Scout Scar, Lake District, Summer
My poor Lisabet is still fighting COVID-19.
My poor Lisabet is still fighting COVID-19.
So, after being a dutiful boyfriend and sorting out brews/shopping/whatnot, I took the opportunity for a solid hike up to Scout Scar.
The weather is really starting to pick up in the UK now. Whilst we haven’t seen temperatures that the likes of France are currently experiencing (pushing 42°C), parts of the southeast England and London have been hitting 30°C.
Up here in Cumbria, temperatures have been hanging around the low 20s, but with a pleasant breeze. This made the hike up to and around Scout Scar all the more glorious.
All photos taken on my Fujifilm X-T2 using my Vivitar “Series 1” 28–105mm ƒ/2.8–3.8 zoom lens and Laowa 9mm ƒ/2.8 prime lens. Images made 90% in-camera using the Velvia film simulation, finished off in Affinity Photo.
Up Beast Banks we go. I can never resist looking back down the road and admiring the views.
Everywhere is looking so lush and impossibly pretty.
The path below Brigsteer Road winds it way to Underbarrow estate.
Crossing over the A591.
Past Bradleyfield Farm and heading up the back of Scout Scar, I spot some Swaledales chilling in the adjacent fields.
As I climb up the views looking back open up and you can start to make out the Howgills and their rolling forms.
And onto Scout Scar edge! Crackin’ light all around and still loads of wildflowers along the scar.
In the distance you can see all the way across the Kent Estuary towards Arnside Knott.
All the way across the Lyth Valley to the Kentmere and Kirkstone fells.
One of the Lyth Valley’s little villages gets illuminated by the sun as it breaks through the clouds. The Lake District fells rise above.
A lone white cottage in the Lyth Valley, with the unmistakeable shape of the Langdale Pikes above.
Approaching Hunter’s Leap and the sheer drop down to the valley floor.
Time to equip the 9mm ultra-wide lens for some near-far compositions.
Getting as close as I dared to the edge so I can nab some striking shots along the limestone edge near Hunter’s Leap.
Wonderful shelves of limestone near Hunter’s Leap. Just don’t look down.
At Hunter’s Leap flowers galore decorate the limestone karst landscape.
Looking all the way back along the edge of Scout Scar towards the Kent Estuary.
This is the nick on Scout Scar known as Hunter’s Leap.
Daisies populate Scout Scar edge near the Mushroom. In the distance are the Kentmere fells.
This part of Scout Scar marks the point where I move away from the edge and back over the hump of the fell towards Kendal.
The Coniston fells catch the scanning rays of the sun like the Lyth Valley below.
Another precipitous drop that I edged closer to for this composition.
One last look along Scout Scar edge all the way to the Eastern Lake District fells before I venture down the back of the fell again.
Sheep happily chilling in the fields near Bradleyfield Farm.
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Scout Scar, Lake District, Spring
2022 has been fuckin’ wild so far.
2022 has been fuckin’ wild so far.
But finally, things are a bit happier. Family members that had been in hospital for separate issues are now home and recuperating.
It’s been stressful, and there have been somber conversations.
Let’s hope the 2nd half of 2022 improves.
We’ve got my Better Half’s sister staying with us for a while. She, too, is a photographer, and considerably more established and talented than me. Today, the sun rose and a glorious spring/summer’s day was upon us. We all, keenly, felt the need to be out in nature. What better way than to explore our own back garden as it were? Up to Scout Scar we go!
All photos taken on my Fujifilm X-T2 using my three prime lenses and a new lens (more on that further in the post): a Fujinon 23mm f/2.0, a Laowa 9mm f/2.8, and an adapted Pentax SMC 55mm f/2.0. Developed in Lightroom, finished in Affinity Photo.
Heading up Helsington Laithes, a scene of serene summery simplicity.
How about this for r/RuralPorn?
Finally, up the back of Scout Scar and over its spine to enjoy the extensive views across the Lyth Valley towards the Lake District fells.
A lone tree growing out of the limestone acts as a nice “signpost”, pointing at the Lake District fells.
I never get tired of the sheer drop from the cliffs of Scout Scar.
Looking back south. The atmosphere was so clear that we could easily make out the Kent Estuary, which leads out to Morecambe Bay, with Arnside Knott above it.
The Kentmere and Longsleddale fells using the limestone cliffs as a leading towards them.
I think this is one of the bigger vertical drops along Scout Scar, highlighted by the tiny people waltzing along the top.
