Lake District + Camping

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jpwild

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I am trying to branch out and find new areas to photograph. Since I live in Disley, I am bored of Manchester and Lyme Park. I am determined to do a few trips up to the Lake District. I don't drive, so I will be getting a train to either Penrith or Windermere then bus to Keswick or along Ullswater towards Patterdale.I think Windermere itself doesn't look that special going from Google Earth and other sources.

However, since I am using train the train times are not that forgiving and using a bus to get to end point takes time. For example, I would not arrive in Keswick till at least 12.00 ish (after the bus from Penrith or Windermere) and then have around 5 or 6 hours before I have to get bus to the train station to catch train back to Manchester. Obviously, at this time of year I would miss those beautiful sunsets and sunrises.

The photographic equipment I would take would be my Flipside 300 or Vertex 200, Canon 5D, 24-70 lens, filters and my RedSnapper aluminum tripod. Have to say I am not totally sure which lens would be best 24-70 or 17-40. I'm suing with the 24-70 at the moment even if it is heavier.

If I go down the campsite route. I am aware of the Castlerigg campsite and that looks very good, but since I've never been camping before it is a bit daunting.

I'll most likely be going by myself on my own little adventure. Would prefer the sun with broken clouds, but also like the idea of shooting in the rain too obviously with optech rain cover on camera.

I am interesting in photographing the jettys, rowing boats and the pebbles along the lake with the transparent water effect and hills in background. Basically the typical Lake District scenario image. Also like to go up a couple of hills and get a view down shot too though I prefer shots at the bottom rather than at the top for some reason.

1) What is generally the better areas - Keswick & Derwent water or along Ullswater? I can also access also Grasmere as the bus goes through there (Windermere to Keswick - 555)

2) Is it a good idea to use a campsite or setup camp somewhere random for one night rather than a B&B? I've looked at various B&B webistes and even the traveldoge at Penrith, but I find them to be expensive. Castlerigg seems pretty good for a night or two even though I have no concept of camping.

4) I am not sure how to mix taking my photographic equipment with camping equipment. Obviously if I paid for campsite I would deploy tent and leave sleeping bag at the site whilst I venture off on my photographic missions then come back and sleep till just before sunrise. Not an issue to take the gear though train station and bus to the campsite. If I leave the campsite will the tent be safe by itself?

5) Are the jettys and ferry landing areas fairly accesible to passing photographers? I.e if I took pics of the various ferry / streamer docks at Derwent water and all I wanted to do was take images and not use the water vehicle then would that be okay? Some look to be in private hotel grounds as well from what I see on Google Earth.

However, if I was to not use a campsite and found a random location would it all be too much to cart around with me? Obviously I would need a tent, sleeping bag and one of those mat things as well as snacks and water.

Any other camping advice would be appreciated. I've only done day walks or trips so far to more or less local areas.
 
jpwild said:
I am interesting in photographing the jettys, rowing boats and the pebbles along the lake with the transparent water effect and hills in background. Basically the typical Lake District scenario image. Also like to go up a couple of hills and get a view down shot too though I prefer shots at the bottom rather than at the top for some reason.

1) What is generally the better areas - Keswick & Derwent water or along Ullswater? I can also access also Grasmere as the bus goes through there (Windermere to Keswick - 555)
for the lake pebble background then derwent water will give you that at the bay round from the jettys and the theater by the lake, jetty shots fine here to
A short walk could be Loughrigg views of windermere, langdales, elterwater and Grasmere
2) Is it a good idea to use a campsite or setup camp somewhere random for one night rather than a B&B? I've looked at various B&B webistes and even the traveldoge at Penrith, but I find them to be expensive. Castlerigg seems pretty good for a night or two even though I have no concept of camping.

4) I am not sure how to mix taking my photographic equipment with camping equipment. Obviously if I paid for campsite I would deploy tent and leave sleeping bag at the site whilst I venture off on my photographic missions then come back and sleep till just before sunrise. Not an issue to take the gear though train station and bus to the campsite. If I leave the campsite will the tent be safe by itself?

5) Are the jettys and ferry landing areas fairly accesible to passing photographers? I.e if I took pics of the various ferry / streamer docks at Derwent water and all I wanted to do was take images and not use the water vehicle then would that be okay? Some look to be in private hotel grounds as well from what I see on Google Earth.
yes they are all accessable except the ones at windermere where you board the lake boats
However, if I was to not use a campsite and found a random location would it all be too much to cart around with me? Obviously I would need a tent, sleeping bag and one of those mat things as well as snacks and water.
hunt down a cheap BB easier and worth it
Any other camping advice would be appreciated. I've only done day walks or trips so far to more or less local areas.
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lots of good places to stop off and have you looked at the option of the train to windermere its a 30 minute walk to Bowness the lake and boats.
If you go to Keswick may be just take a bus to ambleside or grasmere and do your walk theresome good views from silver howe 3 to 4 hrs depending on route, or loughrigg 2 to 3 hours again assuming you are used to hill walking.
 
