Welcome back to my mini series of WOW moments as I finally reveal my Top 5!
Number 5:
At Number 5 is “home”!
Coaley Peak is only a short drive away from where I live and it offers one of the finest panoramic vistas in the Cotswolds.
Perched high on the Cotswold escarpment in Gloucestershire, in the West of England, a sweeping patchwork of lush green and golden agricultural fields stretches out beneath the escarpment.
The River Severn and its estuary glint in the sunlight, meandering toward the sea. You can often spot the iconic Severn Bridge and the sweeping bends of the water.
On a clear day, the striking outlines of the Forest of Dean and the Welsh mountains can be seen beyond the river.
This landscape never fails to take my breathe away and the photograph really doesn’t capture this, but its always a WOW whenever I visit.
Number 4:
A totally different landscape but no less beautiful. This photograph was taken at sunset back in July 2023 when we paid to stay for a night at The Grand Canyon whilst taking a slight diversion off Route 66.
This unbelievable masterpiece that is considered one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World takes your breathe away on your first visit. There is nowhere quite like it!
It stretches 277 miles long, reaches up to 18 miles wide, and plunges over a mile deep and until you see it there in front of you, you cannot appreciate the WOW moment it gives!
Number 3:
Back in 2021 my husband and I embarked on an 8 week road trip around England and Scotland.
As part of the adventure we drove the NC500. The North Coast 500 is a 516-mile scenic route around the Scottish Highlands, starting and finishing in Inverness.
We drove anti clockwise beginning by travelling up the West Coast and throughout this section you are rewarded with spectacular views and WOW moments at every turn.
This particular photograph captured by my husband is a view overlooking the waters of Upper Loch Torridon toward the Applecross Peninsula in Wester Ross.
The prominent mountain in the background is part of the Torridon range, known for its dramatic scenery and ancient geology and the small island featured in the centre of the loch is named Eilean Chasgaig.
Number 2:
Out along a dusty stretch of old Route 66 near Oro Grande, California, Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch is exactly what it sounds like—and somehow much more. Created by artist Elmer Long, this quirky outdoor gallery is a forest of metal “trees” sprouting hundreds of colourful glass bottles that shimmer, whistle, and glow in the desert sun.
Despite its offbeat nature, this ranch was one of my favourite stops on our Route 66 adventure back in 2023 that I had to write about. It’s another place that I will never forget and just filled me with WOW moments.
For me it epitomised the individualism of the people we had met en route.
This is art in its most imaginative form, what an inspiration Elmer must have been.
Number 1:
As part of our trip across America back in 2023 we took a detour to Monument Valley.
We booked an early morning sunrise tour of this magnificent landscape with a Navajo guide.
Surrounded by the magnificent vistas of Monument Valley when the sun was rising in the sky I took a moment to stand and just breathe. To really take in the panorama of the country around me and in that moment I felt more at peace that I probably ever have. There is something unique about this place, a peacefulness, a history, a spirituality that calls to me.
It will remain with me forever as my biggest WOW moment.
Interestingly we left after our tour and headed to the Grand Canyon to see the sunset (Photo 4 above). There are some days in your life that you will carry with you to your grave and July 4th 2023 is definitely one of them!
I hope my photos and narrative give you inspiration to go out there and find your own WOW moments amidst forthcoming adventures!
If you want to see other photos taken on our travels they are available on Flicker.
Let me know if you’ve visited any of the places I’ve listed, maybe give this post a like. Let me know what you thought when you were there, I’d love to hear from you in the comments
A Midlife Adventure 