THE M6 PASS. Tebay Cumbria
Situated 2 miles south of Tebay Services junction 38 M6
This pass is very popular throughout the airforce units. On a good day it can be the best place in the country, and on another day its own weather system can cause severe frustration. It can be sunny at either end and low cloud and foggy in the middle. After spending a fair amount of time in this small valley it can be very frustrating watching jets fly out of Garsdale valley to the south and carry straight on over to Windermere in the Lakes. A normal day will see hawks duelling with each other one sometimes goes behind the valley and reappears at the other end,F3's and Jaguars are all common sights as well as a good mix of Tucano from Linton on ouse ( edit: Since this guide was published the Jaguar has been retired from RAF service). Typhoons are often seen and occasionally the odd F15e and herk visit. The aircraft arrive from the south heading north and sometimes they can swing around the corner from the west with very little warning, so your attention is needed all the time because it is difficult to hear them above the road noise below.F3's also combat air patrol to the north over Shap and often bump the ground attack aircraft as they exit the pass on route to Spadeadam or into the lakes.
This is an excellent place to start this hobby as it is very easy to get to and for those who are less mobile can find vantage points to view from your on the roads at both sides of the valley. Don't be fooled by the illustrated pictures this valley is steeper than it looks.
Directions.from Old Tebay take the A685 to kendal and cross over the M6 follow the road for 2 miles, along the way you will drive through the pass. Follow the road twisting up the hill until you reach a left hand turn for Sedbergh B6257.After 200 yards you will see a lay-by on the right were an old bus is often parked. Park there. On foot backtrack along the road 5 yards until you see a gate. Through the gate and up the tarmac track which is fairly steep and should take about 5-10 minutes. When at the top go directly down the hill to the fence and gate point 1 is on the fence to your left. Point 2 is lower down through the gate and left, you will see the faint track which you follow until you reach a flat ledge where you can see right down the valley to the south. Be warned aircraft often arrive swinging sharply round the corner from the west and even drop down into the valley over your head so you need to be alert at all times as you get very little warning and you wont hear them approaching due to the noise of the motorway below you.
100 sqn Hawk banking around the corner
Photographic points on the Eastern side click
clickfor large image
From Tebay on the road up to the mast, turn left before the carpark over looking the motorway and follow the signs for Low Carlingill. After about a mile you will pass over a cattle grid, park up after here making sure you don't block the road or entrances to fields. To walk up the hill walk back down the road until you see a gate next to the woods. Go through the gate and make sure you close it and follow the diagonal path up the hill to another gate at the dry stone wall. From this point you can get excellent shots of aircraft as they are level with you. A word of caution, if you climb too high from here you will get the motorway in the shots. A better location is further north along the valley. Simply follow the path along the wall and when you pass the woods you will be in a large depression, go past this and follow the paths up the hillside, but not too high. Find yourself a nice piece of level ground where you can see down the valley and prepare yourself. There are also a couple of Public footpaths nearer the bridge of the motorway where you can climb to a good height and capture the aircraft as they come around the corner.
Please note, that this is private land. The Farmer has given his permission for photographers to pass over his land to reach the locations described. Although he may retract this at any time should he feel his animals or his property is being abused in any way. So please be respectfull to the local people by parking your vehicles with care and closing gates etc. During certain times of the year such as lambing please keep well away from animals and should there be an outbreak of foot and mouth disease or a similar disease please respect what the authoritys tell you. Farming in the UK as not got over the last outbreak yet.
Point 1 on the map indicates the fenceline at its lowest, this position is ok for most shots but if you are after shots were you are level with the aircraft or to get slightly closer point 2 is a better position.The sun will be to your right most of the day unless you arrive really early where during the summer it might get a problem to see aircraft approaching through the haze.
Click the map below for the large map
This Valley is probably the best place for those less mobile to watch low flying aircraft.the roads on both sides of the valley have good parking positions where you can view at almost eye level with the aircraft. The west side is better equipt with a couple of carparks.
THE WEST SIDE (Mast Side)
Harrier gr7 Heading north taken with a 300mm lens from point 1 at the mast
Wide view of a Hawk from point 1,note he is below the road line on the opposite side
RAF Tucano. 400mm lens was used
This position(below) is approx half way up the road between the carpark at the bottom of the hill and the mast site. There is enough room for one car, from this location Hawks and tucano are slightly small but tornados will almost fill the frame and aircraft are often side on .
Unmarked Tornado gr4 low through the pass, taken lowdown at the mast site
Looking North from the mast site
Hawk from RAF Leeming
A view from the top, note the car park is where the bus is parked
Remember to closse the gate as you go through, sheep roam free here
wide Picture of an F3 Cap and chasing a Jaguar
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