Top Western Lake District Views
TOP WESTERN LAKE DISTRICT VIEWS
WINNER Cold Morning View of Wastwater by Grant Finley Top Western Lake District Views
The Western Lake District has more than its fair share In 2013, we set out to find the ‘Top Western Lake This e-book collates many of the photographs of stunning scenery and beautiful views. As you District Views’… and the response was incredible. submitted to the competition – it’s the perfect explore the area, you’ll discover a lake, fell, shoreline The winning image was A Cold Morning View way to appreciate the incredible landscapes of or quaint village to stop and admire. of Wastwater by Grant Finley – a spectacular the Western Lake District and hopefully inspire photograph of England’s deepest lake. The three your next visit. runners-up were Highland Calf around Buttermere by Michael Walsh, Sunset across the Solway by Harry McLean, and Castlerigg Stone Circle at Sunset by Mike Harris.
Loweswater by Malcolm Bowden, CAROMAL Photography Carlisle Top Western Lake District Views
Dalston Silloth The 40 views are scattered right across the Western Lake District, from Wigton
Mawbray to Millom, St. Bees to Thirlmere. Just click the locations on the map A596 to see the breathtaking places that make up this corner of England. A595 Aspatria M6
Maryport LAKES LANDSCAPES COAST 1 Bassenthwaite Lake 9 Ashness Bridge 28 Allonby Cockermouth A66 Penrith A66 Workington 2 Buttermere 10 Birker Fell 29 Crosscanonby A66 Keswick 3 Crummock Water 11 Castlerigg Stone Circle 30 Esk Estuary
Whinnlatter 4 Ennerdale Water 12 Dodd Hill 31 Hodbarrow Lagoon Forest Park A595 CUMBRIA 5 Derwentwater 13 Ennerdale Valley 32 Mawbray Whitehaven 6 Loweswater 14 Fleetwith Pike 33 Maryport Frizington Buttermere 7 Thirlmere 15 Great Gable 34 Ravenglass
8 Wastwater 16 Haystacks 35 Seascale Egremont Lake District 17 Honister Pass 36 Solway Firth National Park
A595 18 Muncaster Fell 37 St Bees Ambleside Gosforth 19 Rannerdale 38 The Isle of Man from Black Combe Seascale Eskdale 20 Scafells 39 Whitehaven Harbour Windermere A591 21 Skiddaw 40 Workington Muncaster 22 Soddy Gap Nature Reserve Grizedale Kendal Forest Park 23 Stanley Ghyll Force A595 24 Whillan Beck Broughton-in-Furness 25 Wasdale Valley Annaside A590 26 Whin Rigg Millinthorpe Millom A595 27 White Moss Haverigg Ulverston Grange-over-Sands Top Western Lake District Views LAKES
RUNNER-UP Highland Calf around Buttermere by Michael Walsh Top Western Lake District Views
Bassenthwaite Buttermere Bassenthwaite Lake is the largest and only true ‘lake’ in Cumbria – all the others are ‘meres’ Buttermere – ‘the lake by the dairy pastures’ – is relatively small but perfectly formed. or ‘waters’. A Site of Special Scientific Interest, it is home to many species of wildlife and Whether taking a walk around its shore or a more challenging scenic ramble up to supports a population of Osprey. There are several viewpoints in the surroundings, including the spectacular summits of Haystacks, a particular favourite with Alfred Wainwright, the Forestry Commission’s Dodd Wood near Keswick, a great spot for fabulous views over spectacular views are guaranteed. Bassenthwaite Lake.
