Tour guide in Lake District James R.

Lake District, United Kingdom

English

Tours Delivered,
Since May 12, 2022

2.0

Hours, Avg. response time

I'm James R., your private tour guide in Lake District

Guide #53802

5.0 (35)

Photographer, author, public speaker, mountaineer, naturalist (not to be confused with naturist), travel writer, tea & cake lover. Originally from the UK, I spent 10 years living in the Italian Dolomites and Iceland, writing travel guidebooks on photography, climbing, ski mountaineering and walking. After a transient decade, I've now settled down in the English Lake District – a stunning area that I feel privileged to call 'home'. I'm a keen photographer and was lucky enough to be named the British Drone Photographer of the Year and GTMA Global Travel Award winner in 2020, the British Guild of Travel Writers Photographer of the Year every year from 2018 until 2024, a double category winner at the International Photography Awards in 2018, and Epson Digital Splash Photographer of the Year, also in 2018. My work has been exhibited at several high-profile venues including London Bridge, the National Maritime Museum and Edinburgh Waverley train station - whilst on social media I am part of the National Geographic YourShot photography team. To share this enthusiasm for photography and the outdoors with like-minded individuals, the last few years have been spent leading workshops and expeditions to Iceland, Greenland, Romania, Italy, the Faroe Islands and English Lake District. All my trips are designed to be accessible to all - irrespective of age, experience or mobility. Groups of up to three can be driven in my Ford Kuga, whilst for larger groups I can hire a larger vehicle, accommodating up to six adults. All transport is included in my trips at no extra cost. Please note that non-photographers are very welcome and I enjoy leading cultural, sightseeing, walking, driving, culinary and fine dining trips every bit as much as those with a photographic focus. For those who would like to learn a little bit more about their camera, we can cover: Composition Camera skills Long exposures Off-camera lighting and flash Astrophotography Image cataloguing Post-processing Soft proofing Printing My personal interests include ancient and architectural history, cooking (with varying degrees of success), rock climbing, skiing, travel & culture. I enjoy meeting people from different parts of the world (everyone has an interesting story), sharing knowledge and experiences. Preserving natural history and supporting wilderness areas are critical and I am a member of the National Trust, English Heritage, Cumbria Wildlife Trust and RSPB. Bespoke itineraries are available upon request - click the gallery link for example photos from around the world. Please do get in touch if you have any questions. Wishing you happy travels and good light. James Author of 'Photographing Iceland' - Winner of the Best Indie Book Awards (BIPA) 2022 Author of 'Photographing the Dolomites' Author of 'The Dolomites - Rock Climbs and Via Ferrata' (Banff Mountain Book Festival finalist) Author of 'Ski Touring & Snowshoeing in the Dolomites' (Banff Mountain Book Festival finalist) Landscape Photographer of the Year (LPOTY) - Historic Britain Category - Runner up (2021) British Guild of Travel Writers Photographer of the Year (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024) GTMA Travel Photographer of the Year (2020) Double Category Winner at the International Photography Awards (2018) Digital Splash Awards - Photographer of the Year & Double Category Winner (2018)

Delivers tours starting at

  • Lake District

  • Yorkshire Dales Np

Tours by James R.

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5.0

Traveller reviews for this guide

35 reviews

  • Kenneth S.
    May 2026

    James gave us a two-day tour of the Lake District taking in all the major lakes and sites of interest. He tailored the tour to take account of our interests and mobility restrictions. James is one of the best guides we have ever had the pleasure to guide us. He is friendly, humorous, knowledgeable and adaptable. He can spot an ice-cream van a mile away! When you visit...

    Replied from James R.

    Thanks so much Ken. You were both lovely company and I had a great couple of days. And I take ice cream requests very seriously. Hopefully catch up in the not so distant future.

  • Nathanael S.
    January 2026

    James was an outstanding tour guide. We were able to see a good portion of the Lakes District and I learned so much about the area. Thank you for a great day!

    Replied from James R.

    You're very welcome Nate – I really enjoyed your company. I hope the workshop is going well. All the best, James.

  • Sue W.
    September 2025

    Replied from James R.

    Thanks Susan. It was lovely to meet you and put the world to rights. Enjoy the Peak District and the rest of your trip!

  • Gail P.
    September 2025

    If you see that James is available during your trip - book him STAT! Engaging and friendly, he is extremely knowledgeable about the area, history, geography, flora and fauna. He has a built in GPS and navigated those skinny country roads with ease, and could stop at a moment's notice for the best photo opportunities. I highly recommend booking with James, he can...

    Replied from James R.

    Thanks so much for the kind words, it was lovely to meet you all. Well done for persevering in some classic Lake District weather! Enjoy the rest of your trip and let me know if you find yourself in this part of the world again in the future.