Serpentine Woods, Cumbria, Spring
There’s a lot going on right now.
There's a lot going on right now.
So, with another glorious spring day on the horizon, Lisabet and I booted up for a hike up the fellside of Kendal into Serpentine Woods.
In my opinion, Serpentine Woods looks its best at this time of year compared to any other. That's because the woods are filled with wild garlic, Allium ursinum. Around the middle of May the wild garlic produces a carpet of beautifully delicate white flowers and fills the air with the delicious scent of garlic.
Beyond the woods, Kendal looked spectacular in its greenery. Nature's restorative powers are not to be dismissed.
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 made 90% in-camera, with finalising in Affinity Photo.
A good route to Serpentine Woods involves walking up Kendal's steepest road, Beast Banks. Halfway up the road, a side street branches off. This is Garth Head, a medieval lane linking Beast Banks with Captain French Lane.
Everything's looking wonderfully green now.
Chinese Wisteria, Wisteria sinensis, and the old iron-wrought gate at Beech House, creating a lovely scene I had to capture.
So much green! Our route lies up and to the left.
This beautiful cottage sits right underneath Serpentine Woods. In the summer the front of the cottage explodes in flowers, and during the Christmas period it's often covered in a dazzling array of Christmas lights.
Into Serpentine Woods we go.
The woods sits on a shelf of limestone, which occasionally protrudes and creates little clearings in the woodland.
A family enjoy a wander through the woodland and its bounty of wild garlic flowers.
My favourite little area in Serpentine Woods, the "pointless" gate.
On goes my ultra-wide 9mm lens for some compositions involving some of the Storm Arwen casualties.
Getting this close to the wild garlic, the smell was intoxicating.
Out of the top of Serpentine Woods, the views over Kendal and its valley are stunning. It was nice to see plenty of families out, enjoying nature.
This bench signals our way back down the fellside.
This year's spring lambs are getting nice and fat now.
Fantastic cloud formations were building above Benson Knott, which sits above the town.
Across the Kendal valley towards the Whinfell Common and the Howgills.
To the north, the Kentmere fells look tantalisingly beautiful.
The path follows this dry stone wall all the way back down into town.
One last look back north.
Just one of many allotments in Kendal. This one seems to be home to a flock of homing pigeons.
Closer to Windermere Road and the clouds are building up.
I do love me some cloud porn.
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: 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: Helsfell Nab, Kendal, Cumbria, Spring
Today’s Government Permitted Outdoor Exercise was somewhat shorter, but no less enjoyable.
Today’s Government Permitted Outdoor Exercise was somewhat shorter, but no less enjoyable.
One of our favourite local hikes we’ve enjoyed since the UK Coronavirus Lockdown has been a circuit up to Helsfell Nab and back, with Serpentine Woods along the way. With the woods looking more lush everyday, and the scenery growing vibrant and brighter, this simple hike really does make you feel very grateful.
A particular highlight, for me, was the abundance of wild garlic everywhere in Serpentine Woods. Most of it is blooming now and their little white flowers are carpeting the woodland floor.
Also, sheep. Plenty of sheep.
All photos taken with my Fujifilm X-T2 using a 16–50mm f/3.5–56 OIS lens. Edited in Capture One using a customised Kodak Ektar 100 film emulation.
The views open up almost immediately as you start ascending the path from Queen’s Road. I like a blue sky but it is nicer to see some fluffy clouds as well.
Lowland lambs are starting to look chunky now. The black-faced ones are Suffolk, I think. Not sure about the others.
As you start climbing up the path towards Helsfell Nab you pass these allotments. Every time we’ve been here we’ve seen a flight of pigeons circle above the allotments countless times. I wonder if they’re racing pigeons…
A North of England Mule (I think) ewe, giving me a customary stare whilst we pass up the path to the left. In the distance, the Kentmere fells.
Yep, taking another photo of a curving drystone wall. Can’t resist it, especially when the rest of the scene looks like this.
Just a wonderful Kendal upland scene with lovely light and colours.
This disused barn marks the point in the hike where you turn back on yourself and start climbing up around the shoulder of Helsfell Nab.
The same barn from above, with the Whinfell Common hills being lit up by the sun.
A vertical, and wider, version of the same scene.
Once you round the shoulder of Helsfell Nab it’s further up until you reach Kendal Fell and its golf course.
Enjoy the view.
Heading back down from Kendal Fell, with Benson Knott to the right and the Howgills in the distance.
A couple chat whilst enjoying the view near Serpentine Woods.
Into Serpentine Woods we go, wild garlic everywhere.
A ribcage of wood.
Completely carpeted in wild garlic.