Guide to Photographing Coniston Water - Location Map

I have recently returned from a short trip to the Lake District. I was staying near the villiage of High Nibthwaite on the East shores of Coniston Water, a great base for exploring this picturesque location.

I thought I'd put together a brief guide to some of the locations that I discovered in my time there and illustrate these areas with some of the photographs that I captured at the time.

Coniston runs roughly North - South and therefore gives a number of options for dawn and dusk photography taking advantage of views from both East and West sides of the Lake.

Coniston is not as accessible as some of the Lakes in the Lake District such as the beautiful Buttermere which is circumvented almost entirely by a footpath.

I have included a simple map to the Coniston area and indicated the three locations that I have included in my brief guide to Photographing Coniston Water in the Lake District. I hope that you find this information useful and I would enjoy seeing your photos from this area. 

Guide to Photographing Coniston Water - Location C

Morning Light

At the North end of Coniston Water the road that runs along the East side of the Lake loops around the top of the Lake and leads back South and on into Coniston Village. 

Just after you start heading South from the North of the Lake and before you reach Coniston Village, you will see two small buildings nestled amongst a glade of trees to your left.

There is a gate adjacent to the road here and in the early hours of the morning when the road is quiet it is possible to park next to this gate (although your vehicle will be partially in the road)

A better option is the Pay and Display car park at the North edge of the Lake.

The scene to the left can be taken from the waters edge behind the buildings and in the right light (early morning) could be stunning. You can see from my photograph that I was 'blessed' with a clear sky which is not ideal... but at least the waters of the lake were still.

Early Light on Coniston Water

This view North East over the water was taken from the same location. The Morning light coming through the trees makes for a nice effect.

Guide to Photographing Coniston Water - Location B

There is a photogenic wooden Jetty located approximately half way up the road on the East Side of Coniston Water. A woodland car park adjacent to this spot which makes it easy to stop for a while and enjoy the view.

The Photographs shown here were both taken at dawn but this location can work well at either dusk or dawn. The Jetty faces West, if the sunset is interesting this can make for a spectacular scene.

I chose to shoot from this spot at dawn as the forecast was for clear skies. I figured that the dawn light on the distant mountains might help to create an interesting scene. Location A is an alternative location for dawn but works better if the forecast is for a more interesting (cloudier) sky

Coniston Water at dawn

A Guide to Photographing Coniston Water - Location A

Location A: South West Jetty

The Photo below was taken from the banks of the Lake near to a wooden Jetty located to the South-West of the lake. The road (A5084) to the West of the Lake passes over a cattle grid as you drive North from the Southern end of the lake/ Just after this spot the land on the right opens up and a view of the Lake and some boats can be seen appx. 200 yards in the distance. There is a parking area just a few yards further on on the right. If you park here there is a short path to a gate into the field that you just passed. This field allows access to the edge of the lake and some stunning views North. There are always boats here to provide foreground interest.

Along the bank from the path there is a gate providing access to the Jetty. It is meant for use by passengers only but I was not challenged on any of the occasions that I accessed the Jetty.

Double Rainbow over Coniston Water, Cumbria

This location has views East over Coniston Water and is a good option for dawn if the forecast is for interesting weather (broken cloud) It is not usually at it's best on clear mornings.

These photos were taken just after dawn and benefit from releatively calm conditions and broken cloud to catch the morning light. The 30 minutes prior to sunrise are often when the wind is at it's calmest. A breeze can pick up quickly shortly after sunrise and ruin calm water reflections.

The other advantage of dawn is that this location is easier to access when it is quiet. Technically the jetty is for passenger use only.

Mountains, Water, Sun and Rainh

Mountains, Water, Sun and Rain
Originally uploaded by pixelstate

This photo was taken at the Southern end of Coniston Water in the Lake District, UK

I stayed near here last week and explored the lake and surrounding area...