Kendal, Cumbria, Winter
Winter has arrived rather abruptly.
Winter has arrived rather abruptly.
After a week of near- and sub-zero temperatures, the weekend arrived and the snow fell. In Kendal, conditions didn’t seem too bad so we decided to hop int’ car and head into the Lake District proper for some lovely snowy mountain photography.
At Ambleside, we quickly decided we should turn back.
The further we drove into the Lake District, the heavier the snow was. We decided the sensible thing was to turn back and return home. Ultimately, this turned out to be the correct decision. The central and southern Lake District area was buried in snow. 5,000 people have been left without power, and cars have been dumped where they stand, with people seeking temporary shelter.
Today we woke up to a snow covered Kendal. So, we donned our winter gear and some sturdy boots to have a waltz around town whilst we got some errands done.
All photos taken on my Sony α7ii using my Pentax SMC 28mm F3.5 and Pentax SMC 55mm f2.0 prime lenses. RAWs developed in Lightroom using RNI Films’ Kodachrome film profiles. Finalised in Photoshop.
Kendal, Cumbria, Winter by Ian Cylkowski is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
My Lisabet, immediately digs in and cleans up for the good of the neighbourhood.
Virgin snow in the courtyard.
Looking back down the cobbled yard to our place. An almost timeless scene.
Families were out in full, making snowmen, throwing snowballs, and sledding on hills.
Abbott Hall, its grounds covered in snow. I love the symmetry of this composition.
The sky attempted to brighten up, but to no avail.
Pleasing shapes and lines created by fresh snow on a winding garden fence.
The picturesque Nether Bridge. I love how timeless this scene is.
Heading back home via Kirkland, the old part of Kendal town. The main road’s been cleared, but I’m sure lots of the minor country roads are still suffering.
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Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria, Summer
It was time for Lisabet’s quarterly haircut at Wilderness Hair in Kirkby Lonsdale.
It was time for Lisabet’s quarterly haircut at Wilderness Hair in Kirkby Lonsdale.
Whilst she was getting an upgrade for her glorious curls, I enjoyed a long summer’s hike all around Kirkby Lonsdale and it’s beautiful environs.
Kirkby Lonsdale’s generally gorgeous whatever the season, but it is particularly resplendent in summer. All the trees are in bloom, houses are decorated with flowers, and the views are rolling, green, and pleasant.
Even better, there was a cricket game on. Can you get more English bucolic?
All photos taken on my Fujifilm X-T2 using my Vivitar “Series 1” 28–105mm f2.8–f3.8 lens. Developed with the new Capture One for iPad.
Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria, Summer by Ian Cylkowski is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Main Street features this beautiful house completely covered in ivy. One of my favourites.
Currently Kirkby Lonsdale is decorated with Union Jacks, occasionally interspersed with Ukrainian flags. The Union Jacks have been since Armed Forces Day on 25th June.
Main Street features rows of independent shops, cafés, and pubs, adorned with potted flowers.
I followed the path through St. Mary’s church yard and down the Radical Steps to the riverside walk.
The River Lune at Devil’s Bridge was swollen and fast-flowing after the week’s intermittent heavy downpours.
Devil’s Bridge was built sometime in the 14th century, making it around 600–700 years old. Motorised traffic still crossed the bridge until the 1930s when the new Stanley Bridge—pictured in the distance—was built in 1932.
From the top of Devil’s Bridge you can enjoy gorgeous views of the River Lune.
Plenty of people and families were happily playing around the banks of the swollen Lune. Even divers felt brave enough for a dip and a swim.
The green by the bridge and river is a popular picnic area too.
Nearby Devil’s Bridge, cricketers were beginning their warm-up for the day’s match.
Abbot Hall on Mitchelgate, one of Kirkby Lonsdale’s older buildings. Constructed in the 17th century with modifications in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Mitchelgate, one of Cumbria’s most beautiful streets, with its view downhill towards Gragareth in the Yorkshire Dales.
See what I mean about Kirkby Lonsdale in the summer?
Looking up New Road. Lots of posh and/or expensive cars in Kirkby Lonsdale these days, indicative of the people’s wealth in this town compared to when Lisabet was growing up here.
Sometimes there’s nowt better than chilling on a bench and enjoying a local game of cricket. Even better in a setting like this.
