Colours of a sunset: Eden Valley, Cumbria

A highlight of my life. Being able to watch so many sunsets in the Eden Valley, Cumbria. I have been nomadic all my life since being a teenager. From born and bred Oldham, through a few moves around Europe and a few years back in Saddleworth,

Then came a home nestled within beautiful surroundings, in a gorgeous valley between the mountains of the Lake District and the peaks of the northern pennines and Yorkshire Dales.

The great outdoors one step out the door, nature at every turn and views beyond views. Hikes and climbs great and small galore. ‘Right up my street’ ya know. A wonderful place to come back to after some travels.

Being such a great wide rolling valley formed by huge glaciers the Eden Valley area gets a micro climate whether the winds come from east or west. I can be lazing in the garden, sun on my face whilst looking at deep dark clouds hiding the tops of England’s highest peaks.

I can also be watching the rain fall out the window but a line of blue sky appears under the clouds above the Pennines that have blocked the greyness going over. Cross Fell makes an appearance more often than people think.

Yes, it all leads to oft occurring dramatic skies. Especially at sunset. One day this week I took a few brief shots as I watched the sun go down amongst the clouds.

Tomorrow it could just as colourful yet totally different. I find it a great time for the evening hound walk. A great time to reflect on a great day or to think of whatever may lie ahead.

The sunrises the other direction are just as great. One day I should take my camera out on the early walk.

Many of these occasions are purely by chance. Not going out specifically to get a sunset photo but maybe a wander through the wild flowers here nature that happens to coincide with the timing of sunset.

The Eden Valley, being so wide with backdrops of hills and mountains makes the sunset moments much more special. The silhouettes of trees and farm buildings adding to the ambience.

It also just so happens that from the home, the sun sets over on or around Blencathra in the Lake district depending on the time of year. sitting in the garden on a warm Summer day watching the sun descend.

Very memorable moments indeed. It invigorates the mind for new things.

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