The weather on Tuesday in Yorkshire, which I wrote about in this post, may have been wet but back home in Cumbria today it’s been stunning so I decided on the spur of the moment to head up to Ullswater to see if I could capture the annual Red Deer rut. The Martindale valley above the lake is home to the oldest native Red Deer herd in England and the surrounding Ullswater fells are managed, in part, as a deer sanctuary by the Dalemain Estate.

From the beginning of October until mid November mature stags grow thick neck manes, coat themselves in mud and urine via wallowing, and emit deep, rolling roars, a short example of which can be heard here (though this wasn’t captured in the Lake District). Rival males engage in parallel walking and intense antler-clashing to claim harems of female hinds. I chose to visit Boredale as it’s a valley head and when the Stags roar it ricochets off the fells in the most spectacular, and eerie, way. However, today there was not a deer in sight which was hugely disappointing as the weather was perfect for wildlife photography 🙁 I’ve since learned that due to the continued mild weather the rut is likely to be later this year, so I may head back up there in 2-3 weeks when it’s colder.

Undeterred, I sat and had a butty on the slope of Hallin Fell with Ullswater lake resplendent below, before heading back home via Dalemain Estate itself, which has a large herd of Fallow Deer. There were a few stags, though still in groups and with no sign of separation or rutting, and several ridiculously cute Fawns some still close to their Mums.

The scenery around Ullswater today was simply stunning. The Lake District is never more beautiful than on a sunny Autumn day, when the dying ferns and foliage blanket the fells in russet reds, delicate mauve and burnt umber. To have this on my doorstep is the most enormous privilege and one which I never take for granted.