2016 has got off to a pretty rubbish and slow start for me in terms of everything not only Landscape Photography and seen as how we are exactly half way through the year I decided it was time to try and fix that with a visit to the most beautiful place in the Lake District. Buttermere.
Buttermere to me is simply the most beautiful, most scenic and special place in the whole of the Lake District, Cumbria and probably the UK. I love it here. The scale of the mountains as I call them that run along the Western side of Buttermere, namely High Stile, High Crag and Red Pike or the High Stile Ridge as they are collectively known appear to dominate along the length of Buttermere. They rise so quickly and give a real sense of scale to this peaceful place.
At the Southern end of Buttermere is for me the most beautiful view in the UK. Looking over Buttermere to Fleetwith Pike and across Warnscale to Haystacks is simply perfect. I have been coming here to Buttermere with my camera since I first starting shooting Landscapes over 15 years ago. I’ve been here in the pouring rain, howling wind, flat grey murk and cloudless baking sunshine and whatever the weather I love it here.
So tonight I decided to go for it, I saved up the energy and nothing was stopping me heading over there tonight, I needed this, I needed recharging and energising not only physically but mentally and artistically. I find visiting places such as Buttermere gives me a new found enthusiasm and I was longing for, something positive, something peaceful and just to be in awe of natural beauty.
Beautiful light on Honister Pass.
A good night for a Drone Flight…
There is so much character on the Honister Pass between Honister Slate Mine and Buttermere Village. It was great to explore this area frm a new perspective as seen in the video below.
Onwards to Buttermere to hopefully catch the last of the sun before it dips too low.
Here is the scene looking over towards the Scotts Pines at the Southern end of Buttermere. A couple were having a BBQ under the green tree in the middle of the scene.
Magnificent light on the lower slopes of the High Stile Ridge over Buttermere. I Love this place.
It’s so good to be here on a night like tonight. Perfect.
You can see the Retreat from here….
A close up of Warnscale Bothy or the Retreat as my print is named. Below is a copy of one of my most popular images from up there. Looks like someone is up there tonight enjoying the view. Envious am I.
A 90cm Print of The Retreat, framed in Solid Oak giving external sizes of 112cm x 52cm. You can see this print in my gallery here.
Can you spot the Retreat?
Looks like the hut has some interest tonight from the locals.
The small white hut that features in so many of my photographs. looks like it’s occupied tonight with a couple sat outside by an open fire and smoke coming from the Chimney of the Hut, what a great little place. I could happily live there.
Here’s a 120cm x 40cm Print of my Buttermere View Print looking at this scene from the lake shore. Framed in a solid Oak frame with external dimensions of 146cm x 66cm this print is available here in my online Gallery.
Here is another of my favourite new prints, Haystacks as seen from Buttermere shown here as a 68cm Print in a Hardwood Satin Black frame. This print is available in m online here.
Looks like my Haystacks print is in pretty good company in their John Lewis catalog below.
Here is my Haystacks print along side Picasso, Warhol, Erin Clark and Matisse.
Here’s a short video of my flight over Buttermere.
Onwards to Crummock Water now…
Thomas’ shot of a small bird as I flew over Crummock water. A pied wagtail maybe?
A quick flight over Crummock Water.
Seems like a Paragliding convention on the shores of Buttermere. They will be waking up to the best view in the UK tomorrow morning, this has to be the most beautiful camping location in the UK.
Looks like the Coastguard was busy, hopefully on a training mission rather than someone in distress.
A lone Swan looking for Supper.
That’s it for my first visit to Buttermere of 2016. What a beautiful and refreshing place to visit. I will be back soon enough.
Driving back home it was worth a stop at Ashness Jetty on Derwentwater to capture the last glowing embers of light beyond the mighty Skiddaw.
The Rocks in the foreground breaking up the scene a little.
I love a Twilight Jetty shot.
A great end to a great evening.
I couldn’t resist this cliche of a shot looking down the Jetty. I don’t often take this shot from here as I find the Jetty not to be level which spoils the composition for me.
You can see more of my Lake District Landscapes from Buttermere here a few Prints of Crummock Water here and my current collection of Landscapes from Derwentwater and around Keswick here.
