I’ve been meaning to take the kids up Gummers How above the southern tip of Windermere for ages. I’ve been up here twice previously, once in the snow and again with Thomas when he was 4. Not with Lewis, who is now 5.
The walk is pretty easy-going which suits me at the moment but the reward for such a small climb is great. I wanted to time it so I was on the Summit for sunset and hopefully catch the best of the afternoon light as we made our way up.
Thomas now 9 seems to have found a new type of energy that once he’s committed to something he gets on and makes great progress. He charged ahead and I caught him here stood in awe of the sight before him.
I asked him what he was thinking of while he stood silent watching. He replied “I felt like the king of the world” I cannot tell you how pleased I am to share these experiences with my children in the Lake District Landscape but more than that for them to appreciate and feel privileged like I do.
Quite often photographic professionals will advise you not to shoot into the Sun, but I like it, there is something quite appealing about a blazingly warm bright scene that captivates me and makes me feel warm.
On reaching the summit there is a fine panoramic view stretching for miles in all directions. We were lucky that the clarity was very good and you could easily pick out landmarks from other counties and deeper into the Lake District.
The Summit itself doesn’t offer a direct view over the southern end of Windermere. Following the path leads to a ridge that presents a sweeping panoramic view from the bottom of Windermere leading up towards Ambleside.
I find it fascinating watching the changing light over the Landscape.
As the sun set for the day it’s always worth a look over your shoulder to see what effect the changing light is having in the opposite direction. Here you can see the soft purple hues adding some pleasing colour to the sky and the lack of cloud adding to the appeal, although it was getting very cold quickly. Time to retreat and head home before it’s completely dark. The walk back to the Forestry Commission car park is relatively straight forward albeit a bit dark in the woods on the final section.
All in all a very rewarding short walk and ideal for families. The reward far outweighs the effort of the climb and if you experience conditions like this, certainly one to remember for a very long time.
Thanks for visiting my blog you can see more of my Lake District Landscape Photography Prints from Windermere by clicking here.
