Cunswick Scar, Cumbria, Winter
The first snow of the season has arrived.
The first snow of the season has arrived.
Fortunately—living where I do—there are plenty of quick routes one can take from the town centre to ascend some nearby hills and check out the expansive wintery views.
The Lake District fells? Howgills? Barbondale fells?
They did not disappoint.
Atmosphere was clean and clear. You could almost reach out and touch the mountains.
All photos taken on my Fujifilm X-T2 using my Vivitar “Series 1” 28–105mm f2.8–3.8 zoom lens. Shot using the Classic Chrome film simulation, edited in Capture One for iPad and finalised in Affinity Photo 2 for iPad.
Cunswick Scar, Cumbria, Winter by Ian Cylkowski is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
We’ve had a week of sub-zero temperatures, resulting in snow. It’s also largely been dry and completely clear, so it was no wonder lots of other people (and their furry friends) were out and about enjoying the views.
My lovely Lisabet, enjoying the beautiful light and atmosphere of the Kentmere fells.
For others, the outdoors are best enjoyed whilst exercising.
Up on the summit of Cunswick Scar, the Coniston Fells positively glow with snow.
Zooming out to capture the entire expanse of the Lake District fells. Not all of it covered in snow as of yet.
However, looking towards the Howgills… wow. Clouds washing over them like a waterfall. Glorious light, highlighting the beautiful contours of the Howgills.
Navigating the steep path around Helsfell Nab towards these barns was… tricky. A popular trail means compacted snow that became frozen over and over again.
Only about 1pm at this point, but already the sun was setting and drenching the land in warm winter light.
Back down to the beautiful Auld Grey Town.
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Cunswick Scar, Lake District, Summer
After a wet week, it was nice to get up on the fells above Kendal.
After a wet week, it was nice to get up on the fells above Kendal.
On the Sunday, Lisabet had a series of obligations to attend to, so I took the opportunity for a solo hike. As Kendal sits in a valley (Kent + Dale, that is, “the valley of the river Kent”), it is flanked east and west by small fells. On the western side of the valley the ground gently rises up before terminating in a series of limestone cliffs plunging down to the Lyth Valley. The main fell here is Scout Scar, a local favourite, but a smaller sibling can be found further north: Cunswick Scar.
On this occasion my route to the summit was a fairly standard one: head up through the winding paths and roads through Kendal to the Helsfell Nab path. Follow the path all the way up and around Helsfell Nab, cross the bridge over the A591, and continue on the gently rising trail all the way to the summit cairn of Cunswick Scar.
A beautiful summer’s day.
All photos taken on my Fujifilm X-T2 using my Vivitar “Series 1” 28–105mm f2.8–f3.8 lens. RAWs converted in Capture One for iPad, developed in RNI Films, finished in Affinity Photo for iPad.
Cunswick Scar, Lake District, Summer by Ian Cylkowski is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
A glorious day in Kendal, full of promise.
Up on Queen’s Road. The views over Kendal here are already beautiful.
On the Helsfell Nab path you round an allotment above Windermere Road. Gardening here must be lovely with views like this.
I can never resist these two compositions when walking the Helsfell Nab path.
It all just lines up in such a pleasing way.
Even the local sheep like to pause from grazing to enjoy the views every now and then.
At these disused barns the path rounds Helsfell Nab and climbs sharply up. You’re then above the A591, where you cross the bridge over the road to continue on towards Cunswick Scar.
The route is clear all the way up to the summit. Sheep peacefully graze and wander the fell.
The summit cairn and the crackin’ views all the way towards the Kentmere fells.
A zoomed in composition shows off the Kentmere fells with light and shadow dancing across their features.
Directly west from the summit, the rolling Lyth Valley is capped by the distance Lake District fells.
Time to navigate off Cunswick Scar’s shoulder. Like Scout Scar, the fell is primarily composed of limestone, so different flora flourishes on the fell compared to the Kendal valley.
The views heading back east ain’t too bad either. Nearest, to the right, is Benson Knott, and in the distance are the beautiful Howgills.
Oh! A winding drystone wall? Time for a photo then.
For the returning route, I chose the path over Kendal Fell Golf Course. Across the field is the back of Helsfell Nab.
A herd of cows rest in the afternoon sun.
Not a bad place for a golf course, eh?
Back down Beast Banks into town.
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Cunswick Scar, Lake District, Spring
Things are really starting to look nice and green now.
Things are really starting to look nice and green now.
