In June Kyle and I stayed on the shores of Ullswater, the second largest lake in the Lake District. We arrived on a golden sunny afternoon and were instantly greeted with green fields, flowers and that warm summer’s smell. By the time we had settled in, the clouds and mist started rolling in and clinging to the mountains in the distance. Before we lost all light we quickly headed out to capture the surrounding areas and the stillness of the lake.
The first thing that caught my attention was a huge oak tree that was parading in the field right in front of the hotel. It was the most picture perfect spot to perch yourself under with a blanket and a picnic basket. I had neither of those at the time so instead I just danced around the base as Kyle snapped away, trying to capture the moment.
There was a little jetty on the shore of the lake, just a small distance from the tree. The water was so calm, welcoming nearby fisherman and their boats. From the jetty you can see much of Ullswater and the fells that tower in the background. For a while we just sat dangling our legs enjoying the quietness of the area.
We awoke the next day to see the sun hidden behind a thick layer of clouds and mist. Not the most ideal conditions to photograph, but lucky for us it was still fairly dry, so we headed out to make the most of it anyway. With an image in my head of what I wanted to capture, we drove around the lake finally arriving at St Peter’s Church that sat at the bottom of a mountain point that we could easily walk up to. Once at the top we were taken aback at how much we could actually see – the perfect bird’s eye view of Ullswater and the surrounding fells. It all seemed so peaceful, with only the distant sound of the Ullswater Steamers passing along the water.
After what felt like an hour, perched up on this hill admiring the view, there was one more spot we wanted to visit before the rain really decided to settle in. It was only a short drive back around the lake to reach the start of this enchanting forest that opened the doors to a small yet impressive waterfall hidden amongst its groves – Aira Force. From the car park, the waterfall is easily accessed, only being a 10-15 minute stroll through the forest. We stopped a few times along the way to capture the picturesque scenery of the forest itself.
When we arrived back at the hotel that evening it was grey and bleak outside – the perfect weather to relax, take a bath and finish editing photos from the day’s events. We enjoyed a relaxed meal at the bar before calling it an early night. After all we had only just arrived back from Greece a few hours before arriving at Ullswater. Not that I’m complaining. Travel is all I’ve known for some time now, and I wouldn’t change it for the world.
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