Dunmail Raise

Location: 1 mile south of lake Thirlmere and north of Grasmere by 2 miles. Extremely popular with enthusiasts this valley is very steep with many locations so this guide will not go in depth with them. If you look at the Dunmail location map you will see a few markings of suggested points, it really depends on what you are trying to acheive. Although you wont go far wrong if you position yourself near the dual carriageway about 300ft above the road as a good starting point and adjust your position accordingly, you should be able to see the lake at Grasmere.For topside shots the western side closer to Thirlmere is better as the aircraft will be following the valleys line as they come through and they will be banked quite steeply before they level out. This location requires that for morning pictures on sunny days that you be on the east side and then change over for 1pm to the west to get the sun behind you. Park in the lay-by near the old AA phonebox and enter the hillside over the gate. This is one location that is advisable to leave the camera in the bag until you have found your location as it is very tricky and could cause damage if you had a trip. Once this location has been mastered it is good practise to look for different type of shots for example try the entrance to the pass at the Grasmere end where head on shots are possible as the aircraft bank as they swoop down into the pass. This location is great for those side on shots and quarter view topside shots and a 300mm lens is adequate although a zoom lens which can reach 400mm is an excellent choice. 

                            

A favourite position on the west side is located towards the Thirlmere end of the dual carriageway. It is recognised by the small grass pull in which has room for one car on the grass verge. From here climb over the fence and head straight up the hillside in front of you, be careful as this location as with all of the western side is made up of loose rock. Climb up to around 300ft and try to find a position that allows you to take the weight off your feet, which is not easy to find and so you can see traffic approaching from Grasmere . This location is good in respect of the fact that aircraft do pul out sometimes along Thirlmere or g down St Johns, usually you are more likely to catch them here. 

                                                          A Photographer waiting on the west side

                                                              Rydal Water

                                           Click the image for location

                                                                  Nab Scar

Located to the east of Grasmere. The views high above Rydal water offer excellent views down the lake of Windermere. From here you have excellent views as aircraft fly up the main artery of the Lake district. it is recommended here that you have a lens that reaches 400 mm. Aircraft can either use the bend above Ambleside or fly over the top of Loughrigg or to the west of it. This location is ideal for afternoons during the summer season as the sun heads west leaving the south and east clear, doing this it fills the valley with evening sunshine for extended shooting into the evening. If you are the sort of person who has to go home with every aircraft in the bag, this maybe not the location for you. Park on the lane near the church and head up the lane, ignore the first public footpath on the left. Be prepared to miss aircraft at this location as described above, some aircraft do not take the bends.

   We are curently working on loughrigg fell