The North Pennine moors are one of those places that quietly draw you in. Vast open landscapes, endless skies and the constant soundtrack of wildlife make it somewhere that feels completely removed from the pace of everyday life. I recently spent a full week there photographing the incredible wildlife that calls these uplands home, and once again I was reminded just how special this part of the country really is.
For the week, we stayed on a sheep farm high up in the moors, completely surrounded by open hillsides, rough grassland and endless skies. It was the perfect base to explore from and felt wonderfully remote, especially first thing in the morning when the mist drifted across the fields and the only sounds were sheep calling in the distance and curlews echoing across the valley. Even around the farm itself there was wildlife everywhere. Brown Hares seemed to be present in almost every field, often sitting quietly in the grass before suddenly sprinting across the moorland. They provided some fantastic photographic opportunities throughout the week and quickly became one of the species I looked forward to seeing every single day.
From the moment I arrived, the moors were alive with sound. The haunting calls of curlews carried constantly on the wind from dawn until dusk, instantly giving the landscape its unmistakable atmosphere. As the evenings drew in, the drumming of snipe filled the air above the rough grassland and peat bogs, creating that strange, eerie sound that perfectly suits the wildness of the uplands.
Each day brought completely different weather conditions. One moment the moors would be glowing in warm evening light and the next thick mist, heavy rain and strong winds would sweep across the hills without warning. But that unpredictability is all part of the charm of the North Pennines.
The Haunting sound of the Curlew
One of the things I enjoyed most during the week was spending time around the streams and rivers photographing Dippers. Living in my part of the UK, Dippers are not something I ever really get the opportunity to see, so being able to watch and photograph these charismatic little birds was genuinely memorable. Seeing them bobbing up and down on rocks before disappearing into fast flowing water was fascinating to watch, and I spent many peaceful hours simply sitting beside the streams observing their behaviour. They may not be one of the larger or more dramatic species of the moors, but they were certainly one of the highlights of the trip for me.
As the evenings drew in, the moorland seemed to come alive in a completely different way. One of the most unforgettable sights was watching Short-eared Owls hunting low across the rough grassland in the fading light. There is something incredibly special about seeing these beautiful owls silently quartering the moors as the sun disappears behind the hills. Sometimes they appeared out of nowhere, gliding effortlessly across the landscape only metres away before vanishing again into the distance. Those moments alone would have made the trip worthwhile.