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1 Autumnal Reflections, Bassenthwaite Lake from Blackstock Point by Angela Kirby 2 Highland Calf around Buttermere by Michael Walsh – RUNNER-UP 3 Haystacks from Buttermere by Malcolm Bowden, CAROMAL Photography Top Western Lake District Views
Buttermere continued 4 Fleetwith Pike Reflected in Buttermere by Tom Richardson 5 Buttermere looking to High Snockrigg by Mal Greenley 6 Buttermere Valley viewed from Lowfell by Chris Wood
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Buttermere continued 7 View of Buttermere by Grant Finley 8 Buttermere Morning by Terry Cowlishaw
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Crummock Water Owned by the National Trust, Crummock Water is fed by the dramatic Scale Force – the 9 Crummock Water towards Mellbreak by Ashley Moffat highest waterfall in the Lake District with a drop of 170 feet. Surrounded by rugged sheer 10 Crummock Water from the North Eastern Shore by David Holdsworth fells composed of the distinctive Skiddaw slate, Crummock Water affords majestic Western 11 Crummock Water from the North Eastern Shore by David Holdsworth Lake District views. 12 Crummock Water by Malcolm Bowden, CAROMAL Photography
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Crummock Water continued 13 Crummock Water and Buttermere from Melbreak by Tom Connors 14 Autumn Calm, Crummock Water by Victoria Christie 15 Crummock Water and Rannerdale Knotts by Mike Carden 16 Looking towards Crummock Water from Low Fell by Ashley Moffat
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Derwentwater Derwentwater boasts an abundance of natural charm and literary connections. Holidays 17 Derwentwater Reflections by Bob Fogerty spent at Lingholm provided Beatrix Potter with inspiration for some of her beloved 18 Launch on Derwentwater by Michael Walsh characters, while Ruskin described the view at Friar’s Crag as one of the three most 19 Ruskin’s View at Friar’s Crag by Ady Gray beautiful scenes in Europe. 20 Catbells summit looking out over Derwentwater and the Skiddaw Massif by Tom Connors
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Derwentwater continued 21 Derwentwater Blue by Bob Fogerty 22 Brandelhow Point, Derwentwater by Michael Walsh 23 Keswick Jetties at Sunset, Derwentwater by Bob Fogerty 24 Autumn at Derwent Island Boat House by Harry Mclean
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Ennerdale Coleridge explored the shores of Ennerdale Water in 1799 with William Wordsworth and was apparently intrigued by the lake’s ‘fiddle-shaped’ appearance. The most westerly and remote of all the Lake District lakes, it’s the perfect place for a tranquility and provides a great starting point for numerous walks.
25 Reflections in Ennerdale Water by Rachel Chidgey Top Western Lake District Views
Ennerdale continued 26 Ennerdale Water to Steeple and Pillar by Tom Connors 27 Swan Lake at Ennerdale by Chris Drake 28 Ennerdale Water by Chris Wood 29 Ennerdale Mist by Victoria Christie
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Loweswater A haven for peace, tranquility and red squirrels, Loweswater may be one of the smallest 30 Loweswater by Malcolm Bowden, CAROMAL Photography lakes, but nestled in a wooded valley in the Western Lake District it is a little scenic treasure, 31 Lazy Summer, Loweswater by Victoria Christie adjacent to the gently undulating Loweswater Fells. 32 Winter Wonderland, Loweswater by Cheryl Quine
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Thirlmere Wastwater Originally two small lakes, Thirlmere was acquired by Manchester City Corporation At three miles long, England’s deepest lake is arguably its most picturesque. Dramatic Waterworks in 1889 and dammed to create an impressive reservoir. At 96 miles long, mountains rise like a huge amphitheatre from its shores. On visiting the Wasdale Valley in Thirlmere Aqueduct still functions to this day providing Western Lake District water to the 1802 Samuel Taylor Coleridge was inspired to put pen to paper describing the dramatic city of Manchester. Wastwater reflections in a letter as ‘a perfect Mirror’.
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33 Thirlmere Reflection Heaven, Steel Fell and Thirlmere Reservoir by David Harrison 34 Cold Morning View of Wastwater by Grant Finley – WINNER 35 Wasdale Head and Wastwater by Chris Wood Top Western Lake District Views
Wastwater continued 36 Wastwater Screes from Buckbarrow by Jola McCully 37 Peace and Quiet, Wastwater by Victoria Christie 38 Wastwater: Late Afternoon by Terry Cowlishaw 39 Towards the Western Fells and Wastwater from Wastwater Screes by Jola McCull
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Wastwater continued 40 Wastwater and Scafell, Wasdale by Chris Himsworth 41 Classic Wastwater by Mal Greenley 42 Wastwater Boathouse by Chris Drake
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Wastwater continued 43 Early Morning in Wasdale, Wastwater, by Stuart Tyson 44 Wastwater and Herdwick by Phil Mitchell 45 Sunset Watching on Lingmell, Wasdale and Wastwater by Chris Drake
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Wastwater continued 46 Wastwater by Samuel Pilgrim 47 Wastwater Morning Calm by Jenny Andrew 48 Reflections of Wastwater by Phil Mitchell
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RUNNER-UP Castlerigg Stone Circle at Sunset by Mike Harris Photography Top Western Lake District Views
Ashness Bridge With spectacular views over Bassenthwaite Lake and the River Derwent, Ashness Bridge 49 Ashness Bridge in Autumn by Sophie Singleton is a traditional stone-built packhorse bridge in an enviable location on the road to 50 Surprise View near Ashness Bridge by Bob Fogerty Watendlath. Nearby is the popular ‘surprise view’, which affords an exceptional vista over to the Solway coast.
