loughrigg Fell
Autumn Panorama.
Golden morning light seen from Loughrigg Fell, overlooking Loughrigg Tarn.
Winter Dawn.
First light on Loughrigg Fell on a fresh Winter morning.
Loughrigg Fell is located in the central part of The Lake District. Not too far from Ambleside, this relatively small hill has some absolutely fantastic views from the top. At 335m, it’s certainly one of the easier fells to climb, but as most photographers will know, lugging a full backpack of camera gear can make even the smallest of hills a challenge. Just know, the rewards you will reap from the summit will have you forgetting the achy legs in no time!
This location can work pretty much all year round at both ends of the day, but there’s one time of year that Loughrigg Fell really stands out from the crowd; Autumn! For landscape photography, this location is near enough perfect on a calm Autumn morning. Picture beautiful golden sidelight, illuminating the low lying mist that has filled in the valleys below. If you get these conditions on your first visit, just know that you’ve hit the jackpot!
When to shoot.
As mentioned above, Autumn is the best time of year to shoot here. Sunrise and the golden hour tend to work better than sunset if you’re looking for that dreamy sidelight look and, especially if you’re wanting mist! If you miss the peak of Autumn, then early Winter can still work nicely on a frosty morning with the surrounding mountains likely having a dusting of snow. If you’re wanting mist in the valleys then you will need a clear sky in the night beforehand with low winds. It’s never guaranteed, but that type of forecast will be your best bet!
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As landscape photographers, we tend to like our skies to have a bit of interest in the form of a nice layer of cloud. Although it’s preferable to have the cloud, this location can still work with a clear sky. In fact, the clearer the sky, the better the chance of there being mist. If you find the skies to be clear, dig out the telephoto lens and shoot down into the valleys, excluding the sky!
What to shoot.
There’s a lot of potential for landscape photography at the summit and if you’re fit and healthy, I’m going to recommend taking a wide range of focal lengths along with you. If you’re a little on the opposite side of the healthy bandwagon, like me, then I’m still going to recommend taking a wide range of focal lengths. It will be worth it, believe me. You’ll just have to suffer for a short while! This location is not the place you want to be missing a certain lens that you sacrificed for comfort!
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I’ve only ever shot sunrise up here so that’s pretty much all I can talk about. I would say it’s best to arrive 30-45 minutes before sunrise so that you can explore/ work with the conditions as they unfold.
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If you have a decent amount of cloud in the sky with a gap on the horizon to the east, then it’s probably best to find a composition including some of the jagged rocks/boulders found south of the actual summit. A wide focal length such as 16mm-20mm is going to work best for these shots. Just remember, the wider the focal length and the closer you are to your foreground, the smaller things are going to get in the background. Try to find a good balance! As the sun gets closer to the horizon, you’ll hopefully start to see fells such as Wetherlam and The Langdale Pikes getting some of that first light. Try to think in advance and incorporate these background subjects into your shot.
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As the sun gets higher, you’ll start to get beautiful sidelight illuminating the trees surrounding Loughrigg Tarn. This is where I would swap out the ultra wide focal lengths and go for more mid-range. Try out a few panoramas.
If you happen to have mist in the valleys then this is likely the point you’re going to be running around like a headless chicken. My advice is to try to spend more time looking with your eyes as opposed to always looking through your viewfinder. Observe how the light slowly spreads across the landscape and look out for the mist revealing certain point of interest. Try to have more of a reactive approach in these situations as moments will come and go. If you miss a shot, don’t wait for it to come back because it probably won’t.
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Lastly, make use of your telephoto lens to pick out some of the smaller scenes looking towards Elterwater and The Langdale Pikes. If you have a nice layer of medium altitude cloud and a decent sized horizon gap you should get a really strong red light hitting The Langdales and it should last a good 10-15 minutes after sunrise.
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With all of this being said, you’re not going to capture every shot you’d possibly want in one visit up here so try to enjoy the moment. As the well known saying goes, the mountains aren’t going anywhere.
Loughrigg Windy Road.
Shooting into a misty scene next to Loughrigg Tarn on a lovely Autumn morning.
Autumn Morning Light.
A vertical composition using a telephoto lens to focus in on the morning side light breaking through the misty trees.
The Langdale Pikes in Red.
Vibrant deep reds illuminating The Langdale Pikes moments after sunrise.
Misty Elterwater.
A small scene of Elterwater using the long end of a telephoto lens.
Trees in The Mist.
Soft golden light illuminating some trees poking out of the mist.
Dream Home.
Telephoto views looking towards a small cottage/farm in the Elterwater Valley.
Golden Sunrise.
Golden sunlight lighting up the mist filled valleys surrounding Loughrigg Tarn.
Autumn Warmth.
A late Autumn frosty morning with beams of golden light breaking through the trees.
Getting Here
Disclaimer; Although Loughrigg is a small and moderate hill climb, weather conditions can render you lost quite easily. You should always make use of a map & compass and do plenty of route research before visiting this location. My advice is aimed only as a starting guidance point.
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There are a few approaches you can take to get up Loughrigg Fell. From the view of a photographer that usually hikes in the dark, I’m going to describe the two easiest ways. The first (and easiest) route starts from a small lay by just past the turn off for Tarn Foot Farm near Loughrigg Tarn. The second option, would be to park at White Moss car park near Rydal Water/ Grasmere (Pay & Display). This is a longer route but a safer option for when the road conditions aren’t great. Plus, you’re guaranteed a parking space here!
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Tarn Foot Farm Lay-by Postcode : LA22 9HF
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White Moss Car Park Postcode : LA22 9SE
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Directions From Tarn Foot Farm
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From the lay-by, head back towards the turning to Tarn Foot Farm. You’ll want to turn left here, walk past the dwellings on the farm, making sure to stay on the public path. You’ll eventually come to a gate on your left. Go through this gate with the campsite on your left. Eventually you’ll be on a gravel track with Loughrigg Tarn over your left shoulder. Stay on this track for a good 10 minutes. You’ll eventually pass a few cottages on your right. Go past these and shortly, around the corner, you will see a wooden gate on your right that leads on to the start of the ‘hiking’ path. The paths start to get boggy and rocky from here, so walking boots are recommended. Once you go through the gate, you want to be turning left and taking the path until you reach another wooden gate. After this, you’ll see a steep path to your right which will take you directly up Loughrigg Fell. Once you get to the top, the summit is on the left but most of the photographic potential will be to your right.
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Directions From White Moss Car Park.
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Leave the car park following signs for Grasmere. As you follow the path with the river on your left, eventually you will reach a bridge. Cross this bridge, still following the signs for Grasmere. After around 10 minutes, you will come to a gate at the edge of the forest to which you will want to enter and then take a right. Follow the path that leads higher in elevation, away from lakeside. Eventually, you will reach a point where you take a sharp left and then head up the hiking trail to the summit of Loughrigg Fell.
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