El Faro de la Alcaidesa: A Weekend Walk

Away from the beach towels and sun hats that swarm the beach of Alcaidesa all whole year round, the lone tower that is Faro de Carbonera, stands in its quiet corner high up the hill with the Sierra Bermeja in the background and overlooking the Mediterranean Sea that stretches out to the horizon.

One weekend, we decided to pay her a visit.

The easiest way would have been to follow the long shore that hugs the sandy beach eastwards until you reach Punta Mala where a walking path leads up to the tower. But we were feeling adventurous and took the car to follow the track that borders the development through a dirt road, passing through a menacing military outpost before eventually parking a few meters off the lighthouse.

This is not a recommended course to take. It isn't a pleasant trip and there are no fantastic views along the way that would make up for it (although there were dog walkers and people picking golf balls that went over the fence).

But if you follow the flat and wide track that leads to the lighthouse where you can let a child loose without a fuss, you will be distracted by some fascinating wild flowers along the path. And the views that look out to the sea towards the Rock of Gibraltar and the Atlas Mountains of Morocco are spectacular even on a cloudy day.

If you want to carry on towards the beach, you can follow the path that winds downwards, passing through a carpet of spring flowers sprawling by the hillside amidst the backdrop of the urbanisations of Alcaidesa and the golf course beside it. 

And if you are not keen on the trek back where the car is parked, you can opt to take the beach route, although if you are the unlucky one to take the car back, you will be beaten off to get to the viewpoint at the turn-off just before the chiringuito. This is of those few times when the modern modes of transport is no match to a good old walk by the beach.

Weekend Walk: Ecclesall Woods

To wander in the woodlands is one of the best ways to celebrate the changing season. And in autumn this transformation couldn't be more fervent, when the trees put on a dazzling display of colours from gorgeous golds to russet reds and the woods are rife with frantic activities as the wildlife prepare for the cold winter to come.

Ecclesall Woods in the south of Sheffield are the largest semi-natural woodland in South Yorkshire and is very popular to visitors for its wildlife, historic and archaeological features. Last Sunday, they held their annual Feast in the Forest, a celebration of autumn in the woods with children's activities, food stalls, woodland trails and pumpkin carving. We arrived early and headed off to the visitor centre where most of the activities were held. Without a map, we discovered that we had limited pathways to follow with a pram but we still managed to have fun - picking up chestnuts, listening to the crunching of leaves on our feet and taking photos of course!

Weekend Walk: Lady Bower Reservoir

On Sunday morning, we woke up to a sky that was clear, a great echoing bowl of blue, drenched in light from the sun that has just risen over the horizon. The early morning air was crisp and the ice crystals that formed overnight were still clinging to the leaves of the potted plants by our kitchen door. It was a sort of day that brought a lot of promise, perfect for a photo walk in the countryside to capture the poetry of the changing season.

The night before, I have suggested taking the wheel and driving the family to the Lady Bower Reservoir, a twenty minute journey from Hillsborough through the quiet country lane that is Rivelin Valley Road which follows the course of the river until it joins A57 to the right, the trunk road between Sheffield and Manchester which passes through sheep pastures and wild heather moorlands with spectacular views of the valleys from the rising hills. This idea was not met with much enthusiasm and with perfectly good reasons.

Sundays are never the best times to go to the Peak District. Roadside parking spaces are quickly snapped up by the enthusiastic middle classes whose past times include early morning commune with nature in their Regatta outfits, walking poles and hiking boots. When we got there just after nine in the morning, we had to circle around to find a free space but even that was due to luck as we have a small car that can squeeze in when others can’t.

But perhaps the bigger reason was the state of my driving which even I am still nervous about. It has taken me an expensive nearly two years of weekly driving lessons with a very patient instructor to pass my driving exams at my second attempt while I was on the 37th week of pregnancy. John thinks I have charmed my way to get it, judging by my poor subsequent performances on the driver’s seat, which resulted to more weekend driving lessons (with a not-so-patient-instructor) involving uphill junctions, 20mph streets and circular routes. It wasn’t much fun so I suggested that on last week’s lesson, we should hit two birds with one stone: a driving lesson and a day out.

It was supposed to be easy: a quiet road with maximum speed limit of 50mph, so I started off with a lot of confidence. But there is never an easy route in Britain where you share the road with groups of cyclists hogging the road instead of their designated cycle paths, impatient drivers overtaking close to incoming bends and over-speeding motorcyclists signing their own death sentence. Add the fact that you never really see where you are going because the roads are never straight. But when we arrived at our destination without a scratch in the car, I was congratulating myself. My passengers though would tell a different story.

When we approached the reservoir, a wisp of mist was still hovering over the treetops but it didn't stay long. We parked closed to Ashopton Bridge and crossed the viaduct to the direction of Bamford, admiring the stunning view of the hills covered with woodlands in its autumnal glory, beautifully reflected in the calm water. We walked the length of the dam towards the other side, taking plenty of photos along the way.

Sheffield Street Art: Division Street Area

The 1980s saw the worst run-down of Sheffield's steel industry. Once hailed as the undisputed iron, steel and cutlery capital of the world, the industrial failure and collapse coincided with the collapse of coal mining in the area and was made worse by increasing automation and competition from abroad. For years, the empty factory buildings around the city became derelict and served as painful reminders of their once glorious past. But not anymore.

Recently, Sheffield has been attracting resident and visiting artists who are making the city's brick walls and old industrial sites their preferred canvas to display their work. These colourful and poignant urban aesthetics are slowly generating public interest with numerous local blogs showing interactive maps highlighting the graffiti hotspots.

I have recently become a fan after visiting the Printing Sheffield museum exhibition at the city's Millennium Galleries and recognising the works of Phlegm, a well-known artist that I have seen all over the city. It has fuelled a desire to hunt down these splashes of art around the city and last Friday, before we met up with friends at the Children's Library in town, I wheeled the pram with my D60 in search for them.

The walk is concentrated around Division Street in the west of the city. This shopping area, with its rows of independent business is a busy student hub especially on a warm and sunny day when the students congregate around Devonshire Green, the only large green space in the city centre. The vibrant international student population, reported to pump £120m in the city's economy every year, has brought a much needed regeneration in this part of the city. But this is a part of the city that we have not really explored.

This is the map of our walk, taken from Google maps.

Getting off the tram at West Street, we walked down Westhill Lane, a small street lined with rubbish bins and saw this art installation by Kid Acne called Stabby Woman. 

A bit further on, at the back of a row of buildings occupied by shops fronting Division Street was this work of Phlegm called Rare and Racy.

At the end of this short lane, where it merges with Division Street, are these two works of art, The Little Dancers and John Peel by unknown artists:

At the intersection of Trafalgar and Wellington Street which runs parallel to Division Street is an abandoned construction site which has now become a gallery of street arts from various artists.

Walking up Wellington Street to the right, more graffiti have been sprayed in a car park at the back of the halted development.

Then at the intersection and on the walls of Mint Boutique are the graphic works of Trik 9. Further on, along Westfield Terrace is another wall installation by Phlegm.

Then walking back along Division Street is a work of an unknown artist in the walls of the Great Gatsby Bar.

As someone who is a new convert to street art appreciation, this short walk is enough to fuel my desire to look out for more. So watch this space!