Crummock Water again; a scene of peace and beauty; Gaia preening and posing and looking so serene.

Shortly after this point on the walk around the lake you have to leave the shoreline and walk up on the road as there is no historical right of way and the farmer has not granted it. This reflects a long established battle (and yes it has been violent in the past with mass ‘trespasses’) between the rights of the walker and the rights of the landowner. And the overwhelming majority of walkers try and behave responsibly as they do not wish to damage the countryside they love. And most landowners are accomodating, even finding ways to supplement their income (B&B, the occasional cream tea, farm shop sales), but some not. They are resentful of the very walkers without whose presence these fells and villages would be forlorn and rundown with little economic value. So a need for a balance on this overcrowded planet between the two, with respect for each other and respect for Gaia.

Wainwright said  of Crummock Water and Mellbreak ‘no pairing of hill and lake in Lakeland have a closer partnership than these ‘. Now my personal preference is Derwentwater and Catbells, particularly at dusk but it is a close run thing, and anyway, you don’t have to choose.

So I took the previous image and played a bit; enhanced the colour and added some lens flare. I wanted to increase the feeling of other worldliness and a place separate from our everyday lives. I draw the line at adding images of flower faeries splashing in the water; not my style, too corny and a step too far. Yet you may like this alternate version.

And just for fun; way out beyond faerie …

Or for th those with a more traditional view

A somewhat longer walk than that around Buttermere, the walk around Crummock Water is rewarding and beautiful. As a detour, on the western side, is the opportunity to go to Scale Force (Force from the Nordic word Foss, meaning waterfall … the Vikings settled Cumbria quite extensively) the highest waterfall in Cumbria. In order to get there you have to walk up a rather unprepossessing valley; very hummocky, with much gorse and boulders; but eventually you turn into a ravine and there it is. A beautiful faerie place, peaceful and not much visited; a place to sit quietly and enjoy. Looking at this image I know I have to go and take more; varying the shutter speed to get different effects with the fall. A lesson to be learned; even in the wonderment (and sharing cake with my son, who is my usual walking companion in the Lakes) you have to think and experiment.

Happy new year

The image below is the first of a themed set from the English Lake District. A tiny area really, yet with rugged mountains, green valleys,  wonderful lakes and gushing waterfalls. The last three might give you a clue … it rains a lot … I have been rained on, snowed on and baked in sunshine all on the same day. The weather is pot luck yet the rewards wonderful. The first set from the area will be around Buttermere and Crummock Water. They are not visited by the coach crowds, day visitors to the main centres; Bowness, Windermere and Ambleside;  nor by the culture baggers eager to see Beatrix Potter or Wordsworth paraphernalia. There is one hamlet, two pubs and much good walking for all tastes and levels. This first image is of Buttermere, looking SE to Fleetwith Pike. The image is virtually un-retouched; it did not need it; a beautiful walk around the lake on a beautiful day, with a decent pint of beer as reward at the end of the walk. Lovely. Gaia dancing so prettily.