I think these might Helianthemum nummularium, or Common rock-rose. They apparently prefer dry, base-rich soil, and as limestone—which is what Scout Scar is made of— contains a lot of Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3), an alkaline material, this would make sense.
I can tell I’ve not been up Scout Scar much during the late spring/summer, because I had no idea there were so many beautiful flowers along the cliff tops! My ultra-wide angle lens had a lot of fun.
A 3-shot vertorama featuring the nick and drop of Hodgson’s Leap with the Lyth Valley and the Lakeland fells beyond.
It’s so good for the brain to see everything looking so green again.
Beyond the nick of Hodgson’s Leap, Lisabet and her sister were motoring on ahead, heading towards the Mushroom. In the distance, the Kentmere fells, clear as a bell.
View after view after view. It’s hard to pick just one.
The Lake District fells, with the Langdale Pikes in the centre, shot from the summit of Scout Scar, which is crowned by the Mushroom shelter.
Back down the back of Scout Scar, with the Howgills looking lovely.
After we made it back to town and refuelled with coffee and lunch, we browsed some of the charity shops. In the window of Oxfam, I spotted a Vivitar “Series 1” 28–105mm f/2.8–f/3.8 zoom “macro” lens, made for the Pentax K/Ricoh mount. I already have a Pentax SMC 55mm f/2.0 with the relevant adapter to mount on my Fujifilm X-T2, so this zoom lens would work too. It included the box case, plus manual and beautifully made leather pouch case. And all for £30! So I nabbed it! And the above is a shot using my new lens, zoomed in all the way to 105mm. Bargain!
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Brigsteer Park, Lake District, Spring
I wanted to see a lot of bluebells one last time for this year.
I wanted to see a lot of bluebells one last time for this year.
A work colleague tipped me off about Brigsteer Park, a woodland south of its village namesake, Brigsteer. The village sits underneath Scout Scar, and there’s a surprising amount of woodland underneath this fell.
So, Lisabet and I parked up at Helsington St. John’s Church and plotted a route down the fell slope, through a Bee Reserve and into Brigsteer Park for a ruddy good exploration.
All photos taken on my Fujifilm X-T2 using two of my prime lenses: a Fujinon 23mm f/2.0 and an adapted Pentax SMC 55mm f/2.0. Images developed using RNI Films’ Kodachrome film profiles.
The views from the car park Helsington St. John’s church are sublime. All the way across the Lyth Valley to the Lake District fells.
The southern shoulder of Scout Scar and the small road that allows access to Helsington St. John’s Church.
As we navigate the footpaths down the fell slope, Whitbarrow commands your attention directly across the Lyth Valley.
Couldn’t resist a shot of this gorgeous old house, covered in ivy.
A delightful little cottage on Park End Lane just before you enter Brigsteer Park.
Whoever lives at the cottage is a keen gardener. We had to look up what these weird and wonderful plants were. Turns out they’re probably Chilean Rhubarb, Gunnera tinctoria. Also, not actually related rhubarb though you can apparently consume Chilean Rhubarb as you would normal rhubarb.
Looking back at this impossibly idyllic scene before we head into the woods.
It turns out that Brigsteer Park is a proper woodland, thick with growth and full of old trees.
An old tree with its own “cane”.
Look at this old yew tree with its “ligaments” and textures. Isn’t it magnificent?
Another old yew, found further into the woodland.
As we neared the exit, I turned back to snap this scene. Unfortunately, I didn’t see any sign of carpets of woodland here at Brigsteer Park. Perhaps we were in the wrong bit?
Whitbarrow Scar once again commanding our attention from across the Lyth Valley.
After carefully navigating through some young cows and bullocks, we returned to Park End Lane. The gardener’s cottage here, cosily nestled in the woods of Brigsteer.
Everywhere is exploding in colour and wildflowers.
Brigsteer Causeway, which cross the wetter and more swamp-like part of the Lyth Valley.
Brigsteer is such a bonny village.
I mean, come on.
Not a bad place to do the rounds.
As we started climbing the road up back towards St. John’s Church, the views opened to us again. Here you can see right across the Lyth Valley and even the Kent Estuary towards Arnside Knott.
Not a bad way to spend the morning.
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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.
Barkbooth Lot, Lake District, Spring
Welcome back to Barkbooth Lot!
Welcome back to Barkbooth Lot!
We're starting to see those beautiful bluebells appearing in woodlands across Cumbria now, so over the weekend we enjoyed a wander around our new favourite bluebell spot, Barkbooth Lot.
