Orrest Head, Lake District, Summer
In 1930, at the age of 23, a young Alfred Wainwright from Blackburn, Lancashire arrived at Windermere Railway Station, Westmorland, and hiked up the nearby small fell known as Orrest Head (238m/783 feet).
And then, in his own words, “…quite suddenly, we emerged from the trees and were on a bare headland, and, as though a curtain had dramatically been torn aside, beheld a truly magnificent view…”
This experience changed Alfred Wainwright’s life forever. He moved to Kendal in 1941 and started working on his now-famous Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells in 1952, initially just for his own interest.
Lisabet and I decided to revisit Orrest Head recently for our post-work exercise to get some steps in. Of course, I took my camera with me. Orrest Head is such a small and unassuming hill but the views it commands across Windermere towards the Lakeland Fells is indeed spectacular.
All photos shot on my Fujifilm X-T2 with a 16–50mm f/3.5–56 lens using a custom Velvia film simulation.
Looking back along the wooded lane before hiking up the steps towards Orrest Head.
Loads of foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) on the way up to Orrest Head summit.
Not a bad spot for a sit down.
The view that began Alfred Wainwright’s “love affair” with the Lake District.
Coming down and around the shoulder of Orrest Head, this spring’s lambs peacefully grazing, and the gorgeous Langdale Pikes in the distance.
A quintessential Lake District scene.
Two dead trees pulled from the ground, then seemingly arranged root to root. I don’t know why, but I’m not complaining.
After returning from Orrest Head, we added a quick ramble down Millerground to the shore of Windermere.
Not a bad little cottage to have, right near the shore of Windermere.