This post is part of the A to Z Challenge.
Being a very keen amateur photographer my one great passion is views and I'm always on the lookout for good ones. Lakes, rivers, beaches, fields, hills or harbours, if it's got a good view then I'll photograph it. And I've often gone to what some may think are ridiculous lengths to get the best shots of some views; I've 'trespassed' on peoples' gardens and driveways, stood on top of walls, fought my way through dense bushes, paddled into knee-deep freezing cold water, climbed trees, and at one point held one-handed onto a railing while leaning out over a rushing river torrent, all to get that really good shot. Most of the time I've achieved my aim, and best of all I've done it without losing life or limb in the process.
My penchant for good views isn't just reserved for when I'm out and about with the camera though, I like a good view when I'm on a camp site too if I can get it. Although due to the location and layout of some sites it's not always possible, the majority of the sites I've stayed on have had a view of some sort. One site I've been to in North Wales has lovely views of the surrounding hills, another has a view across the neighbouring golf course to the sea beyond, and my favourite place on Anglesey has panoramic views of the coast from almost every part of the site; waking up on a sunny morning to a view of the sea beyond the site is absolute bliss.
There are some sites though which have been recommended to me but which I haven't so far stayed at because of their location. One such site is on Anglesey and I went for a look round a couple of years ago; although it looked like a nice little site, the prices were good and it wasn't far from a beach it was the view to one side which put me off - a huge factory building with a towering steel chimney only a few hundred yards away from the site. Not so much a view, rather a definite blot on the landscape, and not one I would want to see on a regular basis, so I'll be sticking to my favourite site.
I've been asked more than once the reason why I like certain sites so much that I return time after time, and to those who ask the question the answer is simple - the location and the views!