Lakes, Lochs,Reservoirs,Tarns, Ponds

Piethorn Reservoir: A first look at this reservoir for us on this new walk only a few miles from home. This is one of six reservoirs all near to each other above the village of Newhey, Rochdale. This 180° view is made from a stitch of 4x 6000x4000 landscape photos before reduction for Ipernity upload. I was just about to upload this before Ipernity collapsed last year. **A Big thank you to all involved in fixing the technical problems here. - What would we do without you!** Wishing you all a very happy photographic future back here in Ipernity. Keep safe.

A walk above 'Higher Swineshaw reservoir' in Tameside. Another winter isolation walk for us, just a few minutes drive from our home. Enjoy full screen.

Back to my limited summer of 2020 holidays, here we are at one of Britain's most beautiful lakes. A lake sometimes spoken of as the most mysterious one with a complete side very steep and often dark and dangerous. Its also our deepest lake at 258ft created by glacial erosion. Again we are seeing the impressive Yewbarrow directly in front of us but this time we also see the pointed peak of Great Gables (899 m) looking like a great pyramid. Enjoy full screen.

A view from the western shore picnic area. In warmer weather these rocks are festooned with picnickers. In the water you can see some lively souls having a bit of fun and a dip. Again we are seeing the impressive Yewbarrow to the left of us and the pointed peak of Great Gables (899 m) looking like a great pyramid directly centre stage. Now we are also starting to see England's highest mountain 'Scafell Pike' at 978 m coming in on the right side. Enjoy full size.

We are now on the tourist route of this lake. Still looking North East and coming across little car parking places on the side of this still narrow road. Just ahead is a very popular picnic area and bathing spot.

Seen just below Wasdale Hall which houses the YHA here on the banks of Wastwater, and so that explains the possibilities of fun, adventures and water sports (see PiP). We also see here the east steep scree bank of the lake. Enjoy full screen.

As little Bo Peep might have said to one of her lost sheep. A view down into Wastwater with rocks and scree underfoot but still we see trees such as this twisting Hawthorne clinging to the sides. See adjacent photo for the view that this sheep had. Enjoy full screen.

A look at the southern tip of Wastwater here. The great mountains calming down into a more gentle landscape. The stone building is a hikers shelter I think, but it was closed (Covid?). We are on the scree path here but we had to soon turn around as it become less walkable. Our way forward leads us north through the woods on the right up to the lakes much more popular western side. Enjoy full screen.

Its winter again and here we see an appropriate view of one of the reservoirs of the Dovestones chain in Saddleworth taken some years back. Ahead we can just see the dam wall of the next reservoir, Greenfield reservoir. The main path here runs along the left side of the water. In normal times this is a quite place but at the moment more people than ever try to get here to enjoy the limited exercise allowed. Enjoy full screen.

We think it was cold this year, but a few years back it was even colder up here in Saddleworth. Here we are back again at the second reservoir in the Dovestones chain, called Yeoman Hey. I will let the sun, snow, ice, shadows and mist talk for themselves. Enjoy full screen.

Another winter look of this local water. Rich reflections coupled with the snow covered moors and blue skies make a winning combination. A few years old now, but as I comment on many photos here; “a beautiful landscape is a beautiful landscape no matter what age.” For those that do not know this reservoir, a wheelchair walk circles the entire Dovestones dam reservoir and it is about 2.6 miles. See my PiP for part of the path just right of the trees you see here. That being said, it was taken three years after this one and so has quite a different look to it. Enjoy full screen

Returning to this series from our Lake District visit in 2020, we are again on the banks of the beautiful lake of Wastwater. A spot that I have visited at least twice before, but no less wonderful for it. I am at the place where most casual visitors come to and then return after a photo, picnic and possible dip, but as you can see from my photos here, it deserves far more attention than that. On the far side below the pyramid of Great Gables is the village of Wasdale Head – a place of pilgrimage as the hiking start point of England highest mountain: Scafell Pike at 978m. One day I might even investigate those routes too. :) Enjoy full screen.

After showing you one of my latest views from this side of Wastwater yesterday, I thought I would also share this older monochrome version taken in June 2015. What a difference weather, lens and treatment makes here. I know we cannot but compare the two scenes; our preference is very personal indeed! Enjoy full screen

Enjoy this last look at the lake in panoramic fashion. This shows almost the complete lake here with the centre dominated by ‘The Screes’ of ‘Illgill Head’ and ‘Whin Rigg’. A stitch of eight separate photos which resulted in a mighty wide pixel photograph! Enjoy full screen.

A look over Crummock Water along this fence, taking our eye to the boathouse on the opposite shore. When I see these fences in a big lake I often ask myself “to what purpose does it take?” Its Summer and the dense backdrop of green leaves on the trees testify to the amount of rain they have here. Enjoy full size and have a great week.

A new reservoir for us, forever on the lookout for someplace local but different. The tower on here reminded me a little of the ones I sometimes read about in my phantasy novels but in picking this photo out of a few I took, it was the presence and placing of the mallard ducks that interested me too. Enjoy full screen

A view on the lake itself, looking towards the eastern tip. We have now followed the lake from the far left bank and crossed the bridge across the River Liza. This tree has history for me, for I have photographed it with almost perfect reflections on the water. No chance of that today as the wet winds whip the water’s edge. To the right of the tree, just negotiating the gate are some more intrepid walkers. As you can see – this is heather country. Enjoy full screen.

Looking North West now. We can see how these lakes are quickly formed as the regular rainfall run down the fells as streams and rivers. Our path, as you might just make out, runs through the middle of this one, so its hops and jumps for us, as onwards we go. Enjoy full screen.