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Birker Fell Bordered by the Duddon Valley, Ulpha Fell, Harter Fell and Eskdale, Birker Fell is a wild upland area. A dramatic undulating moorland between the Western Lake District fells and the sea it boasts some truly stunning views.
51 Birker Fell by Victoria Christie Top Western Lake District Views
Castlerigg Stone Circle Arguably the most spectacularly sited British stone circle and also one of the earliest. 53 Castlerigg Stone Circle by Tom Richardson Dating back to about 3000 BC this Neolithic monument near Keswick was described by 52 Castlerigg Stone Circle at Sunset Coleridge as an ‘assembly of white-vested wizards’ – a mysterious and magical scene with by Mike Harris Photography – RUNNER-UP the most breathtaking views. 54 Castlerigg Stone Circle by Betty Shepherd
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Dodd Hill Forming part of the Skiddaw range Dodd Hill can be found at the southern end of Bassenthwaite Lake, a location famed for its views and nesting Osprey
55 Dodd Hill from High Stock Bridge by Roger Green Top Western Lake District Views
Ennerdale Valley A rambler’s paradise with miles of walking routes through some of the most stunning 56 Misty Ennerdale Valley, Gillerthwaite looking towards Pillar by Brian Burscough Western Lake District landscapes, the Ennerdale Valley is a mixture of wild wooded areas 57 Cauda Brow, Ennerdale by Brian Burscough and sweeping views up to high mountain peaks. 58 Ennerdale Valley viewed from Angler’s Cragg by Chris Wood
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Fleetwith Pike A distinctive fell dominating the view southwards from Buttermere and a dramatic feature on the Honister Pass that provides the backdrop for an awe-inspiring journey between Buttermere and Borrowdale.
59 Crummock Water with Fleetwith Pike and Haystacks by Mike Carden Top Western Lake District Views
Great Gable At the head of Ennerdale, Great Gable was donated to the National Trust by the Fell and Rock Climbing Club in 1922 as a memorial to the club members who were killed in the First World War. Today they are commemorated by a plaque on the summit and a service on Remembrance Sunday each year.
60 On The Day We Paid Our Dues - Remembrance Day On Great Gable by Ady Gray Top Western Lake District Views
Haystacks 61 High Crag viewed from Haystacks Summit by Tom Connors Innominate Tarn on Haystacks is literally the ‘un-named tarn’. It is also here that 62 Innominate Tarn, Haystacks by Samuel Pilgrim Alfred Wainwright requested his ashes to be scattered where, in his own words, ‘the 63 Haystacks by Rachel Chidgey water gently laps the gravelly shore and the heather blooms and Pillar and Gable keep unfailing watch’.
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Honister Pass Muncaster Fell Linking Seatoller in the Borrowdale Valley and Gatesgarth The fascinating stone structure that is known as ‘Ross’s Camp’ can be found on Muncaster at the southern end of Buttermere, Honister Pass achieves Fell. It has the appearance of a Neolithic dolmen but was apparently built by a shooting an incredible altitude of 1,167 feet, one of the highest and party 130 years ago who left the inscription ‘Ross’s Camp 1883’ on the top stone. steepest in Cumbria.
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64 Into the Valley, Honister Pass by Cheryl Quine 65 Ross’s Camp on Muncaster Fell by Roger Green 66 Muncaster Tarn, on Muncaster Fell, by Chris Himsworth Top Western Lake District Views
Rannerdale 67 Rannerdale Mike Harris A location famous in springtime, not for a host of daffodils but a mass of bluebells. It’s a 68 Bluebells in Rannerdale by Michael Walsh wild flower riot with a dark local lore – it is believed that the bluebells have sprung from the 69 Blue Meadow, Rannerdale by Cheryl Quine blood enriched soils following the Battle of Rannerdale, when native Britons and Norsemen defeated the invading Norman army.
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Scafells Over 400 million years ago a supervolcano erupted with such intense force it created the 70 Spectacular Scafells by David Harrison magnificent Scafells. Not a landscape for the faint-hearted, this range of fells is a heady 71 Great End - Great View by Ady Gray landscape of grand peaks and transcendent panoramas
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Skiddaw 72 Up Above the Clouds, Skiddaw by Chris Drake One of the more popular ascents in the Lake District, Skiddaw is England’s fourth highest 73 Storm Break, at the Summit of Skiddaw by Wayne Banks mountain and also considered to be an easier option for those wishing to experience the thrill of a peak climb on a well-established route.
