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.

Parking by the cattle grid we headed up the fell side, the conditions were changeable should we say.

No there yet Lewis.

Great views over Mickelden the valley below the Langdale Pikes and Bowfell.

Are we there yet?

We may get wet.

Rain over The Band, Bowfell and Crinkle Crags.

I guess in many walks you reach a point of no return, the point where it’s as far to carry on as it is to turn back, at this point the weather changed, you could see it coming in over Bowfell. Had we have been there, we’d have been soaked for sure. I thought this isn’t going to go down well with the kids, however as luck would have it the approaching rain was blown away from us and over the start of Wrynose Pass toward Coniston.

Worse than that though it became apparent that I had left my big camera battery at home. I cannot tell you how bad this feels. Carrying such heavy equipment over this sort of terrain for nothing. I surely don’t need the extra weight at the moment, neither do I need the extra reason to feel frustrated. However when you’re here in the middle of it, what can you do. Make the most of it and press on. Sulking about it will not make it better so I used my iPhone to capture what I saw. Ironically I posted the results on my Instagram account with an honest account of events and this quickly became one of my most popular posts on there.

The Langdale Pikes from Side Pike.

Lewis trying his hood out.

Looking over towards Blea Tarn with the rain passing us by.

Eventually we reached the rock squeeze and it didn’t disappoint the kids.

Stopping for lunch we were sufficiently refueled and I thought it maybe worth walking on a bit further to take in the view of Side Pike from the ascent up Lingmoor Fell.

Looking up to Lingmoor. Well worth the extra effort of a relatively easy-going ascent.

A gentle stroll form Side Pike up to Lingmoor following the dry-stone wall.

A fine viewpoint into the head of the Langdale Valley.

We turned back at this point and called it a day. An interesting turn of events and all in all I was pleased with what I captured and how and more so how I dealt with it.

Heading back down to the car.

All these photos were taken with my iPhone. As they say the best camera you have is the one you have with you…. That has a battery.

Here you can see some of my Lake District Prints from Langdale.

I’ve only walked around Buttermere 2 times prior to this trip, once with Amanda and her sister in 2006 then alone in December 2008. On my first trip I noted some locations that had to be investigated further. The weather was pretty grim on this initial trip but on my second visit I was rewarded with a great clear winters day. So what would a summer walk bring…..

Now that Thomas and Lewis are pretty good walkers we thought they could manage the 4-5 mile walk without the hassle of buggies etc. Lewis was 2, nearly 3 and Thomas 7. This should be a doddle for him given his Lingmoor fell climb at 5 years old.

Parking up at the Fish Hotel in the village we headed out down towards the water, as it was Summer there had been a lot of rain recently and the shore and paths were quite flooded, adding to the interest for the kids.

I’ve not seen the tree so flooded. It’s also looking a little depleted from my previous visit. A branch to the right seems to be missing.

Getting down low for this shot added a new dimension as the tree is normally on the shore. Passes by wondering what I’m doing…

Breaking through the cloud some patches of light illuminate the trees below the High Stile ridge

Turning along the length of Buttermere from this point.

As you head around the Lake there you can appreciate the scale of the place, it’s like you are in a giant bowl, surrounded by the most attractive of sides. Heading along the Western shore on our way out we arrive at several flooded paths and contributories to the lake that have over-flown, covering the paths. At one such point we were crossing a fence as the gate was flooded, a kind lady offered to lift Lewis over the fence, which she did, placing him down next to the stream which he then slipped and fell in, full body soaked. I was gutted, not only for him but also as this could well have been the end of the walk, with no spare clothes and no towel it wasn’t warm enough to be walking around soaked to the skin. However he wasn’t bothered, after the initial shock of getting wet he was too wrapped up in the experience to give up. We pressed on and eventually stopped for lunch further down the path.

Haystacks and High Crag above Burtness Wood.

The short tunnel on the side of the water.

Through the cave and into the Jungle.

A pleasant view for walkers of all ages.

Thomas taking in the view. Sometime he struggles to get to sleep at night, I tell him to remember the time he was sat on this bench to help him relax and drift off. It seems to work every time.

One for the family album.

Time to through a few stones back in the water before we head off again. Wet Jeans had enough photos for now.

The view over Buttermere to Burtness Wood with Chapel Crags above Bleaberry Tarn nestled in-between High Stile and Red Pike.

I’m not sure on the technical name for this but a mini spiral of water was being whipped up by the wind and moving down the lake.

A wider view showing the grandness of the High Stile Ridge. Some nice summer clouds too adding to the scene.

As you make your way around the shore from here what you are greeted with, is in my opinion the finest view you can possibly see in the Lake District if not the UK. It’s a magnificent vista across Buttermere toward the finely shaped Fleetwith Pike, over Warnscale to Haystacks; Wainwrights favourite and ultimately his final resting place, up to High Stile, High Crag and Red Pike. Collectively known as the High Stile ridge. Looking up from this position, I’m questioning did I actually walk all that in one go. It seems a fair tasks these days as I’ve not walked up high for a couple of years. I need to get back into that.

