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. 1 2 3 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 4 5 6 Top Western Lake District Views Buttermere continued 7 View of Buttermere by Grant Finley 8 Buttermere Morning by Terry Cowlishaw 7 8 Top Western Lake District Views 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 9 10 11 12 Top Western Lake District Views 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 13 14 15 16 Top Western Lake District Views 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 17 18 19 20 Top Western Lake District Views 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 21 22 23 24 Top Western Lake District Views 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 26 27 28 29 Top Western Lake District Views 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 30 31 32 Top Western Lake District Views 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’. 33 34 35 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 36 37 38 39 Top Western Lake District Views Wastwater continued 40 Wastwater and Scafell, Wasdale by Chris Himsworth 41 Classic Wastwater by Mal Greenley 42 Wastwater Boathouse by Chris Drake 40 41 42 Top Western Lake District Views 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 43 44 45 Top Western Lake District Views Wastwater continued 46 Wastwater by Samuel Pilgrim 47 Wastwater Morning Calm by Jenny Andrew 48 Reflections of Wastwater by Phil Mitchell 46 47 48 Top Western Lake District Views LANDSCAPES 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. 49 50 Top Western Lake District Views 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 52 53 54 Top Western Lake District Views 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.