Rydalwater is a small body of water between Ambleside and Grasmere. Rydal has been a frequently visited location of mine given good access from the South Lakes. I had the opportunity recently to take my two Boys Thomas 7 and Lewis on his last day as a 2 year old. Following on from our Buttermere circular walk I wanted to get back out with the Boys. I convinced Thomas that Rydal Cave was Batman’s Lake District Hideout so he was naturally interested in visiting.
First of all a stop off at the Gatefoot Gallery in Staveley to drop in some prints.
Thomas and Lewis stood by a 750x500mm oak framed view of Wastwater. Here you can see my selection of Prints of Wastwater That’s Lewis’ biggest smile by the way. Note the clenched fists. Above Lewis’ head is an A3+ print of Goats Water below Dow Crag taken on a previous walk up Coniston Old Man. Behind Thomas’ head is my Sepia Buttermere View Panoramic print in a Walnut Frame.
Not looking too happy now is Lewis, eager to get going for his walk, my Buttermere Tree Panoramic print is in the centre in an 80mm Oak frame, My Wastwater Favourite print in the background A3+ sized and hidden behind Thomas is my 30x90cm Striding Edge print on Helvellyn in 80mm Oak.
My 750 x 500mm prints are a great size. This ones shown in an 80mm wide Oak frame. A feature in rooms of all sizes.
This Buttermere Tree Panoramic print is 30cm tall by 90cm wide. Shown here in an 80mm Oak frame.
My sepia version of the Buttermere View looks great in a Walnut frame. The print is 30x90cm and the frame is 80mm wide.
An A3+ Print of my Wastwater favourite shown here in a 60mm solid Oak frame. Onwards for our Walk.
Parking up at the free Car Park at Pelter Bridge just North of Ambleside and below Rydal, we head up the track to the water.
Yesterday I got my new iPhone 5 until the phone is activated I’m carrying the iPhone 4 too, so I task Thomas with taking some pictures of his own, just look for something interesting I tell him.
Apparently he liked this Tree because he saw the sun shining through the branches and it looked good. His shot is below.
Thomas’ shot of this fine oak Tree.
An alternative view by me.
With his second shot. Processed by Instagram it looks pretty good.
A short walk up the road brings you to a fine view over Rydal from this well positioned bench, at this point there’s a fork in the path, you can either go down to the water’s edge or along a decent path elevated over the water, this route gives fantastic views over the surrounding area and opposite to Nab Scar.
Grasmere is just over the trees.
Nab Scar above Rydal.
Nab Scar from further up the path
A decent path leads up above Rydal and towards the Cave.
Plenty of photo opportunities with the tall trees filtering the Sun.
Come on Lewis. He’s doing well to say his entire legs and chest are wrapped in bandages due to his recent onset of Eczema.
Further up the path Thomas taking a shot of his brother.
Checking the result.
The result. Eyes shut, typical.
Great light through the trees. Processed with Instagram.
Not far to go now. Will Batman be in Dad……
Great light on a pleasant afternoon.
My own saplings. Growing fast.
A fine Oak.
The entrance to Batman’s Lake District Hideout. They were actually scared to enter at this point.
Reflections in the still water.
Looking out of the cave.
Looking back on the Cave and the path back down to Rydal Water.
From here we took a short walk to a vantage point where the views of Rydal and Grasmere are excellent. We were running out of time so headed back from here. This shot was taken with my iPhone 5 using the panorama feature. Not bad for a fully automatic setup.
Available for Catalog work.
Thomas doing what young lads should be doing.
Lewis approves of his walk.
Back down at the waters edge and through the woods for the return journey.
Kissing Gate. This should provide me with enough material for behaviour control when they are teenagers.
Available for Catalog work. Down by the boathouse.
He’s had enough of photos now.
A small boathouse on Rydal.
Panoramic Boathouse on Rydal.
Reflections on Rydal.
A fine residence over Rydal.
A wider Panoramic Boathouse on Rydal.
A wider view over the southern end of Rydal.
A close up of the Boathouse on Rydal.
Back through the woods on the low path to the car park.
Looking back through the trees to the boat house.
Last of the summer green here.
A great short walk out, ideal for young kids given the interest of the Cave. If your staying in the South lakes its worth a trip.
Here you can see more of my Lake District Landscape Prints from around Rydal.
