A Photographer’s Guide to Brown Baileys Lake, Worksop

Open Source Photographic Guide Project

These guides are created as part of a project I am working on.... to see more guides, please go to the

UK Midlands main site.

 

"Brown Baileys" is a small lake location on the western edge of Worksop, just off of the A57 ring road. It is a quiet site and really only known to local photographers (and anglers). It is not one of the 'world class' photography locations in the UK, but a lovely place nonetheless.

 

Here you will find

 

The site seems to be an old disused quarry which has filled with water. It is mainly used by anglers who fish here 24 hours a day.

 

 

Access is from the A57 west of Worksop within 50 yards of the first (or last) roundabout on the by-pass. The lake is bordered on the north side by Woodsetts Lane. By going west on the A57 you are 10 minutes from the M1 junction 31. If you go east on the A57 you are 10 minutes from the A1.

 

Access by foot is 24 hours but the bar across the entrance is locked at 9pm approx each evening (the anglers stay locked in) and is opened again at 7am. During these hours it is impossible to get in or out by vehicle (although if you are on a cycle you could get that past the gate) so please don't get too engrossed in your photogrpahy and get trapped.

 

If you arrive before 7am for summer sunrises there is a layby you can park in about 5 minutes walk away on the Gateford Road. Please see the map below.

 

Once inside there is a good sized parking area, unsurfaced, but no toilet or other facilities.

 

The path is suitable over most of its length for wheel chair users, although it can become muddy and assistance may be needed. Some images can be made from the car in the car park for disabled photographers who cannot leave the vehicle.

 

This is a lonely site for photographers so care should be taken when working alone. ONly during summer weekends in the middle of the day do you get several visitors at one time in addition to the anglers. The police do pull in occasionally just to look around. Sometimes local youths use the location at night for drinking and drug taking although the prescence of anglers does put them off. The anglers tend to be quiet, don't mix with visitors and leave you to your photography. Some will chat and most seem to think we are birders initially!

 

One third of the lake is made up of sandstone cliffs and no path goes round this path - so any walk necessitates retracing your steps back to the car rather than a circular walk.

 

These 'cliffs' are the nesting location of Sandmartins in summer and with a 400mm plus lens you can get images of the birds entering and leaving the nest and the young birds fleding. However, please remember it is against the law to encroach on nesting birds or to disturb them. The sandmartins seem to ignore humans and are quite safe due to the nature of the cliffs. They swoop over the water feeding and endless memory cards can be filled up trying to capture an image of them in flight!

 

There are several spits of land going out into the lake, made for anglers, but ideal for photographers. The lake is fringed with reeds and other plants which make good foreground interest.

 

Woodland separates the outer edge of the site, protecting it from the roads.

 

There are ample opportunities for landscapes and macro images of the detailed landscape. In addition, several species of duck and geese inhabit the lake and are ideal to photograph.

 

 

The lake is good all year round, with always something of interest. As usual, dawn and dusk give the best light and conditions.

 

The lake freezes in hard cold spells and is great to capture in frost.

 

Mist clings to the water on spring and autumn mornings very often.

 

Wear good footwear, maybe wellies or boots if muddy and take your own refreshments as none are available on site.

 

A personal alarm may be advisable for lone female photographers. However it is much more preferable to go accompanied. Take a mobile phone.

 

Tripod is essential for landscapers and macro takers. Long lenses for wildlife photogrpahers.

 

Just 10 minutes away is Clumber Park.