Cook’s Fields Sunrise

It was the morning after the evening before as I returned to Cook’s Fields to photograph the Sycamores at the top of this Somerset Wildlife Trust reserve.  The morning was to have everything: some snow, dramatic skies and a view across the Mendip Hills and Somerset Levels. Also, very cold!

Sunrise at Cooks Fields – Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID 824_1740

Deerleap

I drove up the narrow lane on the steep hill up to the Deerleap car park.  This was probably not the best route to have chosen given the freezing cold and the about of ice about.  But I got there safely to be the only car in the car park.  No overnight camper vans in the middle of winter.

Sunrise at Deerleap – Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID 824_1637

It was still an hour to sunrise and the sky was showing off its deepest colours.  The reds were so bright they had become magical.

Sunrise at Cooks Fields – Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID 824_1648

Sycamores

I headed off to this small patch of trees at the top of Cook’s Fields.  An easy level walk from the car park.

Sunrise at Cooks Fields – Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID 824_1673

With some friendly cows for company I setup my tripod in the middle of the trees waiting for the sun to rise over the dry-stone wall.

Sunrise at Cooks Fields – Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID 824_1719

Once the sun was up I returned to the main path along the southern edge of the Mendip Hills.  The low sun picking out the thin layer of snow on the ground.

Sunrise at Cooks Fields – Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID 824_1808

I returned to the gateway I photographed yesterday.  In the morning the light was even better than the evening.

Gateway – Cooks Fields, Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID 824_1920

And Finally..

I waited for the light to appear over the hill and illuminate this scene looking west along the Mendip Hills.

Sunrise at Cooks Fields – Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID 824_1911