The Lake District
November 2006

The Lake District National Park in Cumbria is one of the 14 national parks in England and boasts of a few of the most picturesque areas in England. It is called "The Lake District" because it has so many, er.... lakes.

All pics for this trip have now been published!

Wikepedia article on The Lake District - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_district

Click on any image for full-size view.

First stop for the day - near Great Asby, Cumbria

Stunning Autumn scenery, near Great Ormside, Cumbria

Rutter Force Falls waterfall, Great Ormside

Rutter Force Falls! This attraction is relatively unspoilt as it is located off the beaten track!

Thilini and Rutter Force Falls. Also, me.

The photographer of the year - Malith!

Outrageously beautiful landscape, near Kendal

Windermere Lake at night - awesome!

Windermere Lake - the largest natural lake in England - as viewed from Queen Adelaide Hill.

Just North of the town of Windermere

Near Troutbeck, Windermere

Near Troutbeck, Windermere

Near Troutbeck, Windermere

Boat in Windermere lake, in Ambleside

Ambleside

Ambleside

Breath-taking landscape, don't you agree?

Follow the Signs and you can't go wrong in Britain

Autumn scenary to die for - near Elterwater

Somewhere near Elterwater / Langdale

Awe-inspiring Langdale

Langdale

Langdale Valley

Somewhere closer to Grasmere

Grasmere

Grasmere - in the centre of the Lake District

Trying my hand in "camcord-o-graphy"

Skiddaw and "Little Man" peaks, near Bassenthwaite Lake

Skiddaw and "Little Man" peaks, near Bassenthwaite Lake

It's us in the freezing cold - tee hee.

Bad weather continually kept interrupting us in our dream of arriving at the Bassenthwaite Lake.

Heavy rains meant our idea to go there was shattered: just like England's Ashes dream. (The difference was that we were better prepared)

Eventually we had to settle for Dodd Wood, near the lake

A stream in Dodd Wood

Beathtaking!

Castlerigg valley, near Keswick

Castlerigg, near Keswick

Castlerigg Stone Circle

Built circa 3200BC in the Neolithic period; one of the earliest stone circles in Britain (Wikipedia)

Castlerigg

Road alongside Derwent Water reservoir

Derwent Water Reservoir, Cumbria, England

Derwent Water

View from the top of the Honister Pass, Borrowdale Valley

The route leading to this location is zigzagging, treacherous and has a maximum gradient of 25% at some points. This is one of such well-known, difficult roads in UK.

An ice-cold stream of water

Honister Pass

Another stream full of natural goodness of the Lake District

Crickey! What a beauty!

Ela Dola Gangaa yaawi galaa...

Views at Buttermere Fell

Capturing the stunning natural beauty of the Buttermere Fell

Buttermere Fell, between Honister Pass & Buttermere Lake

I am starting to believe the best landcape architect is the Mother Nature herself.

Buttermere Fell

(and also my pride and joy!)

Buttermere Lake

Another stunning view of Buttermere Lake, courtesy of Wikipedia

Despite the beauty of the location, we could not take many pics here due to bad weather. How depressing.

The road aside Buttermere Lake

Stunning landscape along Buttermere Lake

Buttermere

Buttermere lake

Somewhere between Buttermere & Crummock Water

Near Crummock Water

Somewhere near Crummock Water

Crummock Water reservoir

Lowes Water, a relatively small reservoir, located a short drive away from Buttermere & Crummock Water lakes

On our way to Cockermouth, North-Western Lake District

Kirkstone Pass - The Lake District's highest pass open to motor traffic, at an altitude of some 1500 feet. In places, the gradient is 1 in 4.

Ullswater - the 2nd largest lake in the Lake District

Extreme, but typically English weather conditions barred us from taking any more pics of this breathtaking reservoir

Podi mahaththaya mahaththaya, learning a few tricks

Next stop - Aira Force Falls (waterfall) near Ullswater

Aira Force Falls - one of the most famous and most visited in LD

A more clearer view of Ullswater - this time on our way back from Aira Force

Ullswater

Ullswater

Along the descent "The Struggle" from Kirkstone Pass to Ambleside

The End of "The Struggle" - the descent

An arrow marks the spot where we started from the top!

End of the descent, "The Struggle"

"Rata harak" enjoying the natural beauty between Little Langdale and Wrynose Pass

Enter the Wrynose Pass!

This is one of the steepest roads in England, with gradients of 1 in 3 at some points.

View towards Langdale from the top of the Wrynose Pass

Taking a well-deserved break, having successfully managed to drive to the top of Wrynose Pass!

Just when we thought we had done it all... it seems we have seen nothing yet.

The section of the route marked with an ellipse happens to be the Hardknott Pass, the STEEPEST motorable road in England, with a steady gradient of 1 in 3 in most of the places. Crickey!

Will we be able to survive to tell the tale?

Another view of the descent of Wrynose Pass and the ascent of the Hardknott Pass sent a few more shivers down our spines for good measure.

Between Wrynose & Hardknott passes, it contains some of Britain's most challenging driving with hundreds of steep hairpin bends.

Hardknott Pass, here we come (in peace)

Gradients of 1 in 3!

Can you believe it?

A mega-sized warning sign hit us in the face -

"Don't say we didn't tell you"

Are we likely to heed these words of wisdom? Nah.

View towards Eskdale from the end of Hardknott Pass

No pics of us actually driving via Hardknott Pass, since our official photographer Malith was busy capturing this once-in a-lifetime moment with a camcorder.

When I learn how to publish a DAT file online, you will be able to see it. Perhaps. Maybe.

Having survived both the ascent AND the descent of Hardknott Pass, now it's time for a breather.

Capturing the beauty!

Hardknott descent can be seen towards the middle of the pic.

Hardknott Roman Fort, built circa 120 AD.

Survived until it was overrun by the gauls led by Vitalstatistix and of course, our heroes Asterix & Obelix

Sam of Briardene Guest House in Windermere took good care of us for 3 days!

Bowness, near Windermere

Windermere Lake, in Bowness

Us 2 with Windermere lake in the brackground

A-T-T-E-N-T-I-O-N !

Jumped on a boat to get to Ambleside and back!

Views around Windermere Lake, taken from the boat!

Spot the rainbow to win a dream trip to Lake District!!

Views around Windermere Lake

On da boat on Widermere!

Windermere Lake

View across Windermere Lake

Snow-topped mountains can be seen in the distance!

Another snow-topped mountain, known as "The Old Man of Coniston", as seen from the Tarn Hows

Wandering around "Tarn Hows", another small but magnificent pond

Tarn Hows in the background

Tarn Hows

Tarn Hows, near Coniston

The bovine types were puzzled why they were suddenly in the spotlight

Sheep near Coniston Water reservoir

Alas, our photograpic adventures of this magnificent trip abruptly ended here when the weather gods took matters into their own hands. All our prayers fell on deaf ears.

Windermere Lake in the evening, pic taken by Malith at Bowness

 

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All rights reserved - Yasiru Samarakoon 
2006