Welcome to South Lakeland

South Lakeland
The South Lakes region covers the best known parts of the Lake District due to its easy access and picturesque landscapes: Windermere
with Ambleside and Bowness, Coniston, The Langdales, Grasmereand Rydal Water, Kendal and Morecambe Bay

South Lakeland: A Personal View
Through the photographs of Mike Morton

Lakeland Beyond
Follow the links to explore specific regions of Cumbria, and galleries of other images by Mike Morton

+44 (0)1539 531258
+44 (0)7812 210880

South Lakeland
Made Easy!

South Lakeland has been subdivided following natural and political bondaries, mainly based on valleys radiating from the central massif of the Lake District. The subdivisions have been named according to the chief river into which the waters of that valley drain, for example the River Leven which drains from Windermere, Esthwaite and the Troutbeck Valley, the Kent from Kentmere, and the Crake for Coniston with Rusland and Grizedale Forest. The central lake area incorporating Langdale, Grasmere and Rydal Water has been named after the Brathay. The exception is Bay which covers the Furness and Cartmel Peninsulas, the region south of the National Park which borders Morecambe Bay

SS1: Brathay & Rothay The Langdales, Grasmere & Rydal

SS2: Crake Coniston, Tarn Hows & Grizedale

SS3: Leven Windermere. Troutbeck & Hawkshead

SS4: Kent Kendal, Kentmere & Kirby Lonsdale

SS5: Bay Furness & Cartmel Peninsulas

Click on the links to the left to explore each o these regions through the lens and with additional notes and tips for visitors. These pages contain galleries and may take a moment to load.

To purchase photographs or large format images please contact Mike
Telephone: 01539 531258
Email: mike@lakelandbeyond.com

+44 (0)1539 531258
+44 (0)7812 210880

info@lakelandbeyond.com

UPDATED: 13 / 6 / 2010

NEWS UPDATES

New Pages

South Cumbria: Leven
Dorset, Skye:

Photographs left to right, top to bottom:
Langdale; Loughrigg Tarn; Coniston Water
Reflections at High Dam; Swaledale sheep above the Winster Valley - view to the Pennines; Morning over Skelwith Fold
Copyright © Mike Morton
CLICK ON THE GALLERIES: BRATHAY, CRAKE, KEVEN, KENT & BAY (Top Left) for additional, larger images

South Lakeland is probably the most familiar region of Cumbria. It is certainly, the most easily accessible, for it is within easy reach of the M6 motorway and there are direct rail connections to Windermere. This is the tame side of the Lake District, the familiar landcapes of Peter Rabbit and Jemima Puddleduck that have been nurtured since childhood, the setting for the adventures of the Swallows & Amazons, and even the backdrop to Postman Pat and the original Thomas the Tank Engine Books! It is the landscape that has inspired great artists and poets, and more recently, generations of travellers lured here by picture postcard images of Tarn Hows or the Bridge House, adorning millions of chocolate boxes and calendars, and by Grasmere Gingerbread, and Kendal Mintcake.

But there is so much more to this region: historic houses and dazzling gardens such as Holker Hall, Sizergh Castle, Blackwell Arts & Crafts House, Levens Hall, Brantwood, Holehird, and so on. Eccesiatic and historic treasures from Cartmel Priory to the great sandstone ruins of Furness Abbey, ancient parish churches such as Cartmel Fell, or Bowness, and ruined castles at Kendal. Gleaston and Piel Island ... the latter still ruled by its own King! And don't forget the popular attractions associated with Beatrix Potter such as Hill Top at High Sawrey, or Yew Tree Farm.

