buttermere | Manadh Photography

Today I set my alarm for 645, and decided I would set off early, but not at sunrise.

This decision was made on the basis that I wouldn’t be able to see sunrise because of the mountains anyway. When I woke up the sky was a lovely shade of purple/pink, so I was a bit annoyed! Never the less I set off whilst the sun was just below the mountain line and headed for Buttermere; the plan being I would shoot the trees as the sun hit them over the mountain, then walk to Scale Force waterfall.When I got to Buttermere there were quite a few other photographers there. I set up shop and ended up being there for about an hour. The sun looked promising as it peaked above the mountain, but the higher it got it ended up being hidden behind cloud.

At 9am I decided to move on and do the walk to Scale Force. I would rate this walk as “too much bog for the waterfall”. The waterfall itself was a bit disappointing, especially when considering how mucky I got walking to it.

I think the most disappointing part of the walk, was the bit where I went up to see the top part of the waterfall. Loads of steep steps, and not a lot there when I got there. However the views over the lake from here were spot on.

It was a nice walk (apart from the mud/boggy parts), just not a great waterfall.

By this point, I’d walked 40k odd steps and up 300 flights of stairs, and I was getting a bit tired. I stopped it at a cafe at the start/end of the walk and bought a ham and tomato baguette. I’m not sure if I was just mega hungry, or if it genuinely was the best baguette ever, but I really enjoyed it.

I came back to the cottage for an hour and a half, and then went back out to see if I could get on the jetty that I couldn’t get on yesterday.

When I first got there there were loads of photographers around it, so I went off and did my own thing. On my way back there were only 2 photographers left so I joined them and got my shots.

One of the photographers who was there was local and said that the jetty on the other side of the lake is much better, so I’ve had a look and it’s a 20 minute walk from where I am staying so I’ve added that to tomorrows agenda.

Not sure what to do tomorrow, as the weather looks a bit pants on the forecast, but then didn’t look that bad on the BBC forecast on the TV so I guess I will go to the jetty in the morning and play the afternoon by ear. I was supposed to go to Helvellyn, but I don’t much fancy that if it’s chucking it down. I’ve also not managed to get to Ullswater yet either, so I have options.

This morning I got up bright and early, and set off on a three hour drive to the Lake District.

I arrived at Derwent Water at about 10, and after quickly unpacking and the people who own the accommodation pointing out the best walks I set off to hike up Catbells.

This is my first solo holiday, and up until setting off up the mountain (It’s only a small one, but it’s still a mountain!) I was starting to regret going on my own. There is something about sharing a view with someone.

And there is definitely something about not having to carry 10KG of camera equipment, and a tripod, and your lunch and a bottle of water, and your layers all on your own. (Shout out to kB here, as he normally carries my layers, water and tripod!)

I’m also petty rubbish at steep climbs with uneven steps, and this is what Catbells is at first.

Once I could see the summit I was fine, and going down it always easier that going up!

I then went back to the cottage for a bit, and had some lunch.

Then I set off out to Honister Pass, but I drove here. The sunset itself was a nothing event (too many mountains perhaps), but before the sun set the sky was a lovely colour.

I finished off by trying to get the a jetty at Derwent Water, but the one closest to where I am staying had about 5 people setting up fairy lights on it, so I left it and came home.