Lake District 18th/19th April 2015 - Derwentwater

Lake District April 2015

Saturday/Sunday  18th/19th April

First trip to the Lakes (or anywhere really walking wise) for 2015.

Set off Saturday morning with the sun shining, heading up the A1 and across the A66 West.
A short stop at the refurbished Mainsgill Farm shop just after Scotch Corner along the A66, and a late farmhouse breakfast.

Then a call at Cocklakes Farm shop just after Penrith/Reghed on the A66 for some supplies (The Blencathra beef pie!)

We headed to Keswick and had a walk round, more supplies from Booths supermarket, and then headed to our lodge at Bram Cragg Farm. Having stayed in the same lodge last September we knew what to expect, beautiful accommodation and a peaceful location. We unpacked late afternoon, and enjoyed the views, settling in.

http://www.bramcragg.co.uk/accommodation/lodges/

With such a nice evening, we drove up to Latrigg for the sunset, and walked the 20mins or so from the car park to enjoy the views and some photos.
It was quite cool as the sun went down, and Sue left me for a while as it was getting a bit cold and I am still getting to grips with the finer points of my Camera/Tripod and new ND Grad filters.

The ones of me are hand held shots Sue took while we were just admiring the views as the sun was going down.

Canon 6D SLR, with Canon 16-35mm L IS F4 Lens, Tripod, 0.6 Hard ND Grad for those photo equipment minded. Top shot at around 35MM, wider view 16mm below.

Swapped to Canon 70-300mm L IS F4-5.6 Lens for a zoomed view across Derwentwater.

Change of perspective, with wide angle lens back on again, and the much photographed (and used) bench at the top of Latrigg.

Sun much lower now and almost down. Narrow aperture to diffract the light and give the "Star" effect, bit of flare though, still learning!

View down the valley towards Bassenthwaite lake.

Left Latrigg, and by now fingers very cold. Headed off back to the lodge to warm up.


Sunday 19th April 2015

This trip was always going to be a more 'take it easy' kind of one, as Sue's ankle injury from a couple of months earlier was still playing up, so idea was short and low walks.

We had fancied a lake side walk along Derwentwater for a while, part ferry, part walking, but never done it as the higher fells were always calling.

The day did not look as nice, with cloud and intermittent sun, but we drove into Keswick mid-morning, and bought tickets for the ferry from the tourist information office.

It was a short trip across the lake from Keswick landing to Hawes End (only about 5 minutes), and we then set off walking along the lake shore path.

The walk was an easy 3 miles down to the south end of the lake and Lodore Falls Hotel.
The 7.5 miles includes the ferry journey!

Easy paths, and some boardwalks across what could be boggier bits at the south end.

Woodland prevailed along much of the route.

At the south end, views across the Borrowdale Valley.

Finishing the shore walk we crossed the Borrowdale road to the Lodore Falls hotel, and followed signs through the hotel grounds and a very short walk up to the falls.

Hand held shots so no long shutter speeds, guess I will have to come back again some time with tripod.

We had hot drinks at the hotel before heading across the road to the ferry stop. The day had brightened a bit after a short shower earlier, and the view below is from the Lodore Falls Marina (Ferry Stop). 

A 20 min or so ferry hop back to Keswick, and we had a mooch around the town before heading back to the lodge.

The view above is taken from the lodge with the 70-300mm zoom, looking up to Helvellyn with the snow still up on the ridge.