We ventured back to St. Mary’s churchyard for some ice cream with one of Lisabet’s friends, Marie. On a nearby headstone I spotted this Jackdaw that I had to take a snap of.
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Great Langdale, Lake District, Summer
It has been far too long since I’ve been to Great Langdale.
It has been too long since I’ve been to Great Langdale.
In fact, from what I can make out, the last time I visited Great Langdale was November 2020. That’s bad.
And a shame. Great Langdale is one of my favourite places in the whole of the Lake District.
Thankfully I have some time off whilst I transition between jobs, and the UK summer is in full swing. It was time to reacquaint myself with some of the Lake District’s most recognisable peaks.
Great Langdale did not disappoint. My goodness.
All photos shot on my Fujifilm X-T2 using my Vivitar “Series 1” 28–105mm ƒ/2.8–3.8 zoom lens. Images made 90% in-camera using the Velvia film simulation, finished off in Affinity Photo.
I managed to get some parking at the LDNPA’s official car park, right in the heart of the Great Langdale valley. Merely stepping out of the car park offers you scenes like this.
A true Lake District scene: towering craggy fells, stone walls and cottages, green grass, Herdwick sheep.
There were plenty of ewes and their lambs freely milling around the roads and lanes in the valley.
The first leg of the hike I wanted to explore was to head east towards Oak Howe. This part of Great Langdale is heavy with summer meadows and at this time of the year they’re brimming with flowers. Plus, you get panoramas like this.
I threw my lens wide open and got down low to snap the Langdale Pikes high above the fields and fields of buttercups.
Oak Howe cottage, with Oakhowe Crag towering above, itself a subsidiary top of Lingmoor Fell.
One of my favourite spots in Great Langdale, shot near Oak Cowe cottage next to Great Langdale Beck. The Langdale Pikes looking as epic as ever.
For the second leg of the hike, I traced my steps back west, capturing compositions of the Langdale Pikes along the way.
The fist-like crags of the Langdale Pikes to the right, Bowfell to the left.
Whitegill Crag stands protectively over the valley floor and its inhabitants.
Rossett Farm with Thorn Crag and Loft Crag above, like axe heads thrust into the sky.
The western aspect of Great Langdale features its highest fells, accessible via the fell in the middle of this photo known as “The Band”. To the left is Crinkle Crags (859 m/2,818 ft) and to the right is Bowfell (902 m/2,959 ft).
Some kind of rose, I think? I couldn’t tell you which one but it were pretty, just sitting there in the hedgerow.
As I head closer to Stool End Farm, Pike o’ Blisco (705 m/2,313 ft)—south of Crinkle Crags—makes its presence known.
A pied wagtail (Motacilla alba yarrellii) sits atop a drystone wall long enough for me to focus and nab this shot.
A side valley that branches off the main Great Langdale valley, Mickleden, features this great wall of rock known as Rossett Crag, peaking at Rossett Pike (651 m/2,136 ft).
The road to Stool End Farm, which marks the beginning of many popular ascents up to the likes of Bowfell, Crinkle Crags, and beyond.
The western aspect of the Langdale Pikes peaks at Pike o’ Stickle (709 m/2,326 ft), before dropping sharply down to the valley floor.
Heading back east towards the car, this part of the Langdale Pikes is very popular with rock climbers who fancy tackling some tricky climbs.
I love this place.
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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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Hawes Bridge, Kendal, Cumbria, Summer
COVID-19 is in da house.
COVID-19 is in da house.
2 years and 3 months after the initial UK-wide Lockdown announcement, my poor Lisabet has contracted the virus.
She’s being quarantined in the bedroom, door shut, windows open, and donning a mask whenever I need to go in to deliver brews or food.
She’s coping well but the coughing does not sound nice.
As I’m transitioning between jobs at the moment, I actually have a bit of free time before I start at my new position. Thankfully this means I’m able to be useful in the house and help look after her.
Today, Lisabet insisted I make use of this week’s mini-heatwave and head out for a nice waltz in nature. So I did. A good 7-mile circular jaunt from Kendal town centre to a local favourite and back, Hawes Bridge.
All photos taken on my Fujifilm X-T2 using my Vivitar “Series 1” 28–105mm ƒ/2.8–ƒ/3.8 and a Laowa 9mm ƒ/2.8 prime. Images made 90% in-camera using Øyvind Nordhagen’s OWH Daylight Fujifilm recipe, gently finished off in Affinity Photo.