Fleetwith Pike above Buttermere

Haystacks above Buttermere. The path to the right leads from the waterside to Scarth Gap and then down into the Ennerdale Valley and Black Sail Hut Youth Hostel. The path is known as the Scarth Gap Pass.

Looking back down the High Stile Ridge.

Heading round the Lake and up to Gatesgarth Farm we promise the kids an ice cream from the van that usually parks up in the Farm car park. What a disappointment, Thomas has an allergy to Egg and the Ice Cream man couldn’t tell us the ingredients of the ice cream, Thomas is pretty cautious when it comes to this so declined to have anything just in case.

Haystacks above one of the barns at Gatesgarth Farm.

Continuing on the well signposted path past the mountain rescue hut the path takes you over a small bridge known as Peggy’s Bridge and on to the foot of the High Stile Ridge. From here you get a real view of haystacks and you can appreciate where the name Haystacks comes from.

Warnscale in-between Fleetwith Pike and Haystacks.

A close up with Warnscale Beck in the centre of the frame with Green Crag above. Can you see The Retreat from here?

Haystacks and several shades of green.

The view from Peggy’s Bridge back to Warnscale, Fleetwith Pike and Haystacks.

Looking the other way over Buttermere with the lower slopes of the High Stile Ridge to the left and possibly Goat Crag and High Bank on Low or High Snockrigg.

Just from the side of the bridge. Trying to use the line of the Beck to lead the eye to the trees.

Thomas giving a Royal Wave to a Sea King Helicopter just in case it’s Prince William.

The bottom of Scarth Gap Pass looking up to Haystacks.

Looking back to Warnscale.

An alternative way to see the area.

Spurring each other on to the finish line. They’re not always this civilised.

It’s a relatively easy-going and un-flooded path back to the Northern end of Buttermere. There’s a stream coming down the fell side that is worth stopping at along the path above Burtness Wood pictured above as is  Sourmilk Ghyll below Bleaberry Tarn at the end of the path pictured above right. From here it was back to the pub for a well-earned drink, I was so proud of the boys for walking so far, especially Lewis at only 2 years old and drenched from the outset. They had and we had a great day, needless to say they were both asleep by the time we got on Honister Pass.

I hope we can have many more family walks around here over the years ahead, it’s a joy to walk and a pleasure to photograph.

If you take the Lake road or path along the Westerns side of the High Stile Ridge with Haystacks and Fleetwith Pike at the Southern end of the Lake has to be one of the most attractive scenes you can see in the UK. Go and see for yourself. If not then take a look at some of my prints available from this location.

Care must be taken when attempting all of the fells in the Lake District but none more so than Helvellyn. Striding Edge is a joy to cross in good weather; in bad weather it could and does pose a real challenge to walkers of all abilities. Once on the edge there’s only two ways you can go, forward and back, if ascending from Ullswater the climb up via Patterdale Common towards the Hole-in-the-wall is fairly straightforward.

Climbing up, I think this is Sheffield Pike to the right.

Looks pretty straight forward so far.

Lantys Tarn. Looks like they need some rain round here. None today hopefully.

St Sundays Crag ahead.

Climbing up now along side Grizedale with Dollywagon Pike, High Crag and Nethermost Pike above.

That’s where I’m heading, The Hole in the Wall.

Looking back over Birkhouse Moor.

The Hole in the Wall.

Here you get your first glimpse of Striding Edge. Before you know it you are ascending the edge and things are fairly easy going to start with, crossing Bleaberry Crag and Low Spying How then onto High Spying How.

There are several monuments on Helvellyn, the first you might meet is the Dickson Memorial from 1858, situated on a platform of rock on Striding Edge overlooking Nethermost Cove. I read somewhere that this is the point Wordsworth last met his brother, I can’t recall where I read this though.

As you pass along Striding Edge with Red Tarn to your right you get an appreciation of how high you’ve ascended so far. The drop either side of the edge is immense. Nethermost Cove to the South and Red Tarn to the North. As this 360 Panorama shows, the Insights section of my website will show an interactive version of this image, don’t look down.

A queu at the descent.

Close to the end of Striding edge you are faced with what’s definitely the most challenging part of the walk, The Chimney is a large slab or towering rock you must first descend before you can climb the last steep section up onto Helvellyn’s summit.

Passing this section in bad weather such as snow and ice would be impossible without specialist equipment.

On reaching the summit ridge of Helvellyn you are faced with the Gough memorial erected in 1890. Further towards the summit there’s another small stone tablet commemorating the landing of an aeroplane on the summit in 1926.

Given the tricky nature of the ascent the summit itself is relatively tame with a gentle slope from the Gough memorial to the summit trig point and shelter.

There are some fines views from the summit over Catstye Cam and Red Tarn and Swirral Edge the line of descent for me this time.

