The Eastern Lake District
The eastern Lake District is the most accessible region in the national park. The shores of Ullswater are less than 5 miles from junction 40 of the M6.
The dramatic scenery that includes the Helvellyn mountain range provides some wonderful scope for photography.
The Duke of Portland Boathouse
The view of Ullswater from the Duke of Portland Boathouse has to be one of the most iconic in the whole of the Lake District.
The boathouse can be found sitting alongside the A592 just west of the village of Pooley Bridge. When the lake is high you will have to shoot from the road so beware of passing cars!
It is best photographed in the morning when the rising sun lights up the front of the boathouse.
Parking: Lay-by in front of the boathouse
Walking: <100m on the roadside, mobility scooter friendly but potentially not necessary
Glencoyne
Glencoyne is one of my favourite locations in the whole of the Lake District. Whenever I visit it feels like meeting up with an old friend.
I like to shoot here around May and July when the run rises directly behind Pooley Bridge.
There are many compositions to be found if you are prepared to explore in the shoreline, particularly if you head south towards Glenridding.
Parking: National Trust car park at Glencoyne
Walking: <100m, but not mobility scooter friendly
Brothers Water
Brothers Water is a small lake south of the village of Patterdale at the foot of the Kirkstone Pass.
If you park at the wonderfully named Cow Bridge car park and take the path to the west of the lake you will find a couple of nice compositions.
However, I think the best shot is at the other end of the lake. On a still day you get wonderful reflections of High Hartsopp Dodd, Middle Dodd and Cauldale Moor.
Parking: Cow Bridge car park
Walking: 800m on gravel paths
Angle Tarn
Nestled hill up in the hills above the small village of Hartsop Angle Tarn is an area of rugged natural beauty.
Its jagged shore provides almost endless scope for photography. You could spend a week here and still not explore every possibility.
Perhaps it is this overwhelming variety that has stopped me getting a shot that I am happy with here. One thing is for sure. I will keep coming back!
Parking: Cow Bridge car park
Walking: 3 miles including a 400m ascent. Allow at least 90 minutes.
Hallin Fell
For such a diminutive fell Hallin Fell certainly punches above it’s weight!
It’s just a short climb from the St Peter’s church in Martindale to the summit but with views in all directions it serves as both a sunrise and sunset location.
The 12 foot summit cairn is impressive and makes for an excellent subject. There are also numerous rocky out crops that work well as foreground interest.
Parking: St Peter’s Church, Martindale
Walking: 800m including a 120m ascent
Haweswater Reservoir
The view of Rough Crag rising out of the Haweswater Reservoir up to the summit of High Street is one of my favourite in the eastern Lake District.
The reservoir is of course man made yet in many ways it enhances the rugged beauty of the surrounding landscape. In this respect it is a metaphor for the Lake District as a whole.
For me the view from Whiteacre Crag is not to be missed. To my eye it is as impressive as any in the Lake District.
Parking: Lay-by at the foot of the Old Corpse Road
Walking: 500m on tarmac roads
Mate, another sweet addition to your guide. Some of these locations I know, some of them I didn’t, so it’s been a worthwhile read and I’ve got a few new pins to add to my map. Bonus points for quality images to show of the locations as well. Looking forward to seeing where you’re taking us next. 🙂
Cheers Jules – next time it will be the central Lake District featuring Loughrigg Fell – remember that? I still have one more shot to get for the northern Lake District. The summit of Catbells. Hoping to get that shot this weekend! 🙂
Great blog mate. I hope to eventually cross the pond and see these places I only read about.
That would be great Tim. Let me know if you make it over here and we can explore some of these locations together.
Another great installment in your Lake District photography guide. I have photographed extensively near Ullswater and Derwent Water primarily due to the close proximity to the M6. You are so right about this area. Between Pooley Bridge Boathouse, Glencoyne, and Hallin Fell, those are three excellent and very accessible spots to get some portfolio quality shots. Also, nearby Aira Force is worth a stop. I’ve never actually taken a good photo there, but recently took a wander up beyond the main falls and there are loads of opportunities along the water. I would love to try there again a bit later in the summer when the foliage is more lush. Well done Chris.
Cheers Jeff, personally I could never include Aira Force in a location guide. Don’t get me wrong, it is a beautiful place, I just never seem to get a decent shot there! 🙂
Hey Chris, some wonderful shots in this location guide. Keeping it for future reference for when I’m back in the UK, which if all goes to plan may be later this year. Take care mate.
Cheers Kevin, I hope it is of use to you and it helps you make the most of your time back in the UK. Hopefully I would have completed the other 3 regions by then as well.
Love this format Chris, Great that you have included maps and information for the novice and well seasoned Lakeland visitor alike. A very well presented blog with much needed information accompanying your superb imagery !!
Cheers Alex – where is your favourite location in the eastern Lake District?
Hi Chris, enjoyed the easy pace and commentary of your YouTube channel, ended up here. Many thanks for the location guides. Being from the flatlands of Norfolk and 7 hours from the lakes it’s important to my planning for future trips.
After shooting for 40 odd years I lost motivation somewhat when my lovely daughter left for university, I feel inspired to get out there again.
Kind regards and many thanks again
Hi Gary, I hope you find the location guide useful. Are you planning a trip to the Lakes soon? I am sorry to hear that you have lost your motivation. I think it happens to all of us at one time or another. For me personally I find that working on a project (such as creating a guide to the Lake District) helps to keep me motivated. I am at the point in my photography journey I no longer think in terms of a single image but instead want to create larger bodies of work. When I am struggling with motivation I find that forcing myself to take a break from photography means that when I do come back to it I am completely refreshed and bursting with ideas. I also find going out to shoot with friends helps too as it gives me another reason to go out other than just to take photographs.
Hi Chris,
yes I am planning to get up there, I have recently decided to do a 9 day fortnight at work leaving me with the opportunity for long weekends each month. My girls will both be at uni in the peak district area so its half way there really. Thanks for the suggestion around projects, i was recently walking around dovedale and found myself clambering around waters edges to get the perfect composition, regrettably at midday, but got a few ideas from that. The walk over the tops provided the leading lines of dry stone walling and single points of interest which will be featured on my soon to be developed website. I did a wedding in June 2017 and with the time pressures involved around that found my enjoyment rapidly decreasing..the event was ok it was the post that got to me really. On a positive though your videos have made me realise I need to snap out of it and do what I do reasonably well……… landscapes. kind regards
I can completely understand why the pressures of a wedding might impact your motivation. Personally I have very little interest in any other form of photography other than landscapes. Weddings just don’t appeal. It I had wanted that sort of pressure I would have become a surgeon or air traffic controller! 🙂 My enjoyment comes from exploring the beauty of the natural world. Photography encourages me to get out and experience it at the time of day and year when it is looking it’s very best. My photographs are my way of sharing those experiences with others. Enjoy your visit to the Lakes and I hope that you get the shot you are after.
Hi Chris, it seems that the location links of angle tarn and hallin fell are both linking to angle tarn