Another sandstone outcrop on the High Weald East Sussex Kent border is Eridge Rocks. Decided on an autumn dawn scout of the location.
Eridge Rocks Location
To get to Eridge rocks is a small lane called Warren Farm Lane off the A26. There is free parking at the location and the rocks begin there. Just follow the footpath down from the carpark. Eridge Rocks is a nature reserve that backs onto Broadwater Warren.
Visited Harrison’s Rocks a few weeks earlier not realising at the time that there are numerous sandstone rock outcrops in the area. Another outcrop that am planning to visit is High Rocks. Within Tunbridge Wells itself there is Toad Rock. I did visit Toad Rock in Tunbridge Wells a few years back on a very wet and rainy day.
Other areas of interest from a hiking and landscape photography point of view are Frant and Eridge Park that did visit late autumn last year.
Eridge Rocks sunrise
Arrived just before dawn at Eridge Rocks on the high weald. Straight out of the carpark and compositions were presenting themselves of the 10m high sandstone cliffs.
One feature about Eridge Rocks is that they are east south east facing so good for morning sunrise light. Unlike Harrisons rocks which are west facing.
Rock Viewpoints
If you want to walk on top of the rocks immediately out of the car park there are some small footpaths heading up to the top. I not discover this until the end of the day. But found the best compositions are from ground level along the footpath looking up.
Continued shooting this composition as the sun rose. The scots pine on tops of Eridge rocks was catching the light. bracketing 3 shots at F/16.
Wet Night
It had been a wet rainy night, when carrying your camera on a tripod need to keep checking the lens for any water droplets gathering. Also condensation on the lens was a problem and had to keep wiping with a micro fibre cloth. With foliage and trees in the frame one good thing was that there was no wind, often the case early morning. Later in the day and the wind did pick up.
Foreground, up close
Ideally would have just kept with the same composition during sunrise and golden hour and observed the light on the face of Eridge Rocks. But as my first time had a lot more to explore and wanted to cover the whole stretch.
Before moving on wanted to get in close to the cliff face of Eridge rocks where you can see all the textures and honeycomb potholes of the sandstone cliffs. Again facing east the morning sunlight was providing some interesting highlights.
Autumn Eridge Rocks
Had to pull myself away from the immediate compositions straight out of the car park at Eridge Rocks, lots more to see and with the morning light might be missing the best of it.
Further along the footpath that runs parallel to the rock face many more compositions were opening up. There are lots of deciduous trees and woodland within the location of Eridge rocks making a great location for autumn compositions with the rocks providing a strong subject and focal point.
Early morning around dawn is one of the best times to shoot a popular location like Eridge rocks as no one else about. Although around 8AM and mostly dog walkers did begin to show up. By then the best of the morning light was over and I had covered the rock face.
Refreshments
Headed back to the car and had some refreshments. In the back of my car had packed my camping gas stove and a cool bag. Did some fresh coffee and some fried egg sandwiches. This stops me getting a craving for fresh coffee and breakfast and heading home early. Totally refreshed then went on a hike over High Weald landscape trail and back round to Eridge Rocks through the Warren. Late morning and into midday the light was too harsh for any more woodland photography.
Was thinking of scouting out another sandstone outcrop called High Rocks nearby but will save that for another trip to this fascinating location on the High weald. For Autumn the best is still to come, still a little early for the peak golden hues.