Hi, Jon, unless you're a solitary photographer, why not organise a meet?

You might get a lift, learn something (unless you know all you need to know), others that have been there before may join you and, well, it'll be a laugh.

Just an idea.

Cheers.
 
The national trust has a few campsites around Windermere and other family pods and yurts at some of these sites

These are more sturdy (obviously) than tents and offer a good base to start from and store equipment in behind a
Locked door
 
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If you decide to wild camp, rather than using an official campsite, make sure you pick an acceptable spot. It's not strictly allowed without the landowner's permission, though they often turn a blind eye as long as you leave the place as you find it, don't light any fires, etc. Also, try to camp quite high up if you're able to, as you're less likely to disrupt any farming, or disturb livestock.

I've found that I can carry a 70 litre pack, with three days worth of gear, along with my camera and a couple of lenses (one of which is the very heavy 70-200 L), and my tripod strapped to the outside. It isn't what you would call light, but I definitely couldn't manage to carry a separate camera bag.
 
Ullswater has some amazing surrounding scenery and the lake ain't bad either. Has a really, much-photographed boathouse at one end. Some good high access points looking down on the lake on the road from where the steamers launch.

I generally head for windermere though and then up to langdale where you have access to the big peaks and some high tarns. The NT has a campsite at langdale that's bijou but has a few pubs close by and some great walking trails on its doorstep.

Think I stayed at the loughrigg campsite the first I went to the lakes - has a really pretty tarn (loughrigg tarn) next to it and a short walk to grasmere. It's 5 mins from windermere at the top of the lake. The one I stayed at was a field with a tap and a toilet but it was quiet and pleasent.

Go on ukcampsite.co.uk for some decent reviews of sites in the lakes....
 
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The Lake District is a terrific place but living in Manchester you have the whole of the Peak District on your doorstep and reasonably accessible by public transport I guess - well worth thinking about

Simon
 
GrittyShaker said:
If you decide to wild camp, rather than using an official campsite, make sure you pick an acceptable spot. It's not strictly allowed without the landowner's permission, though they often turn a blind eye as long as you leave the place as you find it, don't light any fires, etc. Also, try to camp quite high up if you're able to, as you're less likely to disrupt any farming, or disturb livestock.

I've found that I can carry a 70 litre pack, with three days worth of gear, along with my camera and a couple of lenses (one of which is the very heavy 70-200 L), and my tripod strapped to the outside. It isn't what you would call light, but I definitely couldn't manage to carry a separate camera bag.
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Good points, thanks. What sort of backpack do you have?

simonkit said:
The Lake District is a terrific place but living in Manchester you have the whole of the Peak District on your doorstep and reasonably accessible by public transport I guess - well worth thinking about

Simon
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I've been to Edale, Mam Torr and will go to Ladybower, but I want to do quite a bit with water and foreground compositional shuts such as boats with nice backgrounds etc etc.
 
jpwild said:
Good points, thanks. What sort of backpack do you have?
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A Vango Sherpa, at the moment. It does the trick. I should add that I also carry a lightweight, one-man tent. It couldn't house anything bigger without me sacrificing other important stuff*.

I'm going wild camping in Scotland in a few weeks. Really looking forward to watching the sun set over the loch, whilst I sip a *whisky. :D
 
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If you do give camping a go, non-members can stay on the Camping and Caravan Club site on the edge of Derwent Water. If your tent is small you can stay on the section of the site right next to the lake shore, and it's a short walk to the pubs/supermarket in Keswick, and you can walk to some nice places on Derwent Water, such as Friar's Crag.

This is the lake shore near the campsite, it was taken on a dodgy compact on the only dry moment that I had the week I was there!
4500266997_4faf7619ee.jpg
 
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I love the area around Keswick- the lake ( Derwent Water) is brilliant for boats jetties etc

Catbells, if you fancy the climb and a short boat trip across Derwent water, well worthn the effort in my opinion

also the Stone Circle at Castle rigg- just above Keswick- good for early mornimg sun rise through the artifacts and its no too far from Ambleside another very photographic location

Wast water - remote and forboding in the ealy mornings

good luck wherever you decide to shoot

Les :thumbs:
 
Hi there

Funnily enough... I've just come back from putting up a tent in Windermere, ready for tomorrow night. Apparently it's going to be raining tomorrow... so thought I'd get it up now. It's on private grounds so I can't really help with regards to sites, though I would say don't rule Windermere out. If you're travelling by train, it's far more accessible than Keswick would be... just change at Oxenholme, and take the Windermere branch line. I'd have thought you would find plenty in the area in the way of jetties, boats, views, etc. within walking distance of Windermere station, plus a walk up to Orrest Head from there takes you to some lovely views very quickly.

