The Lake District
Mountain Landscape Photographs of The Lake District
The Lake District is one of the most popular areas in Britain, famous for its mountains, forests and lakes offering a peaceful environment with appeal to all ages. Here, within a compact area of less than one thousand square miles, are to be found some of the most challenging and spectacular walking and climbing routes in England and equally a wealth of roadside and elevated locations to satisfy the objectives of even the most demanding photographer.
The character of the region owes much to its geology, which is complex. The rock formations, although not as ancient as those to be found in the Scottish Highlands, have been similarly folded and uplifted before being subjected to the actions of glaciers and meltwater. The valleys and lakes radiate outwards like the spokes of a wheel and at its rocky heart stands England’s highest mountain, Scafell Pike, 978m (3,210ft) overlooking its deepest lake, Wastwater, perhaps the most awe-inspiring and most photographed of all the lakes and embraced by an amphitheatre of peaks including Great Gable, Lingmell and Yewbarrow.
Equally magnificent and only slightly lower in stature are Helvellyn, 950m (3,116ft) and Skiddaw, 931m (3,054ft) rising above the lakes of Ullswater and Derwentwater respectively. Some might consider the Helvellyn range to be the backbone of the Lake District, extending as it does, north to south, for nearly ten miles never dropping below six hundred metres. Its famous cirque of ridges, Striding and Swirral Edge, offer some of the finest scrambling expeditions in the region.
The most westerly of all the lakes and set in the shade of their narrow valleys, Buttermere, and particularly the roadless Ennerdale, offer a slightly more tranquil scene. Rising high above, and overlooking both these valleys is one of my personal favourite Lakeland viewpoints, Fleetwith Pike. Whilst other mountains may reign supreme, few are as immediately identifiable nor offer such an excellent and expansive view of a significant part of this entire region from just one location.
Wastwater
The classic view of Wastwater and the surrounding peaks of Yewbarrow, Great Gable and The Scafell Pikes.
Helvellyn and Ullswater
The view from Place Fell looking across Ullswater to the Helevllyn range and Glenridding and Patterdale.
Striding Edge Helvellyn
Seen from neighbouring Nethermost Pike, Striding Edge on Helvellyn rises steeply from the depths of Grisedale.
Skiddaw, Saddleback and Derwentwater
Skiddaw, Saddleback and Derwentwater from Catbells in late autumn following overnight snowfall.
The Scafell Pikes and Wastwater
Scafell Pike, Scafell and Lingmell are seen to perfection in morning light from across the depths of Wastwater.
High Street and Haweswater
The snow-covered peaks of High Street and Kidsty Pike dominate the view across the depths of Haweswater.
Skiddaw and the Anti-Twilight Arch
The snow covered slopes of Skiddaw are highlighted against the skyscape of the Arch of Anit-twilight.
Ullswater Morning Mists
Seen from the flanks of Gowbarrow Fell, morning mists slowly rise from the waters of Ullswater.
The Scafell Pikes and Great Gable
A panoramic view of the head of Wastwater including Great Gable, Lingmell and both Scafell and Scafell Pike.
The Buttermere Fells
From the summit of Fleetwith Pike, High Crag, High Stile, Robinson, Hindscarth and Grasmere.
Great Gable from Wastwater
The classic view of Great Gable seen beyond the head of Wastwater on a perfectly clear November morning.
Pillar Fell and Ennerdale
Pillar Fell rises high above the lonely hillsides of Ennerdale, seen here from the shoulder of Brandreth.
The Scafells in Winter
From a shoulder on Esk Pike in winter, looking across Eskdale and the snow covered ridge of The Scafells.
Langdale
A panorama of Langdale from Chapel Stile including the Langdale Pikes and Bowfell and Crinkle Crags.
Derwentwater
Derwentwater from Grisedale Pike to the Jaws of Borrowdale from the summit of Castle Head.
Derwentwater from Friar's Crag
The north-western fells of Grisedale Pike, Causey Pike, Catbells and Maiden Moor from Friars Crag on Derwentwater.
Fleetwith Pike from Buttermere
The instantly recogniseable outline of Fleetwith Pike perfectly reflected in the still waters of Buttermere.
Great Gable from Lingmell Beck
Great Gable, with the prominent Napes Crags dominating the skyline, from Lingmell Beck near Wasdale Head.