Dunmail Raise
Location: 1 mile south of lake Thirlmere and north of Grasmere by 2 miles. Extremely popular with enthusiasts this valley is very steep with many locations so this guide will not go in depth with them. If you look at the Dunmail location map you will see a few markings of suggested points, it really depends on what you are trying to acheive. Although you wont go far wrong if you position yourself near the dual carriageway about 300ft above the road as a good starting point and adjust your position accordingly, you should be able to see the lake at Grasmere.For topside shots the western side closer to Thirlmere is better as the aircraft will be following the valleys line as they come through and they will be banked quite steeply before they level out. This location requires that for morning pictures on sunny days that you be on the east side and then change over for 1pm to the west to get the sun behind you. Park in the lay-by near the old AA phonebox and enter the hillside over the gate. This is one location that is advisable to leave the camera in the bag until you have found your location as it is very tricky and could cause damage if you had a trip. Once this location has been mastered it is good practise to look for different type of shots for example try the entrance to the pass at the Grasmere end where head on shots are possible as the aircraft bank as they swoop down into the pass. This location is great for those side on shots and quarter view topside shots and a 300mm lens is adequate although a zoom lens which can reach 400mm is an excellent choice.
Picture below is looking towards Thirlmere with the main car parking location at the right side Click on image to view larger image.
A favourite position on the west side is located towards the Thirlmere end of the dual carriageway. It is recognised by the small grass pull in which has room for one car on the grass verge. From here climb over the fence and head straight up the hillside in front of you, be careful as this location as with all of the western side is made up of loose rock. Climb up to around 300ft and try to find a position that allows you to take the weight off your feet, which is not easy to find and so you can see traffic approaching from Grasmere .
The shot below was taken from the eastern side.
The main vantage point here is in the layby at point 1, but unfortunatly you will be 200 ft below the aircraft.The hillsides at this location are for the very brave. A slightly better location is on the eastern side of the valley as it joins Thirlmere. To get to this location head back towards thirlmere, when you reach the left turn that takes you to the west side of Thirlmere turn a sharp right turn and you will hit a track that turns back towards dunmail. Park up here and you will be 50 foot above the road, although yet again you will be below the aircraft but you will be very close.
A couple of enthusiasts, on the east side waiting.
The picture below illustrates a photographer braving the weather conditions in mid winter on the eastern side of Dunmail raise. Even on a foggy day if you climb up over a few hundred feet you can be in the sunshine.
Looking south towards Grasmere Graham Farish
Looking north towards Thirlmere Graham Farish
An image shot with a 300mm lens, looking north.
For the USAF, it pays to climb to the higher ledges, as their pilots prefer to be a little higher than their RAF counterparts.
The Western side offers the photographer Close ups with afternoon sunlight, should the sun be an issue.
Below an RAF Tornado of 9 sqn shot at 300mm plus 1.4 converter.
Below a photographer on the western hill side waits, the aircraft travel right to left in this picture.
Below, a Falcon 20 drops into Dunmail over Grasmere.
