One of the many benefits of living where I do in Scarborough is that I am just on the edge of the North Yorkshire Moors, one of the UK's 15 National Parks. Stretching over 554 square miles the area offers, in my opinion, some of the most breathtaking landscapes the UK has to offer, from tranquil valleys to rugged moorland throughout the year there are many opportunities for the landscape photographer.

One of my favourite times of the year on the moors is late summer and early autumn when the heather which covers lots of the high ground turns a lovely purple colour. Usually by the beginning of the grouse shooting season on the Glorious Twelth the heather is in full bloom, this year, maybe due to the poor summer, the heather has been late in flowering, as I write this at the end of August it is getting to its best.

I've been out a few times, some I've been lucky with the light, others I've come home without even getting a camera out of the bag. I have been able to take a few shots I am pleased with and which I hope capture the specialness of this amazing place.

North Yorkshire Moors Lone Tree

I took a couple of shots of this lone tree, one emphasising the amazing sky and another showing more of the heather:

Lone Tree In Heather, North Yorkshire Moors

This sunset brought a lovely purple sky which mirrored the tones of the heather underneath:

The Beginning of Autumn, Blakey Ridge

If you've never been to the North Yorkshire Moors I highly recommend it, you can get more information from the North Yorkshire Moors National Park Authority website,  and Welcome to Yorkshire