If you don't want to lug all your gear around, you could definitely consider youth hostelling, or some of the B&Bs are very inexpensive, I would say, particularly for a Canon 5D owner. ;)
 
Do what lazer chikkin said camp at Derwent campsite or theres a youth hostel
in kesick itself near Fitz Park;)

or get in touch via the internet for Hillside apartments I've stayed there twice.

pubs well The Oddfellow Inn meals are reasonable and cheap

Beer get on the Jennings
go to Nicholson (sp) Launch
 
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I've done both the wild camping and youth hosteling routes and if you're not too experienced at camping I wouldn't suggest wild camping. Although the benefits are that you can set your camp where you are planning on shooting from the next morning and not have to worry about waking up before dawn!

Youth hosteling is cheap and so much better than camping when it is raining!
 
There are some great youth hostels in the lakes, its great to meet up with people in the evenings there and swap notes on other places to visit!
 
there are quite a few campsites around Keswick - I stayed at one with a bunch of other toggers last year, but I'm afraid I can't remember the name (think it may have been Castlerigg campsite?)
 
Castlerigg Hall campsite is a very good site. The views from the site are stunning, on a good day. We are going back for again this year for a 2 week stay in July as 1 week last year was not enough!
 
For stunning scenery try Claife Heights. Mid height so all the big hills are above you, loads of tarns, especially if you use a map and get off the main paths. Catch the ferry from Windermere and when you get off just go straight up the hill in front of you and head generally north. You can easily spend a day round there, and you'll probably need more than one card!!!

Moss Eccles Tarn, Wise Een Tarn, Try and find Three Dubs Tarn - there is a very photogenic boathouse hidden in there. Go as far north as Latterbarrow, then catch the service bus back, or wild camp (I said nowt!) and carry on the following day.
 
With regards to leaving kit in a tent, I have camped most of my life and have never had a problem with anything going missing.
I find that if you join the camping and caravanning club, you tend to get a better site with good facilities and also generally the people that tend to stay there are seasoned campers so treat people as they expect to be treated ie - always polite and keeping an eye out for others.
I have always felt safe letting the kids play about on club sites but not so much on other sites.
 
might be worth considering getting on yer bike

seriously,if trains are still allowing bikes,and i dont see why not,a bike can save all that lugging around of heavy equipment,if the bike is well fitted out with reasonable paniers etc.also taking a tripod can be very useful too and the bike would allow you to take maybe a little more than just the basics too,and allow you to access places a bus might not be travelling too at times convenient to you.of course you can always chain the bike up somewhere if you need to get of the beaten track.

its worth considering IMO


peter
 
GrittyShaker said:
A Vango Sherpa, at the moment. It does the trick. I should add that I also carry a lightweight, one-man tent. It couldn't house anything bigger without me sacrificing other important stuff*.

I'm going wild camping in Scotland in a few weeks. Really looking forward to watching the sun set over the loch, whilst I sip a *whisky. :D
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Interesting. I'll have a look at them, thank you.

kendalcottages said:
Hi there

Funnily enough... I've just come back from putting up a tent in Windermere, ready for tomorrow night. Apparently it's going to be raining tomorrow... so thought I'd get it up now. It's on private grounds so I can't really help with regards to sites, though I would say don't rule Windermere out. If you're travelling by train, it's far more accessible than Keswick would be... just change at Oxenholme, and take the Windermere branch line. I'd have thought you would find plenty in the area in the way of jetties, boats, views, etc. within walking distance of Windermere station, plus a walk up to Orrest Head from there takes you to some lovely views very quickly.

If you don't want to lug all your gear around, you could definitely consider youth hostelling, or some of the B&Bs are very inexpensive, I would say, particularly for a Canon 5D owner. ;)
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Thank you for all replies. I shall have a further scout of locations on Google Earth and other sources.


I've afforded the camera and gear by being a penny pincher on other things in life, lol. Hmm, I might do Winderemere first just to get a feel for the area and location.

I've heard of Orrest Head, and something I might like to do.

Does anyone have any recommendations on things such as tents? Obviously, I would be lugging a 2kg tripod so the weight needs to be minimal. I am also over 6 ft and happy with just single person tent.

I'd love to be able to go to a location and sit and lie in a tent and wait till the morning sunrise happens and get that photographic shot, or that shot with that morning feel to it. I would like to do 1 night only camping trips.
 
A vango banshee 200 would be worth a look, £60 but it's a cheap "proper" mountain tent and not an argos special. Room for 2 close friends or 1 with kit so you can do stuff inside the tent - sit up and eat, review pics etc.

I live in the lakes and do a lot of trekking, camping etc so feel free to pm any questions.
 
Hi Jon, I'm going to be in the area probably 2 days in Keswick and 2 days Windermere b&b from Sunday 3rd July if your looking for a lift about. Not sure where I'm going as there's lots of great places to visit but looking at OP magazine for idea's and checking old post's on here. pm if your about or if any one else fancy's a day out and area's to visit :thumbs:. Paul
 
As a Cumbrian resident i would say:
Don't assume the weather will be good.
Even on good days it can be pretty hazy.
Try to go beyond the typical tourist areas (difficult if relying on public transport). The further north and west you go, the further from tourists.
Catbells is nice but at this time of year you'll be in a long line of walkers!
 
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