Castlederg is often subject to extremes of weather compared to other parts of Ireland.  It holds the record for the lowest ever recorded temperature in Northern Ireland at -18.5 C.  It lies in a valley, which can trap cold air, and it is often named on the weather forecast as being the coldest place on a particular day in N. Ireland, Ireland as a whole, and sometimes even the entire British Isles.  Conversely, in the summer it is often the hottest, and on a few occasions, the weather forecast mentioned it as being the warmest place in Europe some days!  This occasionally provides good conditions for photography, and a frosty, foggy Novermber day enticed me out for a walk round the small park around the castle.

 

Frosted oak leaves.

 

Holly leaves – no berries unfortunately.

 

Ivy, appropriately enough following the holly.

 

Up until this spell, it had been a very mild Autumn and Winter, so some leaves still survived on the trees.

 

These photos were taken on the same day as my previous couple of posts, and this is the same robin, following me around it seems.

 

 

 

Oak leaves, still clinging on.

 

Fallen sycamore leaves.  Under the trees, they only got a light dusting of frost.

 

 

 

 

 

Out in the open, there was a heavier frosting.

 

The castle, through the fog.

 

 

 

 

 

There is a small wooded area in the park, but in the foggy conditions, it could seem like you were in a much larger forest.

 

 

 

The hoar frost coating the trees, along with the fog, led to subdued colours and pastel hues.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The first signs of any of the seasons always seem inspiring for photography.