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Soddy Gap Nature Reserve Stanley Ghyll Force A secret wildlife haven tucked away just to the north of Great Discover the dramatic Stanley Ghyll Force, a 60-foot waterfall located in a lush Broughton, Soddy Gap is a wetland habitat of marsh, scrub, reedbeds, green gorge. Within easy walking distance of Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway’s young trees and ponds supporting a tremendous bird and wildfowl Dalegarth Station this vision of cascading water and abundant plant life within population. a deep ravine has an almost Jurassic feel.
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74 Soddy Gap Nature Reserve by Mal Greenley 75 Stanley Ghyll Force, Eskdale by Chris Himsworth 76 Ghyll Force, near Boot by Roger Green Top Western Lake District Views
Wasdale Valley A remote and truly spectacular part of the Western Lake District, the Wasdale Valley is 77 Bagot Nanny Goats in Wasdale by Richard Scrivener home to both England’s deepest lake, the magnificent Wastwater, and England’s 78 Overbeck from the bank at Overbeck Bridge, Wasdale by Mal Greenley highest mountain, the majestic Scafell Pike. It’s a paradise for walkers, climbers and photographers alike.
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Wasdale Valley continued Whillan Beck Cascading down from the flanks of the mighty Scafell, the leafy-banked stream of Whillan Beck runs alongside Eskdale Mill. A picturesque force of water, it has been providing renewable energy to the mill for over a thousand years.
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79 Wasdale Head from Dore Head by Mal Greenley 80 Wasdale by Joan Grieves 81 Whillan Beck near Boot by Roger Green Top Western Lake District Views
Whin Rigg White Moss A less popular but equally dramatic Wasdale view is Whin Rigg. Literally meaning ‘gorse Follow in the footsteps of the first Bronze Age settlers up on White Moss and look out for covered ridge’ in Old Norse, it is from this spectacular rugged fell that The Screes plunge the small ancient stone circles. It’s incredible to imagine that thousands of years ago early 450 metres to Wastwater below. pioneers shaped the open fell that exists today.
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82 Behind the Wastwater Screes and Whin Rigg by Tom Richardson 83 Old Miners Hut on White Moss above Boot by Roger Green Top Western Lake District Views COAST
RUNNER-UP Sunset across the Solway by Harry Mclean Top Western Lake District Views
Allonby Crosscanonby Beach Allonby is perfectly placed on the Solway Coast, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Located on the beautiful Solway Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), Beauty (AONB) that affords spectacular sunsets and World Heritage Site. The Roman Crosscanonby offers a rare opportunity to discover the ancient Anglo-Saxon Salt Pans Milefortlet 21 dates back to the reign of the legendary Emperor Hadrian. – a monument to a bygone age when salt production was an essential preservation method for the fishing and agricultural industries.
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84 Sunset on the Solway, Allonby by Cheryl Quine 85 Allonby Bay by Brian Burscough 86 Sunrise on Crosscanonby Beach by Mike Harris Photography Top Western Lake District Views
Esk Estuary Situated at the very edge of the Lake District, the Esk Estuary is a unique ecosystem. Beautifully serene, yet teeming with life it marks the place where the National Park meets the Western Lake District Coast.
87 The Esk Estuary looking towards Scafell by Nigel Middlehurst Top Western Lake District Views
Hodbarrow Lagoon A wildlife haven for wading birds and waterfowl, Hodbarrow Lagoon is the largest stretch of coastal open water in Cumbria. For a perfect viewing spot head to the RSPB Reserve at Hodbarrow.
88 Hodbarrow at Dusk, Hodbarrow Lagoon by Samuel Pilgrim Top Western Lake District Views
Maryport Mawbray Birthplace of Thomas Henry Ismay, owner of the White Star Line and the infamous Located on the Solway Plain, Mawbray Village, meaning ‘maiden’s castle’ Titanic, Maryport offers a unique glimpse back to the time of Emperor Hadrian and the or ‘maiden’s fort’, is believed to date back to the 1150s, although the Roman Roman occupation of Cumbria at the Senhouse Roman Museum. Milefortlet 16 at the west end of the village provides evidence of a much older settlement.
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89 Sunset View from Maryport Promenade by Chris Wood 90 Maryport Harbour by Brian Burscough 91 Mauve Mawbray by Cheryl Quine Top Western Lake District Views
Ravenglass The scenic Ravenglass Estuary is a natural harbour where the rivers Esk, Mite and Irt converge. A now tranquil coastal village, Ravenglass was once a thriving Roman port and the location of the Ravenglass Roman Bath House, the tallest surviving Roman structure in northern England.
