The M6 motorway is often maligned and is the cause of lots of stress and anger, but it is also the gateway to the Lake District National Park.

Just 45mins up a clear M6, if there ever is such a thing, and you are there in South Lakeland, ready to take in all that scenery and clean fresh air.

We visit the park several times a year and I have collected various images over the years which I will share with you now.

The Dark Mountains - such an imposing sight at the north end of Windermere, they cast a great shadow over the lake and the shoreline.

At the southern end of Windermere, the lake takes on a new and more relaxed role, I shot this image at dawn just as the light was coming up - the clouds and mist were still low and the water like a millpond. 

Boats, Cruisers and leisure craft of all types are a familiar sight on the huge expanse of water and you will see lots of little jetties like this poking out into the water, ready to have their posts used to tie up the visitors.

Getting away from the lakes, you can very quickly get into the "middle of no-where" and enjoy the magnificent scenery and landscapes that the park provides.

The towns and villages, whilst famous in name are in reality very small hamlets with only a few hundred houses and shops, if that. Grasmere being a prime example set at the foot of so many hills, yet attracting thousands of visitors each year.

The local wildlife are not put off with the visitors, this seagull was quite happy to sit on the red buoy whilst the boats buzzed around him.

The final image from this set takes us back to a quiet and tranquil lake at the rise of the sun - the water like a mirror for the boats and shoreline.