Dreaming spires

Matthew Arnold's original 'dreaming spires' poem was inspired by the view of Oxford from Boars Hill, south-west of the city.

This afternoon I cycled a little further in and to the south-east, though a rather more prosaic part of the outskirts - but then there was an unexpected break in the suburban sprawl with this a rather fetching glimpse of the skyline.

"And that sweet city with her dreaming spires,/ She needs not June for beauty's heightening".

I agree that the late autumn sunlight serves her pretty well too.