series is based on my stumbling travels pursued over a short period of time. The series is ongoing…