Can Lake District weather be too good?

I love a bit of drama in my landscape photographs and normally, the Lake District in February has it in abundance.  Last Friday however, the clear blue skies and sunshine was more reminiscent of a fine summer day – with clear views and visitors sunbathing!

It was a day we chose to walk around Derwentwater and dramatic weather aside, it was the perfect day to be relaxing in the Lakes. A rare occasion when the weather is this good in February and too good for the type of photography I’d intended, but what’s not to like about this area of the country at anytime of year?

Here are a few photos from the walk. I’m sure anyone who has done the walk around Derwentwater will recognise these views.

Waves on the Lake, surely not…

When you visit the Lake District in February, you expect some photographic challenges.  

On the day we arrived the sky looked typically brooding and the sun was doing its best to break through. Just the sort of day you want for landscape photography, especially as the rain was just about holding off. 

I wanted to get a photo of the Millennium Stone on the shore of Derwentwater with water around it,  as last time I visited it was high and dry.  No danger of that this time after the recent rain and snow. The real challenge in getting the picture on this visit was going to be the wind.  

The wind was absolutely battering the shore of the lake, but seemingly just in this particular cove! The normally calm lake was being whipped up into a frenzy and waves were crashing over the stone. Long exposure shots were near enough impossible to keep sharp as the tripod was also being battered.  It was also bitterly cold but I did manage to get a few shots, not the greatest pictures but I’ve included a few here anyway.

My next post will feature some pictures from a circuit of the lake two days later, when the weather was, if anything too good. 

York in January

While it may not be the warmest month, there is never really a bad time to visit York.  One of the advantages of visiting in winter is that you don’t get swamped by the crowds and endless tour groups that you get in high season.

York has so much to offer, stunning buildings, great shopping, cosy pubs and scenic walks along the fortified city walls or alongside the River Ouse. Our stay was just three days but I did manage a few photos…

Ouse Bridge at sunrise in the centre of York.

York Minster

Two cyclists silouetted against the sunset sky while crosing the Millennium Bridge in York, UK.

A January visit to the Fylde coast

It’s not far to the beach at St Annes from Preston and at anytime of year it’s good to experience the wide-open spaces that the coast provides.  Over recent years there has been a good deal of conservation work taking place to try and protect the sand dunes here from erosion. One of the measures involves planting out old Christmas trees along the front edge of the Dunes. 

A popular and well photographed view is of the old wooden pier on the beach. I’d hoped to get a stunning sunset but whilst that didn’t happen, I’m still happy with how the photo turned out in the end. See this pic and a few more from my visit to Lytham St Annes below…

 

The remains of an old Landing Jetty on the beach at Lytham St Annes, nera Blackpool on the Fylde Coast.

The remains of an old Landing Jetty on the beach at Lytham St Annes, nera Blackpool on the Fylde Coast.

The remains of an old Landing Jetty on the beach at Lytham St Annes, nera Blackpool on the Fylde Coast.

The remains of an old Landing Jetty on the beach at Lytham St Annes, nera Blackpool on the Fylde Coast.