Good Landscape Locations: Peak District.

Barks

Barks

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Paul
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Hi everybody,

I'm heading up the Peak District for a week at the end of August and although i've been there before, i was about ten at the time. We're going to be staying in the white peak area (Tideswell) but i've got the car so have camera can travel.

I'm hoping you good people can give me the names and places of some good places for Landscape/Sunset/Sunrise photography. We'll be there over the bank holiday weekend so i'm expecting those few days to be very busy so some out the way, off the beaten track places would be brilliant. I've got satnav for finding little villages etc and either have got already or will have by then all the relevant OS maps so map grid references are fine.

Lastly, I'd respectfully ask you not to post and images of photos you've taken from a place you might suggest. Partly because I want to go with an open mind and be a "blank canvas" so to speak, and I think seeing other people's photos will give me preconceived ideas of what to take in a certain place. And partly because seeing other people's photos will just make me realise how crap mine are ;)

Thanks everyone.
 
I'm a bit further north in the Dark Peak.

Lots of nice views here.

My suggestion, get a map and venture into the open access lands (marked on 1:25,000 maps), avoiding footpaths, that'll give you a unique perspective on the area.
 
Hello Paul,

I live withing spitting distance of the Peak District and know it fairly well. It will be heaving over the bank holiday.

I am not sure if you are into walking etc but my advice is have a trek off the beaten track. Good place for sunrise is the top of Mam Tor but it is popular. Sunset up at Curbar Edge is nice. Not too far from you is Magpie Mine near Sheldon, its always quiet when I go up there. Monsal Dale early morning is nice if there is a bit of morning mist and there is a weir up there as well.

If you are feeling energetic, have a walk up Kinder Scout, again that may be popular so early morning or late afternoon you should be fine. Lathkilldale is nt far from you and worth a walk. Avoid Dove Dale as it will be busy, so will Chatsworth and Bakewell.

White Edge up near Curbar is good, very exposed if the weather is bad though, Some good walks around Longnor with some nice photo opportunities if the light is good.

My tip is have a drive around, and see what takes your fancy, don't be afraid to explore a bit. If you go out walking, take a map and always have some waterproofs with you!

You will love it, it's a great place
 
Thanks for the replies, your advice seems to back up what was our plan anyway. We arrive on the Sat of bank holiday weekend and the plan is (i think) to stay pretty close to Tideswell and the surrounding area, within easy driving distance if not necessarily walking distance, until the Tuesday when hopefully things will quieten down a bit then start to head further afield.

I'm fine with walking, although i'm not a walker/rambler i'm a rugby player but being a prop i'm not sure i'd call myself "fit" ;) and i am on my feet for at least 8 hours a day at work, but the missus pilots a desk all day and starts to flag after a couple of miles. I think i need to get her on the treadmill between now and then.

As i said in my OP i've already got or will have by the time we go the detailed OS maps for the entire peak district and decent enough waterproof stuff through playing rugby and we'll be kitting the missus out before then too. I might even invest in a decent pair of proper hiking boots myself yet.

Thanks again for the information, any further input will be gratefully received.
 
One of the things we were thinking of doing over the bank holiday weekend itself is heading to the Derwent Valley area and Ladybower reservoir and that kind of area. I expect they'll be busy but will they be "Don't even waste your time trying to get near them" busy?
 
If you're going to the Peak District on a BH then unless you're aiming for "street style photography" then you really need to head off into the sticks.

I can spend a day around my patch and see no one, but as I said earlier avoid the common thoroughfares, and the touristy villages.
 
The small village of Litton, with the Tansley Dale Walls and Cressbrook Dale all a must in the area around Tideswell.
But don't forget the Village Pubs and Inns! Nice Photo's as well as Beverages.
Cheers.
 
Maldjack said:
The small village of Litton, with the Tansley Dale Walls and Cressbrook Dale all a must in the area around Tideswell.
But don't forget the Village Pubs and Inns! Nice Photo's as well as Beverages.
Cheers.
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I'm a rugby player, I never forget the pubs (y)

Thanks for the info too btw
 
I don't know the peaks myself so am watching this thread with interest.

What I would say now though is get your acommodation booked sooner rather than later! They do fill up fast for the BH weekends!
 
Hi Paul, if you get the Aug edition of outdoor photography mag there's a ten page special of the peak district and locations(y)
 
RichardtheSane said:
I don't know the peaks myself so am watching this thread with interest.

What I would say now though is get your acommodation booked sooner rather than later! They do fill up fast for the BH weekends!
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We've got a cottage booked up for week, all paid up and ready to go.

I hope we both learn some good locations. And if this thread dies i might revive it after the visit to pass on anywhere i found was especially good.
 
paul100 said:
Hi Paul, if you get the Aug edition of outdoor photography mag there's a ten page special of the peak district and locations(y)
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I can't recall ever seeing outdoor photography magazine, certainly not any of my local newsagents have it. I've got a big WH Smith's not too far away so i'll look in there over the weekend.