After what seemed like a month or so of virtually no rain throughout spring, the April/May cusp has brought a decent amount of overnight precipitation. It seems like the plants really needed it.
On our hike today towards Cunswick Scar via Gamblesmire Lane, it occurred to me that the countryside surrounding Kendal was really popping with verdant hues. Alongside the warm and humid conditions, it was a welcome sign that over the horizon summer was on its way.
Photos taken on my Fujifilm X-T2 using my three prime lenses: a Fujinon 23mm f/2.0, a Laowa 9mm f/2.8, and an adapted Pentax SMC 55mm f/2.0. Images developed using RNI Films' Kodachrome film profiles.
This year's spring lambs are starting to look fat and strong now. What's always discouraging is seeing all the crows hover around them, waiting for a weakling to present an opportunity.
A couple of horses in the fields before Gamblesmire Lane were very contentedly munching away at the meadows full of daisies and dandelions.
Just thought it was a very cool looking tree.
The ancient Gamblesmire Lane, technically an Unclassified Road, meaning that vehicles are allowed on it.
An old tree uprooted by the winter's storms, taking a chunk of limestone with it.
The way to the open rolling land of the Lyth Valley.
There's a few old and rather eldritch trees that line Gamblesmire Lane into the Lyth Valley. One of them was veritably humming with honey bees. I shot a video of them here.
A scene that I couldn't ignore.
We took the junction past Cunswick Hall towards Ash Spring Wood, which was the way towards Cunswick Scar. Parts of Cunswick Hall date from the 1500s.
It's in a beautiful setting.
Looking back at Cunswick Hall, dandelions everywhere.
Into Ash Spring Wood we go. One or two bluebells about, and the wild garlic still hasn't blossomed.
The way up the cliff face of Cunswick Scar involves a steep path through the woods below the scar. A lot of the trees here seem to have survived the winter's storms well, sheltered as they are by the limestone scar.
Onwards and upwards.
A 6-shot vertorama on my 9mm ultra-wide lens, shot from directly underneath the limestone shelf of Cunswick Scar.
Looking back at the steep climb we just made.
The reward! Expansive views from Cunswick Scar's cliff edge.
Despite the humidity and slight haze, the views towards Kentmere were remarkably clear.
My fascination with drystone walls continues unabated.
Closer to Kendal, the Kentmere and Longsleddale fells tease me.
See? Can't resist 'em.
For the route back to Kendal we elected to turn off at Plumgarths through Helsfell Farm, across the main road and ultimately through Kendal Quarry back into the town. I couldn't resist this almost timeless scene.
The lane leading to the quarry.
Seems like we timed things just right. As we were passing the quarry towards Kendal, the sky grew increasingly heavy and foreboding. Not long after returning home, the heavens opened.
Cunswick Fell, Lake District, Summer
Sometimes, as an Englishman, you just need to have a proper English Countryside experience.
Sometimes, as an Englishman, you just need to have a proper English Countryside experience.
For one reason or another, I’ve not been feeling 100% mentally and emotionally this week. Saturday arrived as a glorious summer’s day. We knew the Lake District would be absolutely heaving with people. Instead, we opted for a local 9km walk around the Cunswick Fell area.
It was just the tonic. The sun was warm, but a gentle cool breeze made things comfortable. The fields and meadows were bursting with tall grasses and wildflowers. The atmosphere was crisp and the distant fells were clear as a bell. One of the those hikes where you can’t take a bad photo and makes you feel truly grateful.
All photos taken on my Fujifilm X-T2 using my three prime lenses: a Samyang 35mm f/1.2, a Laowa 9mm f/2.8, and an adapted Pentax SMC 55mm f/2.0. Images were 80% made in-camera using a customised Velvia film simulation, with minor edits afterwards in Lightroom and Affinity Photo.
After leaving the Cumbria Wildlife Trust HQ, where we parked, we took the trail off the road and through the fields. Immediately, scenes like this greeted us. Just pure bucolic perfection.
Buttercups everywhere, and the Kentmere fells so clear you could almost reach out and touch them.
Lisabet snapping as happily as I was.
Near Halhead Hall Farm, a trail through the woods underneath Cunswick Fell takes you 60 m up towards the fell.
Up on Cunswick Fell, the views soon start to open up. Here is the view looking east towards the Howgills.
The Lake District fells across the Lyth Valley from Cunswick Fell. It doesn’t get a lot better than this.
We scanned around the western shoulder of Cunswick Fell, looking for the trail down Scar Wood towards Cunswick Tarn.
