I had headed up to Alport Castles in the Peak District National Park, with a strong forecast for a pretty sunset. The main rock feature in this image is what gives the area its name; it resembles a castle keep and is known as The Tower. 

The whole area was formed many thousands of years ago in a huge landslip - thought to be the UK's largest ever. The hillside broke away when softer shale gave way, and slumped down into the Alport Valley. The resulting creases and folds create wonderful shapes, and the landscape is strewn with huge square boudlers which came away from the cliffs.

I was with some other photographer friends, and we had a great time hiking up from Alport Bridge. The Hawthorn bushes were a particular highlight; masses of white flowers against their green leaves showing off their wonderful gnarled and wind-blown shapes. 

Sadly, these did prove a slight distraction, so the climb up took longer than we'd planned - and once at the top it quickly became obvious that the sunset wasn't going to play ball due to a large bank of incoming cloud.

As the clouds came in, there were however a few brief bursts of light whch caught on the landscape. I was fortunate to be in place for this composition when one of those hit. The distant glow down the Alport Valley was stunning and adds as sense of warmth and atmosphere.