What is more magical than seeing a sunrise or a sunset from a fell? The soft light on the mountains, as the sun begins to sink is truly magical to behold. Due to the nature of the Lake District (i.e. lots of fell sticking into the sky), not every fell is suitable to witness this though. The time of year, which influences the angle of the sun, makes a difference to when a given location is good for a sunrise/sunset. And remember you don't always have to be facing the sun for the best views, when the sun is setting behind you, it casts a beautiful golden light onto the fells you are looking at.
Here then are the Top 3 best fells for sunrise and sunset in the Lake District.
Loughrigg
A fell which offers both impressive sunrises and sunsets, this small hill just outside of Ambleside is an ideal place to visit. On a summer evening, walk up from Rydal and look over towards the distinctively shaped Langdales. In Autumn, from the summit, look over towards Windermere and Loughrigg Tarn, and you will be offered sensational sunrise views.
Green Gable
Starting from the already high up Honister Pass, this fell is relatively straightforward to ascend. While you might think its larger neighbour, Great Gable, would offer a better view, the best views are actually from just below the diminutive Green Gable. From this vantage point, you can see down both the Ennerdale and Buttermere valleys which at sunset in May and June, has the light from the setting sun shining down them. In the Ennerdale Valley you have the tributaries of the River Liza as well as a patchwork of forest. In the Buttermere Valley you have the twin lakes of Buttermere and Crummock to catch the light of the sun.
Blencathra
Next to Threlkeld, near the popular tourist town of Keswick, lies Blencathra. Most famous for its ridge, Sharp Edge, it can be ascended in other, less scrambly ways. The best time of year for sunsets on Blencathra is winter, with the added benefit of snow on the ground. Look out over Keswick and Derwent Water from the summit to see the sun dipping below the myriad fells beyond.
So there you have it, the three best places to see sunsets or sunrises from in the Lake District.
Before you go, if you are looking for more things:
My photos are on sale, browse them here:
Or, if you want to support my writing, you can send me a virtual coffee here:
And finally, thank you for reading, if you enjoyed please leave a like or a comment to let me know and check out other posts below.
Comments