Lawson Park, Coniston, Lake District, Autumn
We had opportunity this weekend to visit somewhere a little different.
We had opportunity this weekend to visit somewhere a little different.
As we move from Summer to Autumn—with the increase in stormy downpours apparent—the quality of light improves drastically. But before the legendary Lake District autumnal colours arrive, we’re in peak fruit and berry harvesting season. What better way to observe and learn about growing fruit and vegetables than a tour of Lawson Park above Coniston Water?
A small dwelling has been sited on Lawson Park since the 14th century, when the Cistercian order of monks at Furness Abbey emparked the land here and leased out their building to charcoal burners for use in iron smelting.
The ownership of the building and land has changed hands multiple times over the centuries. By the late 1800s and early 1900s, a succession of tenant farmers lived in the farmhouse, kept livestock and worked the hard uneven land around Lawson Park. The last tenant farmer here vacated the property in the 1950s. England’s Forestry Commission bought the property and house in 1947. Liverpool Community College leased the house from the 1970s for use as outdoor and agricultural educational visits.
By 2000, Grizedale Arts director Adam Sutherland leased the farmhouse with his partner Karen Guthrie. At that time the place was little more than a spartan stone house filled with bunk beds including no central heating. They began the process of renovating the farmhouse and creating the gardens that now lushly surround the area, including the help of Japanese rice farmers in 2007.
It’s a fascinating story and I felt very honoured to have the opportunity to photograph it.
Photos taken on my Fujifilm X-T2 using my Vivitar “Series 1” 28–105mm f2.8–3.8 zoom and Laowa 9mm f2.8 prime lens. RAWs converted with Capture One for iPad, developed in RNI Films, and finished in Affinity Photo for iPad.
Lawson Park, Coniston, Lake District, Autumn by Ian Cylkowski is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Lawson Park has no large-scale parking so we had to park at Brantwood ½ mile away and walk along the narrow East of Lake Road before taking the track up towards Lawson Park. That meant we got to enjoy lovely views of Coniston Water and the Coniston Fells in gorgeous light.
Upon locating the forestry track we climbed higher and higher towards Lawson Park. The views over Coniston Water towards the Coniston Fells, and the Old Man of Coniston (802 m / 2,632 ft) in particular, get better and better.
The light and especially the atmospheric clarity were astonishing. I almost felt I could reach across the lake and touch the fells.
Active coppicing around Lawson Park is still very much evident.
The ferns are beginning to turn colour into their autumnal rust.
Inside Lawson Park house. They’ve done a magnificent job bringing up the building to spec.
Not a bad place to spend a dark evening in.
Above the living room is a study room with books galore. Visitors were free to peruse through what they liked.
Of course, the house enjoys magnificent views towards the Coniston fells.
The flowers around the farmhouse were teeming with pollinators.
Karen Guthrie, Residential Warden of Lawson Park. It’s her learnings and vision that have shaped the gardens and land around Lawson Park into the thriving, sustainable, and environmentally-friendly place it is now.
Her guided tour around the land of Lawson Park and her work managing it was fascinating. This included these boardwalks laid to navigate through some of the bogs, made with local larch.
Karen and the other Grizedale Arts folk were keen to onboard and involve young and precocious artistic talent for various projects around Lawson Park, such as this hut built by art students.
A conifer, Picea alcoquiana, native to Japan and very reminiscent of Japanese bonsai trees.
These hydrangea were humming with insect pollinator activity. Even Karen was surprised.
Lawson Park’s vantage point is sensational, here picturing Yew Pike above Coniston village. To the right, an arts sculpture known as The Err, reminiscent of the Bowderstone above Borrowdale.
A simple larch archway in the farmhouse gardens, which will eventually be covered in creeping vines.
Two young lads make drawings of the view before them.
The Kitchen Gardens complete with polytunnels. Fruit and veg grown here feeds the residents and visitors of Lawson Park and supplies ingredients to nearby Farmer’s Arms in Lowick.
The public footpath back through the woods towards Brantwood, the former home of John Ruskin.
The Yewdale fells catch some of the reappearing late afternoon light as we head back to Brantwood.
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Grizedale Forest, Lake District, Spring
Welcome to Grizedale Forest.
Welcome to Grizedale Forest.
After a morning of joint optician appointments, the day was looking fine and ripe for some hiking. Where would we go? Lisabet suggested Grizedale Forest, which I immediately leapt on. She’s never been to the area, and the last I visited was so long ago that I cannot summon any memories of the place.
Grizedale Forest can be found south of the famous Lakeland village of Hawkshead, in between the lakes of Windermere and Coniston Water. If you’re curious about the name it originates from Old Norse, the language of the Vikings. “Grize” comes the Old Norse gris, meaning a “boar” or “pig”, and “dale”—from the Old Norse dalr—means “valley”, giving us “valley of the pigs”. The area stretches over 24 km² and features a number of trails for walkers and cyclists, small tarns and fells, and a fully-featured visitor centre.
