Derwentwater
Derwentwater offers a rich variety of natural and structural elements for landscape photography which works for sunset and sunrise times.
Access around the lake and the surrounding areas is generally good, with ample car parking available, there is a footpath which circumnavigates the lake and is a very pleasant walk.
During the winter months snow covered fells are common, and during very cold spells the lake will freeze over.
Locations for landscape photography are:
Catbells
The Jaws of Borrowdale
Manesty Jetties
Buttermere
Access to Buttermere is generally by car, although there is a limited public transport bus service.
Car parking is limited, and the area can become very congested during public holidays and favourable weather conditions.
There is anexcellent path that circumnavigates the lake, although the path along part of the northern shoreline is quite rocky and undulating in places.
Landscape photography at Buttermerecentres on mirror-like lake reflections and rugged mountain backdrops.
During the winter months the surrounding fells attract regular dustings of snow on them, but due to the well sheltered location the lake is protected form the extreme cold temperatures.
Locations for landscape photography are:
The Buttermere Lone Tree
The Sentinels / Southern Pines
Fleetwith Pike
Haystacks Waterfalls
Wasdale
Wasdale a dramatic and rugged landscape photography highlights around the Wasdale valley in the Western Lake District.
Because of its remoteness it tends to be quieter than the central areas of the Lake District but be aware when the weather is favourable the area soon becomes gridlocked due to the lack of car parking and single-track roads.
Wast Water is England’s deepest lake (258 feet) is framed by the sheer, plunging rock debris of The Screes on one side and the towering peaks of Great Gable and Scafell Pike at the head.
Wasdale is predominantly a sunset location due to its west facing trajectory, but winter sunrises can be amazing, they just need some composition thought and patience.
Locations for landscape photography are:
Yewdale
Great Gable
Sca Fell
Lake side rocky outcrops This being a more remote location, it attracts more extreme weather conditions, heavy rain and high winds prevail, and in winter large deposits of snow can arrive on the higher fells.
Why Winter Is a Special Time for Lake District Photography
Snow-covered mountains and frosty landscapes create a different perspective to that of the spring and summer months
Winter sunrise and sunsets create cooler conditions for your photography, which can include turquoise colures skies, albeit they do not last long.
Due to the cooler and calmer conditions misty mornings and atmospheric lakes become more common as does weather inversions in the valleys.
Mirror like lakes creating fantastic reflections are to be hold, these can be very temperamental and are difficult to predict, but if you are in the right place at the right time, it will be something you remember for a long time. The Lake District is defiantly quieter in most of the popular locations with fewer visitors during the winter months.
