MY TOP FIVE LOCATIONS FOR LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY IN THE PEAK DISTRICT
The Peak District is one of my favourite areas to shoot in the UK. It may not have the big mountains and lakes that Snowdonia, Scotland and the Lake District have to offer however it has some truly beautiful and unique spots and a real charm about it. It also has a special place in my heart as i’ve done so much of my landscape photography there and I feel its the place (outside of Iceland) that’s really seen me grow and develop. I also hosted my first ever group landscape photography workshop there so I really have fond memories of the area. Below is my top 5 spots to shoot in the Peaks and why.
#5, PADLEY GORGE
Padley Gorge is a great woodland area with a stream running through and the whole area is great for walking, family adventures, dog walks and of course photography. You can shoot various woodland scenes, moving/cascading water or a bit of both like in my shot here. Theres a cool little bridge that can be used as a subject however you may have to get in the water to get a good comp. Equally though some long exposures of the just water moving through the rocks can also make for some lovely photographs. All in all its a really pleasant spot that I like to go to practise my long exposure photography.
#4, CHROME HILL
Chrome Hill, overlooking Parkhouse Hill is a fine spot for a sunrise. Theres various compositions along the way but the most popular spot to shoot from is past the wooden gate and the big tree and then about half way up the next hill. For me I quite liked the composition seen above which is actually about half way from the start of the first hill and the wooden gate. Ive used some yellow flowers for a bokeh foreground and asked my photographer friend Brandon Christie (check him out he’s great) to pose as a human element to add some scale to the scene. When arriving at this location please be aware that its very close to a farmers house so be quiet and don’t park on the road out front or on the grass. Park in the nearby little village and treat the area with respect.
#3, MAM TOR
Mam Tor is probably the most popular hike in the peaks with some amazing views from a relatively short and easy hike. Theres varous shots to be taken from the summit overlooking this road pictured above and some overlooking Castleton. As you can see from my image above I went for a shot from the road level below Mam Tor on this occasion so even if you don’t fancy walking to the summit there is the option of this comp from the top of a little mound. This spot is amazing for a sunset, especially the shot from the summit over looking this road.
#2,BAMFORD EDGE
My favourite sunset spot in the Peak District has to be Bamford Edge. This short easy hike offers beautiful views over Ladybower Reservoir. The scene has everything from an interesting rocky foreground to the reservoir itself creating interest in the middle and the bridge plus hills in the background. For me this all fits perfectly into a 50mm frame.
#1, WINNATS PASS
For me Winnats Pass is the ultimate spot in the Peaks, Yes its shot to death and yes you’re going to be very lucky to be alone here but my oh my you can’t beat a sunrise at the Pass. If you’re really lucky you may even get an early morning cloud inversion, Ive personally not seen a great one however I have seen some shots that look insane with mist right up to where i’m stood in the photo above. Winnats pass offers quite a few compositions and personally I feel they all face towards Castleton. Theres so much interest here its like a playground for photographers and when the light beams through the valley like it did on this misty morning it just brings the pass to life!
Remember to pack a 70-200mm or similar if you want to get some nice sheep portraits, they regularly stand around at the top and it makes for beautiful shots with the stunning backdrop.
One final tip, Park north of Winnats pass and as you start walking into the gorge towards Castleton head up the right side (west) for the craggy formations.
If you're interested in attending one of my Landscape Photography Workshops in this area please check for availability on my website under the ‘workshops’ section or contact me for information on up and coming workshops.
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