There's another good three weeks or so before all the bluebells are fully out and in their prime, but the sights were still glorious. Plus, it were a bonny day. Why not get out and enjoy it?
All photos shot on my Fujifilm X-T2 using two of my prime lenses: a Fujinon 23mm f/2.0, and an adapted Pentax SMC 55mm f/2.0. Images developed using RNI Films' Portra 400 film emulation.
The way into the woodland is clear and immediately we can see that the bluebells were out.
The late afternoon light was absolutely crackin'.
A survivor from Storm Arwen. Lots of other trees weren't so lucky.
Fantastic shapes, like two dancers in the sunlight.
Two trees share a trail of bluebells between them.
There's so many more bluebells to come in the next couple of weeks.
This way for more bluebells.
Ferns unfurling. A sign that summer is coming.
Some of the casualties from Storm Arwen.
Down at the gentle beck, gurgling its way through the woodland.
Forest bathing is a true healing salve for the soul.
A remnant from an older storm.
Probably one of my favourite shots from the whole walk.
Torn in half. The sheer force of Storm Arwen.
Out onto the fell side of Barkbooth Lot, the Lyth Valley fells in the distance.
Scout Scar, New Year’s Day, Lake District, Winter
Happy New Year everyone! Here’s to a joyous and—hopefully—more globally positive 2022.
Happy New Year everyone! Here’s to a joyous and—hopefully—more globally positive 2022.
The weather has been… weird. In fact, the UK set a new temperature record for New Year’s Eve, reaching as high as 16.5ºC. That is uncharacteristically warm. Temperatures maintained their elevated levels on New Year’s Day, too, but high winds also arrived. After a decent lie in, Lisabet and I decided on a local favourite to enjoy the first day of the new year: Scout Scar.
The last time we went up Scout Scar was almost exactly a month ago, and conditions could not have been more different. For New Year’s Day we took the time-honoured route up Captain French Lane and onto Brigsteer Road, following that all the way to the back of Scout Scar. Then, it’s a simple exercise of following the trail up the gentle slope of Scout Scar all the way until you reach it’s precipitous drop down to the Lyth Valley.
The wind was roaring all around us and views were obscured by haze and low cloud covering the Lake District fells. However, the sun was trying its hardest to burst out in between the rushing clouds. There were other sounds that were less familiar as we approached the summit… more rhythmical, and human. Turns out that Drum Nation Kendal had arrived at the summit for a joyous New Year’s Day drum performance on the fell.
Unexpected? Absolutely. But very awesome.
All photos taken on my Fujifilm X-T2 using two of my prime lenses: a Fujinon 23mm f/2.0 and an adapted Pentax SMC 55mm f/2.0. All images made in-camera using a customised Classic Chrome recipe, with finalisations made in Apple Photos, Pixelmator, and Darkroom.
Heading up one of the steeper roads in Kendal, Captain French Lane.
Crossing over the A591 via Brigsteer Road, cars struggling to drive straight in the powerful crosswinds.
Looking back to Kendal, and you barely make out the slopes of Benson Knott, Kendal’s most prominent fell.
The Scout Scar landscape is one of limestone and sparse clusters of small trees.
Plenty of other folk were heading up Scout Scar for a New Year’s Day yomp, despite the roaring wind.
As we crested onto the plateau of Scout Scar, it became clear there was an immense light show occurring over the Lyth Valley and the Kent Estuary.
My lovely Lisabet, fighting the storm near the cliff edge at Hodgson’s Leap to nab some crackin’ light.
The swirling clouds, full of moisture, suffused the sunlight, and drenched the winter limestone landscape in golden light.
Away from the sun, the view north along Hodgson’s Leap to the “mushroom” on the summit of Scout Scar is always a good ‘un.
The sun catches the cliffs of Scout Scar briefly, whilst the Lyth Valley and the the Lakeland Fells remain shrouded in dark foreboding clouds.
We work our way north along the cliffs of Scout Scar, taking in whatever views we could find, and generally enjoying the dramatic conditions.
It’s a long way down…
A reminder of what was happening behind us. A lot of the Lyth Valley was still flooded after recent downpours.
Our ears prick up at a more unfamiliar sound near the Scout Scar summit. Was that… drumming?
Why yes, yes it is!
Drum Nation Kendal, the epitome of fun, competing with the wind on volume.
Everyone was having so much fun.
Gathering round for the finale.
One last look at the spectacular light show over the Lyth Valley and Kent Estuary.
The legacy of Postman Pat in Kendal. Did you know?