Photographs left to right, top to bottom:
Wise Een Tarn - view towards the Langdales; Boats at Bowness on Windermere; Whitbarrow Scar; the 'Heart-shaped' Wood, Lune Valley
Esthwaite Water with Near Sawrey; The Old Man of Coniston; Little Langdale; Coppermines Valley, Coniston
Copyright © Mike Morton

The South Lakes region is also a magnet for anybody who loves the great outdoors and adventure - the mountain bike trails of Grizedale Forest, sailing and watersports on Coniston and Windermere, fishing at Esthwaite, or of course, that favourite pastime, fellwalking: from the high and rugged peaks of the Langdales, Conison Old Man, Wetherlam and the Troutbeck valley, to the easier slopes of Orrest Head or Gummers How, hills which nevertheless command spectacular views over the Lake District and Morecambe Bay. And when you are too tired to walk you can take a steamer from one end of Windermere to the other, or nose round the bays and islands on a more modest launch, board the Victorian Gondola steam yacht for a stylish cruise on Coniston Water or take a ride on a steam train or a steam boat, or even a steam bus! Or you can take one of the many excursions with the experienced drivers and guides of the Mountain Goat - to discover the real Lake District - our Lake District.

South Lakeland, a region rich in flora and fauna, harbours many excellent nature reserves - the spectacular seabird colony at South Walney, the rare flora of Whitbarrow, herds of red deer in, and around, Grizedale Forest, and the unusual mires of Roudsea Woods for example. South Lakeland is also a shoppers paradise with may, traditional local stores providing a huge diversity of quality produce from gifts to fashions, art to delicatessens: Ambleside, Bowness, Windermere, Kendal, Kirby Lonsdale and Ulverston. There are also renowned restaurants, tearooms, traditional pubs, successful micro-breweries, and wealth of excellent accommodation from simple B&Bs to 5-star rooms with a view. This is also a region which has an appeal throughout the year - and the calendar is busy with shows and festivals, for example: Grasmere Country Sports, Cartmel Races, Flookburgh Steam Fair, Ulverston's Dickenisan Christmas Festival, the Old Laundry theatre festival at Bowness, and the Windermere Airshow to name just a few.

Photographs left to right, top to bottom:
Finsthwaite Village; Holehird Gardens with Wetherlam; Furness Railway locomotive on the Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway; Winter sky at Ghyll Head
Gummers How; Winter sunset over Windermere & Wetherlam; Windermere from Staveley Fell; Morning mist over Windermere, from Orrest Head;
Copyright © Mike Morton

Photographs left to right, top to bottom:
Summer sunset over the Coniston Fells; Windermere with Conisiton Fells from Ghyll Head; Low Parkamoor farm, Coniston; Waterhead, Ambleside;
Wood Sorrel; Grasmere from Loughrigg Fell; Piel Castle from Walney Island (Furness); Leven Valley from Gummers How;
Copyright © Mike Morton

Are you getting married? Considering a beautiful location such as the Lake District for the event?
Why not combine a trip to the South Lakes, with a consultation to have a unique wedding gown created by a professional, avant garde, designer?
See below to find out more.

Angy produces a range of eye-catching evening wear, in addition to providing a bespoke tailoring service for Evening wear, Cocktail wear and Bridalwear from her studio nearWindermere.

Call for an appointment or checkout her creative designs on her Romantique Couture web pages:

Romantique Couture - HOME PAGE
Angy Morton - BLOG
Angy Morton - PRESS PAGE
BUTiQ - ONLINE BOUTIQUE (COMING SOON)

Romantique Couture
1 Atkinson Court, Newby Bridge, Cumbria LA12 8NW
Tel. 01539 530648
Mobile: 07812 210810
Email: angela@romantiquecouture.com

Unique, Ready to Wear and Bespoke Fashions by
avant garde fashion designer, Angy Morton

Photographs left to right, top to bottom:
Windermere from Ghyll Head - view towards the Fairfield Horseshoe; River Leven with Gummers How; Windermere from Fell Foot; Coniston Old Man from Top o' Selside
Swans at Fell Foot; Walking on Cartmel Fell with the Winster Valley; Graythwaite Hall; Frosted Rosehips
Copyright © Mike Morton

Photographs left to right:
Swans at Sow How Tarn; The Twelve Apostles, Rampside; Rampside Lighthouse (Furness); Rampside; Simpson's Ground Tarn; Piel Castle (Piel Island)
Copyright © Mike Morton