Thanks for the heads up, very nice timing (y)

EDIT: Just found their website and i'll order the back issue from there.
 
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I'm only going to be taking a not very powerful laptop with me when we go up, which has canon's own DPP software on it but not photoshop so to avoid 3 months worth of PP work when I get back i'm thinking of setting myself a "shoot like you would on film" challenge and limiting myself to either 36 or 72 photos a day.

Has anyone else tried this, and how did it go?
 
Barks said:
I'm only going to be taking a not very powerful laptop with me when we go up, which has canon's own DPP software on it but not photoshop so to avoid 3 months worth of PP work when I get back i'm thinking of setting myself a "shoot like you would on film" challenge and limiting myself to either 36 or 72 photos a day.

Has anyone else tried this, and how did it go?
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I like that idea, I am off to the Yorkshire Dales week after next and I might give that a go.
 
I'm from Derbyshire and very passionate about my home county although I live in that there London at the moment.

Derbyshire is a fantastic county for photography but as you can guess the peak district can get very busy at Bank Holidays. I would definitely recommend a visit to the Derwent Valley there are some very good moor land walks (and Pubs) around Ladybower reservoir but far more picturesque in my opinion is the area around Derwent and Howden Dams which is where the RAF practiced for the Dambusters raid (and film) you also regularly get low flying military aircraft around there and if lucky get to see the BBMF Lancaster do a low flyover of Derwent Dam itself!

Other good areas are Eyam, Castleton (Especially Winatts Pass), Edale (I particularly like the area around Jacobs Ladder), and the entire area of the High Peak Trail which starts in Cromford and passes along the Cromford Canal (Now disused except as a heritage site with horse drawn barges), the old High Peak Railway and up to Middleton Top Pump House (the sole surviving pump house on the railway dating from 1829 oh and it's still pristine). Cromford is also regarded by many as the birth place of the industrial revolution and is home to the Arkwright Mills which are a world historical site. Matlock Bath (a few miles from Cromford) is pretty interesting and has an almost seaside feel to it.

Whilst the Peak District is great don't ignore South Derbyshire as there are many pretty villages and great landscape opportunities down there that are not as crowded as the Peaks. If you look at the Discover Derbyshire website that can give you an idea of the county. I hope you enjoy your visit and do try to visit Bakewell to taste a real Bakewell Pudding (Only Mr Kipling calls it a Tart).
 
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Ubique said:
I'm from Derbyshire and very passionate about my home county although I live in that there London at the moment.

Derbyshire is a fantastic county for photography but as you can guess the peak district can get very busy at Bank Holidays. I would definitely recommend a visit to the Derwent Valley there are some very good moor land walks (and Pubs) around Ladybower reservoir but far more picturesque in my opinion is the area around Derwent and Howden Dams which is where the RAF practiced for the Dambusters raid (and film) you also regularly get low flying military aircraft around there and if lucky get to see the BBMF Lancaster do a low flyover of Derwent Dam itself!

Other good areas are Eyam, Castleton (Especially Winatts Pass), Edale (I particularly like the area around Jacobs Ladder), and the entire area of the High Peak Trail which starts in Cromford and passes along the Cromford Canal (Now disused except as a heritage site with horse drawn barges), the old High Peak Railway and up to Middleton Top Pump House (the sole surviving pump house on the railway dating from 1829 oh and it's still pristine). Cromford is also regarded by many as the birth place of the industrial revolution and is home to the Arkwright Mills which are a world historical site. Matlock Bath (a few miles from Cromford) is pretty interesting and has an almost seaside feel to it.

Whilst the Peak District is great don't ignore South Derbyshire as there are many pretty villages and great landscape opportunities down there that are not as crowded as the Peaks. If you look at the Discover Derbyshire website that can give you an idea of the county. I hope you enjoy your visit and do try to visit Bakewell to taste a real Bakewell Pudding (Only Mr Kipling calls it a Tart).
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Excellent information, thanks (y)
 
Quaker said:
I like that idea, I am off to the Yorkshire Dales week after next and I might give that a go.
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If you decide to try it let me know how you found it. I'm hoping that it will not only help to keep the number of photos i take to a vaguely sensible number but that having that limit there will also force me to put a lot more thought in to a shot before shooting it. And therefore hopefully end up with say 75% of those being keepers, instead of taking 500 a day and keeping 1% of them.

Good luck and enjoy your trip.
 
I live in the peak district, as already suggested, castleton, edale, south head (near hayfield), goyt valley are all worth a look. The pennine trail is good from near edale to hayfield which takes in south head. You could check out combs village near chapel en le frith and head for the hills!! Have a great time!
 
daizylindsay said:
I live in the peak district, as already suggested, castleton, edale, south head (near hayfield), goyt valley are all worth a look. The pennine trail is good from near edale to hayfield which takes in south head. You could check out combs village near chapel en le frith and head for the hills!! Have a great time!
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Thanks Anna, I think that the plan is going to be to get the OS maps out and head for the open access areas. For the first few days that we're there over the bank holiday weekend anyway.

