This post has been sat in my drafts for ages as I wanted to add more to it, but if you’ve seen my other post, then you will understand why I am posting it now, I’ll do another post later in the year when I have some more to say and have shot some other parts of this incredible part of the world!

Photography at Sunrise and Sunset can be one of the most rewarding and yet most frustrating pursuits in photography, largely because it often relies on a huge sprinkling of luck alongside some careful planning around where to be and when to be there; that awesome golden hour light doesn’t always show up! I hope in this post, to give you some ideas for your next sunrise or sunset photography trip in The Lake District.

Before we start, other than your camera and tripod, here’s some things I recommend taking with you:

• Head Torch - these trips start and/or finish in darkness or poor light, this well help you to light your way.

• Layers - it’s cold before the sun comes up and gets very chilly wet the sun goes down. Stay warm

• Water + Snacks - stay hydrated and don’t get hungry. Plan to take enough for your whole trip. And then a little bit more.

• Not something you take with you, but always make sure someone knows your plans in case there is a problem.

Remember, that no amount of planning is going to guarantee you that dramatic sunrise and those amazing golden colours. You’ll improve your chances of getting ‘the shot’ if you’re in the right location and at the right time - something I learned quite quickly when I moved to the area and something which I am still learning now. I use the Photopills app to help me plan these trips. There’s also a called Alpenglow which is starting to get really good at forecasting the quality of a sunrise, but I still don’t rely on wholly on it and like to take a chance!

Here’s a list of the locations covered in this blog:

• Blea Tarn

• Ullswatwer (Glencoyne Bay)

• Helsington Viewpoint

• Rydal Water

• Elterwater/River Brathay

• Ullswater (Pooley Bridge)

Ullswater - Pooley Bridge - Penrith

Yet another easy walk, but not for the faint of heart in other ways - I’ll explain.

Parking for this one is easy, there’s plenty in the Pooley Bridge area (it get’s very busy, so just because it’s there, don’t expect it to be easy to park!), so have a look around and see what suits you. I managed to find something in a lay-by so didn’t have to pay for this one! Everything around this location is fairly well paved, but that does mean you have to walk along roads without footpaths, and a couple of the locations you can stand are on grass verges - BE CAREFUL, WEAR SOMETHING BRIGHT, DON’T STAND HERE ALONE AND KEEP YOUR WITS ABOUT YOU! (Disclaimer - you have been warned, if you get run over, it isn’t my fault!). If you don’t fancy this, then there is an elevated spot in the carpark next to the B5320/A592 junction (W3W location below at the end of this section).

The shot everyone wants is The Duke of Portland Boathouse, and to get a decent shot of this, you’re going to need either a super long or have to take your chances with the traffic (again, be careful, you have been warned, not my fault, I’m not telling you to do this!) and get close to the fence.

This is a good sunset spot, with the sun setting behind Helvellyn the evening I was there. Unfortunately, the sky didn’t give me everything I wanted that night, but it still had a go at putting on a bit of a show!

What.3.Words: contemplate.enacted.length (paid parking) /// magically.leopard.code (free lay-by parking) /// pacemaker.estate.sticky (dodgy grass verge photography) /// ///juicy.narrow.sprouting (safer, slightly elevated views of the water)