by Steve Tanham
The Lakeland town of Ambleside lies at the northern end of Lake Windermere. It’s full of surprises; one of which is the fact that it’s not actually on the lake, but a twenty minute walk from Waterhead, the tiny but beautiful ferry-port that is.
One of the other gems is Rothay Park, hidden from the entire road system, but forming a green backdrop to the curve of the town.
Water defines Lakeland towns, and the curve of the River Rothay is the forming influence that – largely unseen – shapes the northern and western perimeters.
The river descends steeply from the high fells around the Kirkstone Pass, then gushes through the heart of the town at Stock Ghyll, before entering Rothay Park as… appropriately enough, the River Rothay; presumably because its volume at this point warrants the upgrade.
From there, it skirts the southern end of the park, bypassing St Mary’s church and community centre, before taking a straight line south along the edge Roman fort at Galava, where it enters the northern tip of Lake Windermere, only a few hundred metres after merging with its sister river Brathay (‘bray-thay’) arriving from the west.
We’d made the drive to give Tess a good run in the (muddy) expanse of the park. But it turned out to be an excellent day for low-light, and rather dark photography.
On such days, contrast is king – in order to make a the juxtaposition of light and dark the central feature.
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Stephen Tanham is a writer-photographer and mystical teacher. He is the founding Director of the Silent Eye, which offers a mentored, journal-based journey from personality to the awakening of realised Self and its world of Being.
http://www.thesilenteye.co.uk and http://www.suningemini.blog
Sun in Gemini 
Lovely picture, Steve
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Thank you, Robbie. A very fortuitous visit! 😊
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That is a lovely part of Ambleside, Steve. I usually end up having an evening wander in there, when I’m staying in the town. Your photographs capture the mood of it very well.
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Thank you, Michael. I thought you would know it. 😊
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Wow, how lovely! Much nicer than the suburban hell I lived in on a street called “Ambleside Drive”.
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Then I’m glad I could share the wild (and wet) beauty of this little corner of Cumbria 😊
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I would love to go there.
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You would like Morecambe, Silver AQ. It’s a very pleasant and multi-faceted seaside resort that has seen better days, yet retains lots of character.
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I like places that have seen better days. Kinda like myself.
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I know the feeling! Chuckles!
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