Reston Scar, Lake District, Winter
After the recent freeze, winter fog has descended over the land.
After the recent freeze, winter fog has descended over the land.
It’s been soupy thick and still, gently drenching everything and chilling bodies down to the bone.
Over the weekend, the outdoors called us—as always—and so we tried somewhere a little different. Above the village of Staveley, which also serves as the entrance to Kentmere, a small yet imposing fell dominates the skyline: Reston Scar. It may only be 834 feet (254 m) in height, but it’s relative isolation allows for cracking views…
If you could see them past the fog.
Still, it made for wonderfully moody and wintery photos.
All photos taken on my Fujifilm X-T2 using my Vivitar “Series 1” 28–105mm f2.8–3.8 zoom lens. RAWs converted in Capture One for iPad, processed in RNI Films’ Kodak Portra 400 profile, finalised in Affinity Photo 2 for iPad.
Reston Scar, Lake District, Winter by Ian Cylkowski is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
The southern aspect of Reston Scar drops steeply down to the village of Staveley, allowing for—potentially—extensive views.
Near the summit lies Kemp Tarn. I don’t know if it’s any good for wild/outdoor swimming, but on this day it was completely frozen over. I’d have got closer to its shore but the surrounding land was boggy, even in these temperatures.
The edge of Reston Scar, looking over to Craggy Wood/Piked Howe, before it drops right down to Staveley village.
I enjoyed the intersecting lines of the stone wall and the fell slopes.
The summit cairn of Reston Scar, with the merest hint of Ings village below.
In better light, I’d like come back to Reston Scar and explore more of these craggy formations I found. I’m sure there’s some rad compositions to be had.
For now, these will have to do.
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West Burton Falls, Yorkshire Dales, Spring
Another Yorkshire Dales waterfall ticked off.
Another Yorkshire Dales waterfall ticked off.
On the way back from our weekend at Pateley Bridge, where we scrambled up Trollers Gill and explored Almscliffe Crag, we decided no the scenic route right through the centre of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
From Pateley Bridge this involves driving through Upper Wharfedale and scaling the gap between Buckden Pike and Yockenthwaite Moor, before dropping down into Bishopdale and joining the A685 west at Aysgarth.
Before the main road, though, we decided to stop at West Burton, a small and beautiful village. Scenes of a pristine Yorkshire Dales village are available in every direction, featuring a large village green, aged limestone buildings, and friendly residents.
Even better, not 5-minutes walk from the village green, one can find and explore the stunning Cauldron Falls, also known as West Burton Falls.
All photo shot on my Fujifilm X-T2 using two of my prime lenses: the Fujinon 23mm f/2.0, and an adapted Pentax SMC 55mm f/2.0. Images developed using RNI Films' Portra 400 film profile.
Even after a dry spell there was still plenty of water flowing over the falls.
From the other side of the gorge that the waterfall had carved out, it's possible to navigate across some rocks to get right in the middle of the gorge.
It's easy to see these falls are called Cauldron Falls, as millennia of erosion by the waterfall has created a natural bowl of an amphitheatre.
No Yorkshire Dales beck would be complete without a beautiful and ancient stone packhorse bridge.
I navigated as close to the waterfall as the slippery rocks allowed.
Back at the village green, father and son enjoy a kickabout.
The fells of Bishopdale and Walden Moor embrace the village in a comforting hug.
The beautifully manicured village green runs alongside the Main Street through the village. In the distance are the Wensleydale fells.
There were some gorgeous old Yorkshire Dales cottages to gawp at around the green.
A proper cosy and sleepy little place.
Gotta have a local pub in a Yorkshire Dales village.
A crackin' way to cap off the Easter weekend.
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.