The Lake District & Cumbria

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

This little bridge, the target of many a photographer that visits Wastwater, allows the small road to go over the ‘Countess Beck’ as it finally runs into the lake. This little area (indeed also from my last two photos) is known as 'Landing Stage’. PiP for opposite side! 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.

Turning away from Wastwater now, we follow the valley bottom back to our car at Nether Wasdale. The sunshine on the craggy rocks of ‘Hausegreen Crag’ brings out the best of this rugged landscape. Spot the figure. - see PiP Enjoy full screen.

As we see the end of this area of Wasdale I get a scene of great contrast. The peaks and rock around here are known for their grey colour of slate and granite; indeed the Lake District town of Kendal is known as the Grey or Slate Town having been constructed with so much of this stone. There were some smoke from these chimneys and voices too and so, occupied I guess. And so ends another chapter in my Lake District series. I shall bring more, in some weeks time. Enjoy full screen.

Back in the English Lake District, we see here a view just to the NW of Ennerdale Water. There is a lot of weather around here and this slightly higher viewpoint is a place where winds shape the trees. Best Large.

It’s our last day here in the West Lakes and so an overdue visit to our closest lake from our holiday cottage. Before we get to the lake, I climb the small local hill to get a distant glance. The weather looks interesting, to say the least, but the sheep don’t mind at all! 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.

Another view of this tree, posted a couple of days ago, show the tree from the opposite direction looking west. The fortuitous red berries are in fact some other walkers on here. Our hike continues the same way as those walkers, along this treacherous path through the gate. See PiP for the same tree in another season six years ago. Enjoy full screen.

Here at the eastern tip of Ennerdale water we witness the south east wooded slopes towards the peaks of Pillar and Steeple. Pretty wet underfoot as we make our way around the entire lake in a clockwise direction. Enjoy full screen.

Walking westwards on the southern shore of the lake starts to get a bit hairy, especially for the uninitiated hiker. A bit of scrambling here so one has to be careful. Just past the walk highpoint where the silhouetted figure is, there are some big rocks that must be climbed over to proceed. Once over, the going gets easy. At least the rains have stopped. Enjoy full screen.

A big view looking back east along this shore. Angler's Crag can be seen as the jutting-out hill on the right. We have nearly come to the end of my photos of this lake before before heavy rains sets in again. (Just a trio of photos left to post). Enjoy full size.

It is said that landscape photography is more about light than anything else. Here we see a capture across Ennerdale Water to the north west that adds proof of that saying. The PiP shows yet another view from the East to Angler's Crag with some more nice lighting. Enjoy full size.

Looking east up this sizable lake we see the extent and proximity of it to the fells and mountains of our western Lake District. The water outlet here forms the River Ehen which will eventually reach the Irish Sea just north of Seascale some ten miles away to the west. This is the final photo from our one week stay here in August 2020 (between Corona lockdowns). I took many more pictures and no doubt, some will show up here in the future. I do hope that you have enjoyed this series. Enjoy full screen.

One from last year’s Lake District trip to Ennerdale Bridge. This hill caught my attention with these trees, especially the one on the right. The sheep also thought that shape was a bit strange for a tree. Enjoy full size and have a great week. Ps –and no wise-cracks about there only being two framed sheep :)