Pondskater, i’m staying in white cross bay yeah 🙂

You lucky young fellow. Did you know that is where Short Brothers had their Windermere Works in WWII. They built 35 Sunderlands there are refurbished another 25 or so. The concrete foundations of the factory, roads and slipway were left behind after the war and the caravan site was built to make use of them. Most of the concrete is covered over but the layout of the factory can still be followed.

This is the slipway in 1942:

As for photos, by all means try your new filters but see what you can do with the natural light you get in the lakes, especially early morning. These were all taken unfiltered and, as somebody on Blackadder once said, my medium is light:

Derwentwater, between rain showers creating an almost black and white effect. I love the way the cloud peels back off the mountains.

Borrowdale in Winter:

Near Ambleside in the mist:

Path at Loughrigg near Ambleside. That is really great wall, the combination of age and moss and that unique way of attaching the fence posts mean you can’t walk past it without taking a photo:

Frosty mornings:

Just take advantage of whatever conditions are offered and experiment.

Now, tell GA how many lakes there are.

Allan

Brand has just resigned from the BBC – it is the end for his Radio 2 show.

Good to see him go. He was never right for that station anyway and the BBC has far better talent than him.

And I got to sit in Magnum’s Ferrari…

How d’you manage that? Peter was my dentist for many years and I never got to sit in a car – you lucky man. 🙂

Cars of the Stars is a small building but a large, unique and fascinating collection of cars. The only “recreations” that I’m aware of are James Dean’s Porsche (for obvious reasons) and the James Bond underwater Lotus. Peter collected a number of Lotii from Pinewood studios including one bare bodyshell which was supplied for use on the film. The obvious thing was to add fins instead of wheels and make the underwater car. There’s a great story behind every car – pick your favorite two or three and ask the staff about them.

GA – nobody is being drawn into answering the question about the number of lakes. We’ll have to post clues.

I think the producer who cleared that recording for broadcast is suffering the brunt of the investigation at the moment. If it was approved, it was a huge lapse of judgement.

It is curious to hear that thousands of people have complained – after hearng about this on the news. Obviously lots of people don’t like Brand and don’t listen to his programme but leapt onto the band wagon of lodging official complaints – this could get to be a bit of a witch hunt.

Mind you, I don’t like him and don’t listen to his programme so his loss from the airwaves would be a gain in my view.

Not you, Pondskater!!! :p

Spoil sport – my fingers were on the keyboard answering before I’d even finished reading the question. 🙁

So I shall just tell you about the Japanese tourist who went to the information centre at Bowness and asked where Peter Rabbit was buried.

Robbie,

You should have a good time. Where are you staying – not White Cross Bay by any chance?

I live in Windermere and there is plenty to point your camera at. Tarn Hows is an excellent starting point but my preference is for the more dramatic mountain scenery for which you should head for Ullswater or Borrowdale. I think Ullswater Steamers still run their winter service. There is a nice trip on the boat to Howtown and then walk back along the southern shore of the lake to the pier and the car park. Nice day out that one.

Every valley in the lakes has a different character but, IMHO, they are all best viewed from just a little way up the fells, so take you walking boots and go for a gentle stroll.

You are going at the best time. In the summer it is unbearably crowded.

That very much depends on where you go – follow the sheep and you’ll be with the herd. I could take you a walk from Windermere to Bowness on a Bank Holiday and see only a couple of dozen people – yet the front at Bowness will be heaving. Of course, if you want to go to the front at Bowness, that’s fine but accept you will be sharing it. And conversely, I bet I could find a crowd in the Winter on a nice clear Sunday afternoon 😉

Anyway, the right thing is to ask people in advance where all the best places to go might be.

A lot depends on the weather (call 0870 055 0575). Treat the fell tops with respect in winter but the day after rain is often very clear – see Daz’s pics for proof of that!

The tourist board’s site – http://www.golakes.co.uk includes events and is a good general guide.

And enjoy it

Allan

The book by R.E. Forbes Garnham-Smythe has a number of omissions, sadly.

It doesn’t have full info on Short Brothers’ buildings so I’ve no idea what colour this one should be 🙁