Hopefully things will have quietened down a bit by the middle of the week (or am i being naively optimistic there?) and probably head to some of the more visited places in the middle and end of the week.

Places we'll definately be visiting are Castleton, the Derwent Valley reservoirs. Probably Chatsworth House too, if the missus gets her way anyway ;) and Matlock Bath.

And apart from that lots of exploring and walking and hopefully very good landscape photography, but seeing as it'll be me behind the camera - probably not.
 
Sounds great! Chatsworth is beautiful. Bakewell is worth a visit and is close to chatsworth. The farm shop (which is near chatsworth) is great for local produce if you're self catering.

Buxton is also worth visiting if you have time. Good idea about the OS map :)
 
If you go to Buxton be prepared and have a coat handy as it is usually flipping windy! Nice tea room near the Pavillion too.
 
stormcrow said:
Is this ok for UK use? I think I looked at this a couple of years ago but it seemed to be only for the USA at that time.
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I can confirm that it works for the UK too. I took this last Sunday morning and with this i knew where the sun would come up so i could get there early and get set up ready in advance. Very useful.


Sunrise over Daventry Country Park 2 by saintsman_barks, on Flickr
 
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Nice shot,
That brings back memories of when I lived in Daventry and used to go walking round there. One of the nicest places in Daventry (nat that there are many!!)
 
SimonBalaam said:
Nice shot,
That brings back memories of when I lived in Daventry and used to go walking round there. One of the nicest places in Daventry (nat that there are many!!)
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Very true, Nicest place in Daventry isn't one of the world's most hard fought contests.
 
Barks said:
Lastly, I'd respectfully ask you not to post and images of photos you've taken from a place you might suggest. Partly because I want to go with an open mind and be a "blank canvas" so to speak, and I think seeing other people's photos will give me preconceived ideas of what to take in a certain place. And partly because seeing other people's photos will just make me realise how crap mine are ;)
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I wouldn't worry too much about that... as you are going at the both the busiest and least photogenic time of year, its best to just be happy with whatever you find!

We went last month, and found (by coincidence) our neighbour was a full-time landscape photographer specialising in the local area... and she has been going back to some of the same locations for nearly 20 years trying to capture the perfect moment - never going to compete with that when you're on a holiday :LOL:

Oh, I can also recommend NOT shooting 2,500 pictures in a week... sorting through them is mind-melting :bonk: ... finally popped a few up on my flickr though.


p.s.
good locations suggested - but there's no water in Lathkill dale at present... (see FTS_1906.jpg as the OP requested no pics)
 
Very little water around anywhere up here at the moment (despite the downpours of earlier today). Like everyone else spring in the Peaks was incredibly dry and the water tables are very low. Anything that falls simply disappears into the ground. It's always best to chase the water down the catchments when it's dry and the wier in Monsal Dale is looking pretty good at the moment.

Chris (in the middle of the Peak District!)
 
Thanks Richard and Chris.

It doesn't surprise me that your water table is low, it's been a pretty dry year for most this year i think. I'm pretty close to 2 "working" reservoirs and they're both as low as i've ever seen them for this time of year.

I think the plan is shaping up that we're going to be pretty flexible about what we do/where we go when we're up there. We'll probably draw up a rough "to do" list before we go but then just play it by ear, so to speak. So if the weather's grim or we get somewhere and it's heaving with people or whatever then just pull outa map and see what else is nearby and head there.

Personally i'm up for having a go at Kinder Scout but i'm not sure if the missus will have the same enthusiasm though so i may just get close enough to get some good (debatable) shot of kinder scout and from on kinder scout.

One thing a friend recommended to me is a tower at Crich (i think that's right) and said that the views from the top of the tower are pretty spectacular. Are they that good? Is it worth the trip? and will it be busy?

Thanks again everyone (y)
 
Barks said:
Personally i'm up for having a go at Kinder Scout but i'm not sure if the missus will have the same enthusiasm though so i may just get close enough to get some good (debatable) shot of kinder scout and from on kinder scout.
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A curious beast, image wise. You're better off shooting from Kinder rather than of Kinder and evenings are the best time. You're then faced with coming down in the gloaming, which can be tricky. Mam Tor and The Great Ridge, as already mentioned, is far more accessible and thus safer if already done to death

Barks said:
One thing a friend recommended to me is a tower at Crich (i think that's right) and said that the views from the top of the tower are pretty spectacular. Are they that good? Is it worth the trip? and will it be busy?
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That's a bit of a 'meh' from me. There's far far better. Get yourself over to The Roaches.

Chris
 
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