The first time I climbed Helvellyn I ascended from the opposite side from Thirlmere reservoir. Personally I wouldn’t recommend this route unless you enjoy what seems to be endless steps. Wainwright himself said the east side of Helvellyn is unattractive and lacking in interest. Mind you some people pay a monthly fee to use machines of the same but without the view.

On descending via Swirral Edge you get a great view back over Red Tarn and you can really take in the scale and magnificent Striding Edge. A line of walkers passing over is testament to the grandeur and popularity of this route.

From Red Tarn the path eases you back down along Red Tarn Beck to Glenridding passing disused mine working and eventually back to civilisation. An English lakes Ice cream is a worthy reward in Glenridding.

Glenridding and Ullswater with Place Fell above.

Here is a link to more of my Helvellyn Prints.

My latest Lake District Photographs are from just up the road from Elterwater, my last location. Langdale is regarded as one of the most beautiful locations in the Lakes with the Great Langdale valley and Little Langdale valley separated by Lingmoor Fell and the valley of Mickleden tucked away in the North West corner.

The beauty of this location is the combination of great looking fells, wonderful views and all in such a compact area. The Lake District in miniature. Blea Tarn has long been a favourite location of mine, I can remember the first time I visited about 15 years ago and I couldn’t tell you how many times I’ve been since, for a location so easily accessible it’s a true gem.

Blea Tarn, Lake District Prints

August 2010 will go down as a key milestone for us, my 5 year old son Thomas ticked off his first Wainwright when we headed up Lingmoor Fell above Blea tarn. It’s a fell I’ve been meaning to explore for a while and given its location and what surrounds it; there are countless opportunities for landscape photography.

A favourite location of mine is just above the National Trust Car Park at Blea Tarn as seen below in late winter and again in spring and summer. I imagine I’ll be making several more trips over the coming months to get Autumnal shots too.

Blea Tarn, Langdale

Blea Tarn in Summer, Langdale

Above Blea Tarn

The walk was a complete success, which I interpret as no carrying, no crying great photography and a family memory that I shall hold on to dearly. A realization that we’re going to have many happy days on the Lakeland fells for the years to come is an exciting prospect for me. Fell walking with a 5 year old is certainly interesting and worthy of further posts as a subject in its own right.

After a brief lunch stop just below the summit we see our first cairn, and as young boys do they have to build stuff so we invent a new game of putting the highest stone on the pile.

At the summit of Lingmoor fell you are rewarded with such a fine vista for a relatively straight forward climb, panoramic views over the Langdale valley, The Langdale Pikes, Pike o Blisco, Great Carrs, Swirl How and Wetherlam above Wrynose Pass and round to Coniston and Windermere as this 360 degree panorama shows.

On reaching the summit the sense of achievement brought out an emotional song and you can tell he was well pleased with himself, and rightly so it was a great achievement.

As you head along the summit ridge towards the Langdale Pikes you are treated to glimpses of the fine views awaiting as you get closer to the decent to Side Pike.

There’s so much heather up on Lingmoor Fell and I believe that’s where the fells name comes from with the Old Norse word lyng meaning “heather covered”

As you approach the descent toward Side Pike you are greeted with what I’m considering to be one of the finest views of this particular area if not the entire Lake District, for me this viewpoint has pretty much everything that you can compose to make a stunning shot. Great lead in foreground features, attractive mid and background features, such as Pike O Stickle, Harrison Stickle and Pavey Ark that make up the photogenic Langdale Pikes; the band leading up to Bowfell and Crinkle Crags, Pike O Blisco, Wrynose Fell and back round to Blea Tarn.

Side Pike and the Langdale Pikes – Lake District Prints

For an August afternoon the light was pretty good, patches of cloud helped to cast highlights and shadows across the distant fells and exaggerate their contours. After the third or forth “Dad come on” we descended towards Side Pike, here you have 2 choices, continue to descend onto the road just up from Wordsworth’s Solitary Blea Tarn House or continue across the south face of Side Pike. The only problem with that is there’s a large rock in the way of the path and having not passed it before was unsure if it was suitable for a 5 year old. We headed up there for a look and before I knew it he’d gone right through the gap, turned and said “Come on its easy”

Following the path round Side Pike reveals another stunning viewpoint over the Langdale Pikes and Mickleden, the two hotels the New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel http://www.dungeon-ghyll.co.uk and the Old dungeon Ghyll hotel http://www.odg.co.uk are directly below the thought of a cool drink in the afternoon sun was getting close.

Lake District Prints of Langdale.

We descended to the road and picked up the path around the west side of Blea Tarn, where you can see the entire route of the walk and the scale of what we’ve achieved. Back to the car with 4 minutes to spare on the parking ticket and off to the pub for two lemonades with Ice and a plan for our next outing. A perfect day out in the lake District.

To view more information regards the Lake District Landscape Photographs featured in this article please click on the images. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions regards my Lake District Prints of Langdale.