The North Pennines hardback published by Helen Shaw

Helen Shaw, who lives in Garrigill, has published The North Pennines: England's Last Wilderness, the only contemporary photographic celebration of the area.

She moved to the area from the Forest of Bowland and features wild moorlands, gushing springs, forgotten villages and wildlife in her photography.

Sunset over Cross Fell on a frozen winter day, seen from the Eden Valley near Skirwith (Image: Malkin Photography/Merlin Unwin)

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Her home and garden are some of her favourite spots in the wild landscape, located just above the River South Tyne, along with High Cup above Dufton.

"Any of the remote moors above Teesdale and Weardale give such a sense of wildness, all you can hear is just the wind or the silence. Lambley Viaduct and the River South Tyne are incredible. 

Fell ponies graze at Aukside above the Hudeshope Beck, Middleton-in-Teasdale (Image: Malkin Photography/Merlin Unwin)

"The beautiful little village of Blanchland is another favourite. As are the quieter parts of Hadrian's Wall, where you see the wall running away into the distance along the Whin Sill. I could go on forever about my favourite parts, there are so many and it's so difficult to choose between the incredible variety of this area."

Helen said adverse weather conditions, including snow and ice, can make 'wonderful images' in the Pennines.

"It tends to be difficult weather conditions that can make for the best photographs, so mist, fog, dramatic clouds, sun after rain, snow and ice are all welcomed by me."

She said she appreciates how the landscape has reclaimed the area's industrial heritage and mining remains.

"The mounds and quarries which once would have been ugly eyesores are now fascinating green hums and bumps in the landscape. It's also amazing that we have the source of so many major and important rivers here. I love to stand by the little trickle that is the source of the Tyne above our house and imagine its journey over to Hexham to join with the North Tyne and then down past Newcastle with all the shipbuilding, into the North Sea.

"Each spring we look forward to seeing the lapwings, curlews, oystercatchers and black grouse appearing on the field at the back of our house.  One day this year, we had 70 curlews and 50 lapwings," Helen said.

The North Pennines hardback by Helen Shaw is published by Merlin Unwin Books and is available online or from your local bookshop for £20.