A grey heron (Ardea cinerea) standing in the middle of the River Kent, waiting for lunch. I love when they adopt this more “hunched” stance; sort of makes them look like a grumpy old man in the rain.
Looking back at the heavily overgrown path I was following all the way to Scroggs Wood.
Beyond Scroggs Wood the trail heads through the open fields alongside the River Kent. It’s at this point that pollen from all the grass really starts to wreak havoc with my sinuses.
Like a beautiful bonsai tree, but bigger.
The clear way to the falls at Hawes Bridge.
Above Hawes Bridge falls lots of teeny falls trickle into the river from the fields above.
The gorge around Hawes Bridge is proper lush with flowers and vegetation. And insects. And pollen.
Hawes Bridge falls, looking a lot tamer and smaller with the lack of rain in recent months.
Thousands of years of erosion because of this waterfall have carved overhangs above the river. Be careful near the edge.
Bumble bees happily lapping up the pollen on all the flowers in the gorge. My sinuses and eyeballs were not has happy with all the pollen.
The gorge is lush and verdant, framed nicely underneath Hawes Bridge.
On goes the ultra-wide lens to really feature some of the shapes in the limestone carved by the waterfall.
Through the bridge I zoomed in deeper into the gorge, looking almost jungle-esque.
I hopped on top of Hawes Bridge for some compositions looking down into the deep dark gorge.
The other side of the gorge towards the falls. You can see how the waterfall has carved shelves and ledges.
Spider webs? No. These are probably from ermine moth caterpillars, created as a form of protection. Creepy-looking, eh?
Back out of the gorge, I elected to follow the footpath along the A591 all the way back into Kendal. I knew this route would be windier and keep the bugs away. And help cool me down.
This beautiful cottage at Prizet sits just alongside the A591.
As I near Kendal, this scene reminds me that—in Cumbria—you’re never far away from the countryside.
The ruins of Kendal Castle sitting above Lound Road.
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Paddy’s Lane, Cumbria, Summer
2022 has got more twists and turns than a goat’s intestines.
2022 has got more twists and turns than a goat’s intestines.
This isn’t the place to rant. Suffice it to say, it’s been a super frustrating year. Thankfully, I have had a small nugget of personal positive news, which I’ll clutch tightly to my chest and use as a shield for whatever 2022 has next for me.
As it’s summer in Cumbria that means it’s sunny as well as rainy. Over the weekend I had some time to enjoy a local hike from Kendal up to Paddy’s Lane via Old Sedbergh Road. The clouds and conditions were pretty epic on the way up; unfortunately I got caught out on the way down and got pretty soaked.
Managed to keep the new lens dry, though. And thankfully, the Fujifilm X-T2 is weather sealed.
All photos taken on my Fujifilm X-T2 using a Vivitar “Series 1” 28–105 mm f/2.8–3.8 lens. Developed in Lightroom, finished off in Affinity Photo.
Now that the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations are over, Kendal Town Hall has re-erected the Ukrainian flag above the town.
These houses along Thorny Hill always put me in mind of Harrogate.
Underneath the railway line and onwards to Old Sedbergh Road.
With all the intermittent periods of rain + sun + rain + sun, I imagine this fella’s got his work cut out on his allotment.
Heading up Old Sedbergh Road, I spy three alpacas happily grazing in the fields.
Looking back at the route I took, the light still good. This wouldn’t last long. Look at those clouds above Kendal Fell…
As I climb the Lake District fells reveal themselves. It’s all looking a bit brooding and foreboding.
A final blast of sun before the storm clouds really close in.
The distant fells start to get hazy as the approaching rain saturates them.
Hoo boy, that’s the direction I’m heading in, too. Looks like I’m gunna get drenched…
Other people had timed it well and were already on their back down into the town.
I took the opportunity to nab some proper stormy images before the rain blew across the Kendal valley towards my position.
The dog walkers ahead quickly donned their hoodies as the gentle pitter-patter of rain started to fall.
As the rain got heavier I took shelter underneath a thick pair of trees and decided to wait things out. Whilst I did, I snagged this composition of the road onwards.
Eventually I made it back to town and the rain let up for long enough that I could snap a pic of this magnificent and ancient building.