Kendal Fell, Cumbria, Spring
The daffodils have arrived!
The daffodils have arrived!
Spring is in the air, so I decided a local wander was in order to see how spring was progressing. I was delighted to see daffodils blossoming here and there, but the other side of the coin was seeing the damage this winter’s storms had done to Serpentine Woods.
Thankfully, after the morning’s rain had cleared, the sun was bright and the fells were clear of clouds, making for tasty views from above Kendal. I’ll taken living here for granted.
All photos shot 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’ Velvia 100F film profile.
The neighbour’s daffodils are all blossoming beautifully.
Lovely light on the Kendal clock tower, with the Ukrainian flag flying high.
Looking back down what might well be Kendal’s steepest road: Beast Banks.
Lovely to see the daffodils out, although they are a week or so early.
You’re never short of a good view around Kendal.
The daffodils near this cottage haven’t quite made it yet.
I came off the road and up into Serpentine Woods. Immediately, the scenes I see inform me that I haven’t been into Serpentine Woods since this winter’s storms. Trees down everywhere.
The way through the woods to Kendal Fell.
One of my favourite spots in Serpentine Woods, now with significantly fewer trees.
The best bench in Kendal, in my view.
Above the town, it’s easy to pick out the details and smaller scenes, and zoom in on them.
You know what I’m like with drystone walls…
See?
Life, finds a way…
Heading back down Beast Banks and the beautiful views it offers.
I came off Beast Banks early to trundle through Collin Croft. In its heyday during the mid to late 19th century, Collin Croft would have been home to a whole host of tradesmen, including printers, tobacconists, a brass foundry, an iron foundry, a whitesmith, joiners, coal merchants, bell hangers, nail makers, cabinet makers, chair men, bobbin makers, armourers and many more.
Serpentine Woods, Cumbria, Spring
The wild garlic in Serpentine Woods has finally flowered.
The wild garlic in Serpentine Woods has finally flowered.
It’s took its sweet time, but then spring this year has been considerably colder. Nevertheless, it’s wonderful to see the woods completely carpeted in broad green leaves and delicate white flowers once again.
The weather, too, is finally starting to warm up. Perhaps summer is on its way.
All photos shot on my Fujifilm X-T2 using two of my prime lenses: a Samyang 35mm f/1.2, and a Laowa 9mm f/2.8. Images were made 80% in-camera using a customised Classic Chrome film simulation, with minor edits afterwards in Lightroom and Affinity Photo.
The beautiful Town Hall of Kendal getting some early evening light.
One of my favourite walks up towards Serpentine Woods involves taking two flights of steep steps.
Pretty good views from the balcony of this place, eh?
One of my favourite trees in Serpentine Woods.
My heart starts to race as I waltz further into the woods, seeing all the white flowers of wild garlic everywhere.
I do love me some gnarly roots.
There we are, wild garlic flowers everywhere. I feel very fortunate to enjoy sights like this in my home town.
Compulsory shot of one of the benches available to sit at, once you pop out of the top of Serpentine Woods. Wonderful views.
Back down into the woods to find more wild garlic. The smell immediately made me hungry.
Mum and daughter enjoy the wild garlic and birdsong around my favourite spot in Serpentine Woods.
A veritable carpet of pretty white flowers, illuminated by soft evening light.
Even crawling up the fragments of limestone dotted around the woods.
Looking back at the path that leads to the “pointless gate” I love to photo so often.
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: Serpentine Woods, Spring, Cumbria
Step 1 of the government’s Spring COVID-19 Response Plan is in action.
Step 1 of the government’s Spring COVID-19 Response Plan is in action.
Students have gone back to school and in theory by the 29th of March people will be allowed to meet outdoors in bigger groups.
The UK has also recently passed the vaccine milestone of 25 million people.
There is a… careful optimism in the air. The weather appears to be brightening and drying up, and the days are getting longer.
I know, personally, that I’m feeling a growing urge to be in the outdoors and for longer.
Thankfully, and fortunately, Lisabet and I have been able to plan some holidaying and exploring within the UK for 2021 (finger’s crossed). We’re looking at the Northumberland coast in the summer, and two areas of Scotland in the autumn.
Let’s hope all goes well with the vaccination programme and easing of restrictions.
In the meantime, here’s some photos of a recent post-work wander Lisabet and I enjoyed, taking in the sights, sounds, and smells of Serpentine Woods, above Kendal. Can’t wait until this place is filled with wild garlic blossom.
All photos taken on my Fujifilm X-T2 using a Samyang 35mm f/1.2 lens. Developed using RNI’s Kodachrome film profiles.
This bookshop hasn’t been in operation here since 2013, but this wonderful signage is still attached to the building.
Heading up Finkle Street with the setting sun creating a lovely warm glow on the horizon. The name of the street comes from the Old Norse vinkl, meaning “elbow”. Appropriate.
As we start to head up Beast Banks, I look back for a shot of Kendal Town Hall as it catches some golden light.
Part way up Beast Banks, I took another look back down for one of my favourite views in Kendal.
Kendal has proper lovely buildings.
On the entrance to Serpentine Woods we found this lovely patch of flowers in the shade and thought, “Bluebells? Already?!” Turns out, probably not. Google thinks they’re alpine squill, Scilla bifolia.
There was a time when I was overly concerned with achieving maximum exposure in my photos, attempting to capture as much highlight and shadow information as possible. Then later, a variety of complex editing and blending methods would be used to eke out as much dynamic range in an image as possible. These days, I’m much content to let a blown out highlight remain so, especially when shooting right into the sun. It’s the sun, of course it’s bright.
Serpentine Woods is filled with charming little scenes like this.
I love that soft light you get in the woods, especially when the last of the day’s light is dipping below the horizon.
One of my favourite little spots in Serpentine Woods: the Unnecessary Gate.
One of the aforementioned sculptures: a ladybird on the edge of a bench.
Once you pop out of the top of Serpentine Woods, an old bench invites you to rest and take in the view across Kendal towards the Eastern Lake District fells. Lisabet happily did so.
Vines weaving over a tree trunk like a novice knitter.
Not entirely sure what this sculpture is supposed to represent…
A lovely little sculpture of a rat perched on some limestone as we leave Serpentine Woods.
Back out the woods, we branch off Beast Banks towards Garth Row, passing by this view of Kendal near Castle Howe.
It’ll be a fine day when the Brewery Arts Centre is back open again.
Pandemic Peregrinations: Kendal Fell, Cumbria, Spring
It seem to me that there’s a cruel twist of fate in action, that the weather in Cumbria should consistently become drier and brighter just as the whole of the UK goes on lockdown due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19).
It seem to me that there’s a cruel twist of fate in action, that the weather in Cumbria should consistently become drier and brighter just as the whole of the UK goes on lockdown due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19).
Nevertheless, during our Government Allotted Outdoor Exercise period, Lisabet and I hiked from the front door up to Kendal Fell, through its golf course, and back down.
After a fairly mizzly start to the day, the light this afternoon was wonderful and my camera was very happy.
Take care, and stay safe everyone.