This is the limestone woods of Scar Wood, underneath Cunswick Scar. It takes you down to the Lyth Valley.
The trail then leads through the edge of Ash Spring Wood, filled with wild garlic.
And then you pop out of Ash Spring Wood to be greeted with endless fields of tall grass and the Coniston Fells.
Over the wall near us, this gorgeous Holstein Friesian was inching closer, being as inquisitive as cows are.
The way to Cunswick Hall, which is where we join the ancient country road Gamblesmire Lane back towards Cunswick Fell.
Happy cows, basking in the sun.
Just ridiculous views, no matter which way you look.
Looking back down Gamblesmire Lane, the Lake District fells looking crisp as ever even with the extra cloud cover.
A Hawthorn-lined track that leads back to the summit of Cunswick Fell.
My lovely little Lisabet, leading the way back down the woods towards our car.
Just one of those perfect English countryside summer days.
Pandemic Peregrinations: Kendal Fell, Cumbria, Spring
Spring has sprung.
Spring has sprung.
After a relatively dry and bright week, we were very much hoping for similar if not better for the weekend. Saturday came around and we were grateful. A proper spring day.
We took the opportunity to get some shopping in by hiking from the front door to Plumgarths Farm Shop via Helsfell Nab. Then, after acquiring the necessary meat, bread, and tasty beverage, we hiked up Cunswick Scar and back towards Kendal Fell into the town.
All in all, another solid 16,000+ steps or so.
There were so many birds singing, dappled light scanned across the land, the grass is getting green, people were out and about with smiles on their faces… a change is coming.
All photos shot on my Fujifilm X-T2 using my three lenses: a Samyang 35mm f/1.2, a Laowa 9mm f/2.8, and a Pentax SMC 55mm f/2.0. Developed using RNI’s Kodachrome film profiles.
I can rarely resist taking a photo of this house whenever I walk by. I believe the date stone on it says 1669 AD, making it around 350-years old. Crazy.
Hiking up towards Helsfell Nab, you pass some of these allotments that enjoy tremendous views towards the Far Eastern Fells. Plenty of people on their plots busy working away.
Another favourite composition of mine I can rarely resist. Give me dry stone walls, an open gate, and an all-encompassing view.
Just before we reached the track directly underneath Helsfell Nab, I stopped for this quick shot as I noticed the sun scanning light across the rolling fields above Kendal.
Large disused barns that mark the point where the footpath turns sharply and ascends up and around Helsfell Nab. What a dream it would be to own and convert these into housing. Imagine the views.
Over the bridge that crosses the A591, another photo that I just have to stop and shoot.
To get to Plumgarths you have to come off the footpath towards Cunswick Scar and make your way through Helsfell Farm.
These beauties will be let out onto the fields any day now.
Our primary destination: Plumgarth’s Farm Shop.
Lisabet nipped inside whilst I waited. We’re fortunate to be able to afford, and have access to, local produce here in Cumbria.
We also nabbed ourselves a couple of flat whites and nipped across the road into the gardens of the Cumbria Wildlife Trust to enjoy. The entrance to the Trust features these magnificent trees.
After shopping and hot beverage refreshments, we took the footpath beyond Plumgarth’s up Cunswick Scar via this steep wooded track. It’s usually quite muddy, and thus slippy, but thankfully a lot of the mud had dried out enough for ample traction.
Looking back the way we came. Can’t wait for this to start looking a lot greener. After reaching the top of Cunswick Scar, we were not prepared for what we saw across the Lyth Valley…
Check that out. Not only was the atmosphere clear enough to get a good glimpse of the Lake District fells, but the remnants of a temperature inversion had caused these “waterfalls” of clouds to spill over and around the fells. Absolutely incredible scenes.
And we weren’t the only ones enjoy this Spring Equinox epicness.
Cumbria being what it is, there’s always plenty of fell runners about.
Up on Kendal Fell we pause to look back and gawp once again at the incredible conditions playing out on the Lakeland fells.
Making our way back down Kendal Fell, with sprawling views across the town to enjoy.
You know what I’m like with winding drystone walls…
An absolutely beautiful day.
Benson Knott high above Kendal, getting more verdant by the day.
A lovely display of flowers high up one of the walls down Beast Banks. Google thinks this is Aubrieta deltoidea, sometimes known as lilacbush, purple rock cress, or rainbow rock cress.
Always gotta get a shot in of the Kendal Town Hall clock tower.