Photographing the Lake District: The Most Beautiful Places to Visit (Fotovue Photographing Guide)

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When the tarn isn’t frozen you can catch some interesting reflections. Take care around the water’s edge as the ground around the tarn is very wet and boggy. The Lake District (or Lakeland) is by far the UK's most popular national park and it's easy to see why. The Lake District, is a mountainous region in the northwest corner of England, in the county of Cumbria and home to England's highest mountain, Scafell Pike (978m). Known for its panoramas of craggy hilltops (or fells), mountains, tarns and lakes, this area attracts over 15 million visitors a year and is a real draw for photographers. Unlike many national parks around the world, people live and work within the park and their lifestyles, working practices, homes and traditions are intertwined with the location making it a fascinating place to explore and photograph. In the book's first section, author Stuart Holmes describes 70 locations and hundreds of viewpoints for the reader to visit. Each location chapter starts with an overview describing historical, literary, geological, and natural history features including the photographic potential. Detailed directions with maps and sat nav information are given, along with access information including whether a location is accessible by wheelchair. And I haven’t even mentioned the west side of the lake. Suffice to say I wouldn’t dismiss Windermere as a place for landscape photography. Despite being very busy for much of the year and not having any spectacular mountain scenery close by, it can nevertheless offer some really beautiful photographic moments – you just have to look for them. Park on the road near St Mary’s church at Rydal. This is the road up to Rydal Hall. The parking here can be limited, so arrive early to get a space (there’s an honesty box to leave donations to the church for parking). Walk down the road and turn right, then access a footbridge over the River Rothay from the A591, close to the Badger Bar pub.

If you’re feeling a little more energetic, head up onto Low Fell for spectacular views down into the Buttermere valley. I’d recommend taking a few lenses (if you have the option) to shoot with varying focal lengths. I carry a 16-35mm, a 24-70mm, and a 70-200mm with me and this gives me a great range in just three lenses. You’ll probably want those wide vistas from the top of a fell, but you may also want to capture closer, more detailed images. Meanwhile, a short walk away at Crow Park, is a wooden gate and wire fence that provides a great subject when partly submerged by high water. Walk to Friars Crag too and explore the views south to the jaws of Borrowdale. When you are shooting lakeside, the best conditions are typically still, cool, misty mornings and Derwentwater is a great morning location throughout the year. 2. Ashness Launch LEE: With over 15 million visitors going to the Lake District every year, a lot of them being photographers of some level, you may find it hard to find a unique shot of any location within the Lake District...but I implore you to try! Whenever I visit a location, I refer to Google to see what the most popular shots of a location seem to be and then use that to look for something different. Try shooting different angles or using something in the foreground to frame your subject. In this guide, I share plenty of Lake District landscape photography tips to get you started. I’ve also included seven of my favorite locations. Of course, in a place as beautiful as the Lake District, it’s impossible to mention every awe-inspiring view, so I highly recommend you spend some time exploring the area on your own.

Okay, it’s not so little. This National Park covers 2,362 square kilometers and showcases the country’s largest lakes, tallest mountains, and most stunning scenery. As you might guess, the Lake District is named after16 glacial lakes that lie in long ribbons among its fells, moors, and verdant valleys. Close to Ambleside, this peaceful tarn and fell offer lovely views toward Grasmere, and the craggy Langdale pikes. Another absolute classic and captured in all seasons and weathers, go for early morning reflections or snow-capped peaks. If time allows, I‘d recommend a walk along Lingmoor Fell from Side Pike. As you climb higher the fells, which are so beautifully wrapped all around the Little Langdale and Great Langdale valleys, become ever greater in number. You’ll find 360 degree views that really are quite staggering. While there is plenty to explore in the Penrith and eastern areas of the lakes, Ullswater is the jewel in the crown. Being approx. 9-miles in length, it is the second largest lake in the Lake District.

Because we tend to carry quite a bit of kit, I’d probably recommend taking the path that starts near Manesty and avoids a slight scramble to the peak, which is required from the paths on the other side. If you score a sunny day, it’s also one of our favourite places to wild swim in the Lake District. WASTWATER PHOTOGRAPHY TIP We chatted with local Vallerret Ambassadors Lee Gale and Simon Baxter to get their best tips for visiting and capturing the magic of the Lake District. What are the highlights you can expect to see when visiting the Lake District: There are some fantastic elevated views to the southern end of Rydal Water from Whitemoss Common, and the effort needed to reach them is minimal. Park in the Whitemoss (pay and dispay) car park, on the right hand side of the road as you travel along the A591 from Ambleside.I would take a selection of ND filters if you like to shoot long exposures and Graduated ND filters a polarising filter to help balance the light in your images. An easy walk from Skelwith Bridge to Elterwater takes you along the River Brathay with small copses of trees accenting the scenes beautifully. It’s easily accessible for walking, making it a popular location all year round.

Another amazing view is from the ‘Wastwater flats’ right up past the screes along the lake to Scafell & Scafell Pike beyond. Once voted ‘Britain’s Favourite View’ this landscape is the Lake District National Park emblem.

Grasmere View, Lake district

There are a number of little islands on Ullswater; this particular one is called Wall Holm, and I love for it Scots pines which can be beautifully silhouetted. For the many walkers that visit, it’s the chance to get away from the urban environment and explore the region’s unspoilt peaks and fells. With four mountains reaching over 3000 ft, and many more with spectacular viewpoints over the various valleys and lakes, there’s a challenge available to suit everyone’s ability level. You can park near the cattle grid on the road between Blea Tarn and Great Langdale, although parking is limited to just a few cars. Early morning typically provides the best light here.