Our base for our stay in the Lake District was Lowfield House in Little Langdale. The house was comfortable and spacious with remarkable views of the valley. I have taken the liberty of posting some of the incredible views that have created memories that the family will treasure in future years. The house was central to many local attractions and the ones we took advantage were based around several of the towns and villages in the area. We visited Ambleside, Bowness, Grassmere, Keswick and Hawkshead. Our favourite happened to be Ambleside for the shops and the many activities that could be done around the town including the pretty Lakehead area. I have created several blogs of our time in the Lake District and Lowfield house was central to our holiday. My final blog will be a few views in and around the Little Langdale valley.
A rainbow forms amongst the rain and the sun.A beautiful day for a walk.Morning mist on the fells.
The house was excellent and the website provides all the information needed although I will focus on two features that we loved. The red squirrel at the entrance to the house was impressive. This stainless steel statue is heat tarnished to provide a red tint. The first picture is of the statue and the second is how we incorporated the statue into family photographs.
Red Squirrel by Clare Bigger.The red squirrel statuePicture with the squirrel
The CookCoo clock was a big success. The grandchildren loved it and every time we came close to the hour, they gathered in the kitchen to hear it chime. Last year the swing at Swinmoor House was the feature that the family loved most. This year, the “qoo ckoo” clock took on the same significance.
The qoo ckoo clock is above the Kitchen entrance. (Picture by Katie Morgan)
Here is the family photograph taken on the steps outside the house with the fells in the background.
Family picture on the steps outside Lowfield House.
____________
Links to the complete series of my blogs around our visit to Little Langdale in the Lake District in August 2023.
Our holiday base was at Lowfield House in Little Langdale. Arguably, this spot is the heart of the Lake District and is the starting point for several walks. Slater’s bridge and Cathedral Cave are both accessible in a short 45 minute walk from Lowfield House. Setting off from the house we walked past the Three Shires Pub, down a country lane and then over the fields. We quickly reached Slater’s bridge which crosses over the river Brathay. Here the river is more peaceful than Colwith Force further downstream. This bridge is made entirely of slate and dates back to the 17th Century. With the back drop of the valley and the fells on either side, this packhorse bridge was built by miners to transport materials from the nearby mines. Several pictures were taken around the bridge before we headed off to the mines.
Slater’s bridge showing the walker’s path up to Little Langdale.Another view of this wonderful packhorse bridge.A picture apportunity on the bridge.
We approached the slate queries where Cathedral Cave is located and missed the accessible entrance. Instead we moved up to the higher ground finding the entrance to the top gallery that looks down on the large chamber. My daughters were not impressed with my photographer’s instinct to get the best view possible. I was not allowed near the edge which was a sheer drop down into the cave. However, I still managed some good pictures of the cave from the rock gallery.
Entering into the upper part of the cave.Jim shines a light in the top gallery with the larger cave behind.
Rob and Natasha with the beautiful view behind them.
We explored outside looking for the entrance to the chamber. There appeared to be a precarious entrance along the rim of the quarry but after watching some walkers finding the descent difficult in the damp conditions we decided not to follow. I was a little despondent as I would have loved to have found the cave. As Sian and I walked back in front of the others, we found the entrance to the Cave. I should correct myself and say that Sian found the entrance. The group was excited as we entered into the chamber.
People passing through the cave provide an estimation of scale.The central cylinder of slate with other rock deposits reflected in the water within the cave.
I was so pleased to visit the Cathedral Cave. The impressive chamber is very atmospheric with the open window in the wall allowing light into the cave. There is a large slate cylinder that appears to be supporting the ceiling. The pool of water to the back of the cave provides many reflections allowing one to appreciate the grand space of the cavern. Needless to say, I, like many photographers who visit this place, just wanted to take lots of pictures. I hope you enjoy the journey through the series of photographs that I have taken.
Jim stands at the entrance to the cave.
On the way back we passed by a ford which would be fun to drive through if you had the right type of vehicle. We followed the path home but took a quick stop at the Three Shires Inn where I enjoyed a pint of my favourite beer named after the Old Man of Coniston. The pub is not of the same character as the Sun in Coniston and the only saving feature is the beer.
The deep ford over the river Blathey
Postscript – We enjoyed the walk so much that we took the grandchildren along the same path. They so enjoyed the bridge and the visit to the cave. They will remember this visit for a long time in the future.
Walking towards Slater’s BridgeGroup photograph on the bridge.Performing in Cathedral Cave.
__________
Links to the complete series of my blogs around our visit to Little Langdale in the Lake District in August 2023.
Our family holidays took place at Lowfield House in Little Langdale, the Lake District. I will cover several days out in the area and the first subject of my writing are my photographs of Colwith Force on the river Brathay. The waterfall is hidden in the woods behind the road leading to Little Langdale. There had been a lot of rain the night before and therefore the water was rushing down the river. In the morning, the family took a walk on the road side of the river and then in the afternoon, I crossed the road bridge to follow the woodland path where there were several good viewing points. Safety was the main issue and whilst these pictures look spectacular, I made sure that I was on firm ground and not putting myself or my camera into a dangerous position. These pictures are a mixture of long exposure with and without filters.
Colwith Force waterfall after the heavy rain.The water flow slowed down by long exposure.
Settings with camera body Canon 5D Mark IV Cover Picture – lens EF24-70mm f/2.8L, f/16, 2secs, ISO100 Picture 2 – lens EFLens EF 16-35mm, f/11, 20secs, ISO100 – Lees Little Stopper Picture 3 – lens EF24-70mm f/2.8L II USM, f/11, 120secs, ISO100 – Lees Big Stopper
______________
Links to the complete series of my blogs around our visit to Little Langdale in the Lake District in August 2023.
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
Cookie
Duration
Description
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional
11 months
The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy
11 months
The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.