Mist and Magic at Buttermere

Buttermere has long been one of my favourite valleys in the Lake District. While it can draw heavy crowds in Summer, come Autumn and Winter it becomes a much quieter and more contemplative place, perfect for photography.

Recently I enjoyed what might be my best morning behind the camera since a trip to Blea Tarn back in May 2025. The forecast promised very light winds, and with the chance of still reflections, autumn colour, and perhaps even some morning mist, I couldn’t resist heading back to Buttermere after far too long away.

As usual, I arrived far too early. It was still pitch black when I parked up at Gatesgarth, so I lingered over a coffee before making the leisurely walk down to the lake shore. My mind drifted with anticipation of what the morning might bring, until the haunting cry of Tawny Owls from the woods snapped me back to the present. A fitting soundtrack to the start of the day.

When I reached the shoreline, the sky was still dark enough for stars to shine overhead. The air was perfectly calm, and the reflections of the iconic Fleetwith Pike and Haystacks already shimmered on the tranquil surface of the water.

And then came the bonus I had been hoping for, mist was clinging to the lake but would it last until sunrise?

As dawn approached, the mist ebbed and flowed, teasing me as I waited for the light to come. Gradually the sky brightened, and I felt the anticipation rise with every passing minute.

When the sun finally crept over Fleetwith Pike, the scene was transformed. Golden light poured across the iconic pines and over Haystacks, Wainwright’s beloved mountain. The combination of still water, glowing autumn colour, and lingering mist created conditions that can only be described as sublime.

After capturing a series of images, I put the camera down and simply soaked in the moment. These are the mornings that make the early starts and alarms so worthwhile, the mornings that remind me why I love landscape photography, especially these quiet hours at sunrise in the Lake District.

This really was a special day, one I won’t soon forget. I will let the photographs tell the rest of the story.