We parked some distance away at Moor Top, hiked into Grizedale village, and hopped onto the Carron Crag Trail, with the aim of reaching the summit of Carron Crag at 314 m (1,030 ft).
The hike vastly exceeded our expectations and the views from the summit of Carron Crag were outstanding. The Coniston fells looked incredible and we could even make out a highly localised hailstorm falling over Seat Sandal!
Another crackin’ day.
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. Developed using RNI’s Kodachrome film profiles.
The way down to Grizedale village.
On the trail we quickly gain height via the clearly-marked finger posts. Lisabet’s eagle eye spots some interesting minute details and goes in for some snaps.
Some of the trees near Carron Crag were covered in thick sheets of moss, which I couldn’t resist making some photos of.
Wonderful shapes and textures of all the trees and their branches absolutely coated in moss.
A side trail heading deep into the dark forest…
Just one of the many incredible views from the summit of Carron Crag! We could see a highly localised hailstorm drenching Seat Sandal above Grasmere.
The Old Man of Coniston (802 m/2,632 ft) from the summit of Carron Crag, clear as a bell.
More of the Coniston fells, catching some dappled light through the increasing cloud cover.
A wider panorama of the Coniston fells from Carron Crag, with the Old Man on the left.
Coming down the other side of the summit, Lisabet finds one of many sculptures dotted about the forest.
The way back down into the woods, with the Kentmere fells clearly visible.
There’s something unique and magical about woodland light.
Some interesting contraptions that mountain bikers can investigate on their woodland trails.
A gentle Ent, standing guard at the entrance of the Milwood Trail.
Tarn Hows, Lake District, Autumn
Our new jam is sunrise hikes.
Our new jam is sunrise hikes.
After summiting Loughrigg Fell as the sun rose up last weekend, we ventured out for another sunrise hike. This time we started from Yew Tree Tarn near Coniston, and hiked up through the woods in a ravine called Glen Mary to find a delightful succession of waterfalls called the Tom Gill falls. Following the gill, you eventually pop out at Tarn Hows, where we were greeted with crystal-clear reflections and the sun rising up above the surrounding fells.
We took the Tarn Hows circular trail anti-clockwise to hitch up onto the crags above the tarn known as the Howgraves crags. Lots of cuddly Herdwick sheep were happily grazing around the crags here. We then rejoined the trail anti-clockwise before exiting at its northwestern junction towards the Cumbria Way. This takes you back towards the A593, north of Yew Tree Tarn, where we followed the path alongside the road before returning to the car.
Incredible views, peaceful sounds, gorgeous light, and cuddly sheep. What’s not to love?
All photos shot on a Fujifilm X-T2 with my new Samyang 35mm f/1.2 lens using a customised Classic Chrome film profile.
A fairly still Yew Tree Tarn with the first of the day’s light just starting to hit the crags of Holme Fell (317 m/1,040 ft). The last time we saw this tarn was early summer, and it was completely dry.
The first of the cascades known as Tom Gill falls. Starting to get some autumn colours in the Lake District now.
The main waterfall of the Tom Gill falls, dropping 30 ft. This is a vertorama, or even a “bokehrama”, comprised of six landscape frames at 35mm/f1.2, stacked top to bottom.
Looking back to my lovely Lisabet as we continue up the Glen Mary ravine.
Eventually we pop out of the ravine onto Tarn Hows, with crisp reflections and golden sunrise light.
Perfect reflections of the south bank of Tarn Hows.
Another vertorama comprised of three landscape shots at 35mm/f1.2, stacked top to bottom, showing the glowing woods we came out of.
A beautiful Herdwick ewe, giving me that characteristic quizzical and curious look from her perch.
As we climb up the crags above Tarn Hows another Herdwick ewe emerges from the bracken, giving me a look. Behind her is the glowing face of Wetherlam (763 m/2,502 ft).
One or two people have arrived on the Tarn Hows trail as more sunlight illuminates the fells and woodlands. High above is the Old Man of Coniston or Coniston Old Man (802 m/2,632 ft), the highest of the Coniston fells and once the highest peak in Lancashire before the formation of the county of Cumbria.
The Langdale Pikes peep just above the woods around Tarn Hows. This is a 4-shot vertorama, stacked top to bottom, at 35mm/f1.2.
Looking down to Tarn Hows from the crags above it. Beyond are the Grasmere Fells.
An 8-shot vertorama, highlighting this naked tree as it catches the light.
Another flock of Herdwicks grazing in the woods around Tarn Hows, with the rising sun breaking through the canopy.
We exit the Tarn Hows circular trail onto the Cumbria Way, which rises gently towards the A593. Along the way we’re treated to sweeping views of the Coniston Fells and their autumn colours. This is a 3-shot vertorama, stacked top to bottom, each shot a landscape frame at 35mm/f1.2.
Where there’s a winding dry stone wall, there I am trying to photo a composition.
On the way back home we stop off at Staveley for a bacon butty and a flat white at More? Bakery.
She loves a good brew.