The 7 Best Places for Landscape Photography in the Lake District

The Lake District, in Cumbria, is one of the best places for landscape photography in the UK. Located in north west England, it’s a marvellous, mountainous region home to the largest lake and the highest peak in the country. Sprinkled with quaint villages and plenty of water sports opportunities as well as some of the most incredible hiking, this area of England is a photographer’s playground.

I have visited the Lake District several times in the last few years since living in a van, which has meant I’ve been able to see it’s magic in all weathers and seasons. With this experience, and probably hundreds of hours worth of walking, hiking and exploring with my camera, I’m here to tell you the top places to visit as a photographer in the lake district and the best seasons for them, including one of my favourite hidden gem photo spots.

Buy my prints or buy me a coffee.

1. Ambleside (Wasdale & Red Screes)

Starting strong with Ambleside, you have the best of both worlds here. Not only do you have the charming village of Ambleside for street, architecture and some lake-side photography, you have paths that lead straight from the village to the mountains for some incredible hiking opportunities. My personal favourite is hiking the Red Screes, walking from Ambleside up a road aptly named “The Struggle” and then up to the summit of the Red Screes where you get a gorgeous view over the valley down towards Ullswater and also a fabulous view of Helvellyn. You can do a circular route back down towards Ambleside via Scandale Fell to make the most of your photographs here.

My favourite time to come here is in Spring when the trees are starting to turn green again!

2. Lake Windermere & Bowness-on-Windermere

This is the largest lake in England and is a phenomenal backdrop to the wonderful town of Bowness. You can find unique streets with independent shops, a hub of ferries and rental boats, the Glebe (a gorgeous green with fantastic views), and plenty of paths for walks that lead to little hidden beaches or jetties. I have spent many days here and am always finding new spots to photograph, there are parks and fields and hikes all starting from here, including Orrest head which is a short 1 or 2 mile hike up to an incredible viewpoint over the lake.

Best time to shoot here is sunrise or sunset in any season, the light over the lake is gorgeous and the seasons look beautiful for different reasons.

3. Borrowdale & Seatoller

Two places I adore for a true reset and you can walk between them. You can take your camera here, walk for hours and hours in any direction and continue to marvel at the views. There are so many paths, streams, sheep and old but gorgeous buildings waiting to be photographed. Whether it’s overcast or sunny, morning or late golden hour, the photographs are always beautiful. These tiny (read - micro) villages are just bases to get to the stunning surrounding landscapes as it’s definitely more of a hikers/walkers paradise. I love to go here, lose phone signal and get lost in the landscape taking 1 (or 100) too many photographs.

Best time for me is autumn, though summer is gorgeous too. But I LOVE the moody, cloudy atmosphere and the colours of autumn, they really give it a new life.