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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Helsfell Nab, Kendal, Cumbria, Spring
This weekend, it really feels like Spring has arrived.
This weekend, it really feels like Spring has arrived.
Temperatures rose to the mid-teens, finally, and the skies have cleared up. The daffodils are out in full, and this year’s lambs are alternatively dosing in the sun and sucking at their mums.
Despite everything going on in the world—globally, locally, familially—Lisabet and I managed to get out for a good walk in the local area. I’ll never take living in Kendal for granted; 10 minutes out from the front door, and I can be hiking up the fellside with vast views in every direction.
I am very, very fortunate.
All photos taken on my Fujifilm X-T2 using my Fujinon 23mm f/2.0 and my adapted Pentax SMC 55mm f/2.0. Images developed in Lightroom, finished in Affinity Photo.
A clear day above Kendal clock tower, the Ukrainian flag flying high and proudly.
One of the oldest surviving pubs in Kendal, Ye Olde Fleece Inn. Built in 1634.
Despite Brexit, war, economic turmoil, and a global pandemic, it’s wonderful to see the 1657 Chocolate House still going strong.
The ruins of Kendal Castle above the football fields and cricket pitches.
Heading up Beast Banks, free books on offer for anyone who wants them. Also, No Sexists Allowed.
On the Helsfell footpath branching off Queens Road, pigeons are kept as pets, left to freely fly around the area.
The views open up as I climb higher above the town.
Windows XP.
This year’s spring lambs, happily dozing in the sun.
Not a bad place to chill out with your dozing lambs.
Still just a smidgen of snow left on the Kentmere/Longsleddale fells.
The curving shadow of the wall lends itself as a lovely leading line towards the sheep in the field and ultimately to the distant Lake District fells.
Heading back towards town, a curving drystone wall proves an irresistible temptation for a photo.
Layers and layers.
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.
Pandemic Peregrinations: Helsfell Nab, Kendal, Cumbria, Spring
Today’s Government Permitted Outdoor Exercise was somewhat shorter, but no less enjoyable.
Today’s Government Permitted Outdoor Exercise was somewhat shorter, but no less enjoyable.
One of our favourite local hikes we’ve enjoyed since the UK Coronavirus Lockdown has been a circuit up to Helsfell Nab and back, with Serpentine Woods along the way. With the woods looking more lush everyday, and the scenery growing vibrant and brighter, this simple hike really does make you feel very grateful.
A particular highlight, for me, was the abundance of wild garlic everywhere in Serpentine Woods. Most of it is blooming now and their little white flowers are carpeting the woodland floor.
Also, sheep. Plenty of sheep.
All photos taken with my Fujifilm X-T2 using a 16–50mm f/3.5–56 OIS lens. Edited in Capture One using a customised Kodak Ektar 100 film emulation.
The views open up almost immediately as you start ascending the path from Queen’s Road. I like a blue sky but it is nicer to see some fluffy clouds as well.
Lowland lambs are starting to look chunky now. The black-faced ones are Suffolk, I think. Not sure about the others.
As you start climbing up the path towards Helsfell Nab you pass these allotments. Every time we’ve been here we’ve seen a flight of pigeons circle above the allotments countless times. I wonder if they’re racing pigeons…
A North of England Mule (I think) ewe, giving me a customary stare whilst we pass up the path to the left. In the distance, the Kentmere fells.
Yep, taking another photo of a curving drystone wall. Can’t resist it, especially when the rest of the scene looks like this.
Just a wonderful Kendal upland scene with lovely light and colours.
This disused barn marks the point in the hike where you turn back on yourself and start climbing up around the shoulder of Helsfell Nab.
The same barn from above, with the Whinfell Common hills being lit up by the sun.
A vertical, and wider, version of the same scene.
Once you round the shoulder of Helsfell Nab it’s further up until you reach Kendal Fell and its golf course.
Enjoy the view.
Heading back down from Kendal Fell, with Benson Knott to the right and the Howgills in the distance.
A couple chat whilst enjoying the view near Serpentine Woods.
Into Serpentine Woods we go, wild garlic everywhere.
A ribcage of wood.
Completely carpeted in wild garlic.