Story
Ladies of the Fells
Row Head Farm, home to Heather and Andrew Naylor Lopez, sits beneath the towering flanks of Yewbarrow, Pillar and Kirk Fell—some of the finest Herdwick mountain scenery in the Lake District. But today isn’t a fell day. It’s tupping time, and the breeding ewes have been brought down to the inbye land around the farm. Their pre-nuptials are underway—preparations for their romantic rendezvous with the tups.
If I have a soft spot for scenes like this, I make no apologies. These ewes may appear to be posing, but in truth, they’re simply behaving as they do—gathered instinctively, making their way into the Row Head pens. Much like ourselves, pausing atop a fine old 18th Century bridge to admire the view, they linger momentarily on the rise of the arch.
This particular bridge, crossing Mosedale Beck, is a Lakeland gem. Like so many ancient packhorse crossings, it offers a spectacular scene—in this case, Kirk Fell rising from the left, Lingmell from the right.
This image was created for my book Herdwick: A Portrait of Lakeland (Vol. 1, 2014) and has remained one of the most popular prints I’ve ever offered. Just like the Herdwicks and the land they inhabit, it feels timeless; therefore, I’m especially pleased that it continues to bring joy today.
You can also acquire this photograph as a Framed Dibond Print.
I offer Museum-grade artworks up to 2.5 metres wide. Please contact me for info regarding size, framing options and bespoke installations.
A National Trust Property | Photo Permissions kindly granted | Picture © Ian Lawson