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92 Double Take, Ravenglass Village reflected in the estuary by Christine Curtin 93 The Shadow Of Black Combe, in the estuary at Ravenglass by Christine Curtin Top Western Lake District Views
Seascale Solway Firth A small seaside village on the coast of the Western Lake District, Seascale can trace its A beautiful landscape of marshes, dunes, beaches and a designated Area of roots back to early Norse settlement as well as having connections with Roman Britain. Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) with spectacular sunsets over the Irish Sea, Today, it retains some of its Victorian charm and offers impressive views from its shoreline. it is easy to see why the Solway Firth inspired Joseph Mallord William Turner to paint his dramatic sunset scenes.
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94 Seascale looking North by Nigel Middlehurst 95 Sunset across the Solway by Harry Mclean – RUNNER-UP 96 Passing Time, Parton by Harry Mclean Top Western Lake District Views
Solway Firth continued Solway Firth from Bransty
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97 The Golden Hour at Parton by Harry Mclean 98 Solway Sunset over the Roof Tops by Chris Drake Top Western Lake District Views
St. Bees Home to England’s only breeding colony of Black Guillemots, St. Bees is soon to be 99 St Bees by Malcolm Bowden, CAROMAL Photography designated as part of a Marine Conservation Zone. The distinctive St. Bees Head also 100 Solway View from the coastal path to St Bees by Christine Curtin marks the starting point of Alfred Wainwright’s ‘Coast to Coast’ walk.
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The Isle of Man from Black Combe Whitehaven Harbour Standing in isolation four miles from the dramatic coastline of the Western Whitehaven is a Georgian gem-town, and a must-see for any discerning visitor to Lake District, Black Combe provides excellent panoramic views of the inland the Western Lake District. Once one of the busiest ports in England, this historic fells and across the Irish Sea to the Isle of Man. town offers a fascinating insight into the area’s rich maritime heritage.
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101 The Isle of Man from the top of Black Combe by Nigel Middlehurst 102 Harbour View, Whitehaven Harbour looking over the Solway to Scotland by Christine Curtin Top Western Lake District Views
Workington Alongside playing host to two prestigious Rugby League World Cup matches in 2013, 103 Solway Sunset from Workington by Richard Happybricks Workington is home to ‘Uppies and Downies’ – a traditional ball game believed to originate 104 Solway Firth from Workington by Richard Happybricks from medieval times. The town was also the home of the artist Percy Kelly who, from an 105 Golden Solway from Workington by Richard Happybricks early age, was inspired to capture the industrial coastal landscape of the docks and railway.
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The ‘Top Western Lake District Views Photography Competition’ is supported by Winder Hall Country House.
A striking and historic Jacobean manor house dating back to the 15th Century, Winder Hall is nestled in the landscape, close to Buttermere, Crummock Water, Keswick and the historic market town of Cockermouth.
Whether it’s afternoon tea or an evening meal, Winder Hall is a perfect place to unwind – you can also choose to stay for as long as you like in one of the seven luxurious bedrooms, each with its own beautiful view.
v Winder Hall Country House, Tel: +44 (0)1900 85107 Low Lorton, Email: [email protected] Cockermouth, www.winderhall.co.uk Cumbria CA13 9UP v Top Western Lake District Views
Many thanks to the following photographers featured in the Top Western Lake District Views e-book
Ady Gray Harry Mclean Richard Happybricks harrymcleanphotography.com/ Angela Kirby Richard Scrivener Jenny Andrew www.rarebreedgoats.co.uk Ashley Moffat Joan Grieves Roger Green Betty Shepherd Jola McCully Samuel Pilgrim Bob Fogerty Samuel Pilgrim Photography: Mal Greenley Brian Burscough www.samuelpilgrim.co.uk www.lake-district-views.co.uk/ Cheryl Quine Sophie Singleton Malcolm Bowden www.facebook.com/CherylQuinePhotography CAROMAL Photography: Stuart Tyson Chris Wood www.caromalphotography.luxipics.com/ Terry Cowlishaw Chris Drake Michael Walsh Tom Connors Chris Himsworth Mike Harris Tom Richardson Chris Himsworth Photography: Mike Harris Photography: www.tomrichardsonphotography.co.uk chrishimsworthphotography.weebly.com/ www.mikeharrisphotography.co.uk www.facebook.com/CumbriaPhotos Victoria Christie Christine Curtin West Cumbria Images: Mike Carden David Harrison www.westcumbriaimages.com www.lakedistrictgrandtour.co.uk www.facebook.com/pages/Wainwright-fellwalk- Wayne Banks er/204787826200727 Nigel Middlehurst David Holdsworth Phil Mitchell www.redbubble.com/people/philjimi Grant Finley www.grantsphotography.co.uk Rachel Chidgey To find out more about the Western Lake District, please visit: www.western-lakedistrict.co.uk
Part of the Britain’s Energy Also funded by Supported by Coast Programme