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.
High Sweden Bridge, Lake District, Spring
It was nice to get a bit of altitude.
It was nice to get a bit of altitude.
I think the last time we hiked the High Sweden Bridge circular was back in June of 2020, just as the UK was starting to come out of the first COVID-19 Lockdown. Wow. Time flies, eh?
With this weekend due to continue its favourable weather conditions, we followed Saturday’s hike around Brough Castle with a longer, more strenuous hike up to High Sweden Bridge in Scandale, above Ambleside. I tell you something: it was so good to finally see the Lakeland fells clearly.
All photos shot on my Fujifilm X-T2 using my Fujinon 23mm f/2.0 and my adapted Pentax SMC 55mm f/2.0 prime lenses. Images developed in RNI Films’ Velvia 100F film profile.
On this occasion we elected to park at one of the free lay-bys before you get into Ambleside proper. This would give us a few extra 1,000 steps or so.
Wansfell Pike (486.9 m/1,597 ft) above Ambleside, clear as a bell in the beautiful light.
We soon found the steep lane that climbs up into Scandale, and the views quickly improved from “This is pretty” to “Bloody hell!”
On the way up, a cute little Robin (Erithacus rubecula) made its presence known to us atop a drystone wall. Didn’t fly or away or anything. Happy to chill and let us take photos.
Soon, High Pike came into our sight, lit up like a beacon in the spring Lake District sun.
Higher and higher the trail went. Astonishingly clear views towards Rydal Water, Loughrigg, Silver How, and the Langdale Fells were enjoyed.
My lovely Lisabet, perched on the ancient packhorse bridge known as High Sweden Bridge.
After crossing High Sweden Bridge, it was time to ascend up the Scandale fell side in order to find the ridge that let back down into Ambleside.
The full extent of Scandale opened up before us. On the eastern side of the valley, a minor footpath continues up the valley to link with Scandale Pass, which takes you onto Kirkstone Pass should you so wish.
When crossing the stile, I paused at the summit of the climb to snap this obvious composition of the drystone wall leading all the way to High Pike.
The Coniston fells come back into view after finding the open ridge back down into Ambleside.
The wonderfully craggy profile of the Langdale Pikes, Bowfell, and Crinkle Crags.
A minor sheep track branches off the main trail, heading towards Nab Scar. The skyline of the fells is impossible to resist a photo.
One last peek at the Langdale Pikes before we drop down the fellside into Ambleside.
The long ridge of Wetherlam sinks beneath the bulk of Loughrigg as we descend.
What a fantastic and bizarre looking tree.
Near Low Sweden Bridge, a flock of young Kendal Rough Fells peacefully graze on the new grass.
What a crackin’ day.
Howgills & Yorkshire Dales, Winter
The week leading to these photos and this post has been… frustrating.
The week leading to these photos and this post has been… frustrating.
On Monday my left shoulder grew progressively stiff and painful. By the evening I was in a lot of pain and I ultimately did not get a second of sleep. Looks like I did another one of my favourite Fit-During-My-Sleep-And-Discolate-A-Limb-Whilst-Shredding-Muscles.
So most of this week has been spent fighting pain and keeping the shoulder immobilised. Apart from the constant pain and lack of sleep being exhausting, it’s also boring.
By the weekend, I’d finally got my pain levels under control and was starting to regain movement in my shoulder. Sunday arrived bright and clear, with blue skies promising a beautiful day. Lisabet took us for a drive through Sedbergh and the Yorkshire Dales, occasionally parking up for short walks and photo snaps. I really needed it.
All photos shot on my Fujifilm X-T2 using my Fujinon 23mm f/2.0. Images developed using RNI Films’ Velvia 100F emulation.
One of my favourite views of the Howgills can be shot from the A684, as you crest the hill past Lily Mere. It felt so good to finally see a clear blue sky after all the storms we’ve endured.
Happily there’s a couple of lay-bys alongside this part of the A684 where one can park and snap some glorious photos. Onwards into the Yorkshire Dales.
Beyond Sedbergh and heading further into the Yorkshire Dales, another viewpoint of the Howgills can be obtained, now looking at their southeastern profile. This is a little area known as Tom Croft Hill.
Further into the Yorkshire Dales, closer to Hawes, we stopped off at the small layby near Holme Heads Bridge for a wee jaunt to check out the beautiful Cotter Force. It was lovely to see the waterfall with a decent amount of water flowing through it.
Everywhere we look, signs of spring are arriving.
When you’re in the Yorkshire Dales, you can always count on an abundance of bare stone barns dotted about the land.
We skirted around the town of Hawes and hopped onto Blea Moor Road, which ultimately takes you to Ingleton and back onto the A65. Views of the magnificent fell Ingleborough entice you all the way along the road.
The area around the Ribblehead Viaduct was jammed with cars. Thankfully, we managed to find a small space to park up and snap some photos of this incredible architectural feat, situated underneath the highest peak of the Yorkshire Dales, Whernside.
Whernside’s eastern face, with a smidge of snow still clinging on. Barely a cloud in the sky.