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SATURDAY 20TH JANUARY 2024 - CLIFTON VILLAGE

We meet outside Waterstone's bookshop in Regent Street, Clifton at 10.30am maybe then have a coffee and embark on a walk around the area all on pavements heading towards the Suspension Bridge , Clifton Down & The Promenade & Birdcage Walk. About two and a half miles of flat, easy walking with countless photographic opportunities. How about a light lunch at The Avon Gorge Hotel part way round or at the end? I would have to book this.

Peter

SATURDAY 10TH FEBRUARY 2024 - PAINSWICK ROCOCO GARDENS

This is probably the most famous place in England to photograph snowdrops and this does get many visitors. I would suggest that we meet at 10.30am at the visitor entrance. Use post code GL6 6TH to find it. There will be large car park in a field. There is a cafe there but if you want a more substantial meal I suggest booking a table at The Falcon Inn in Painswick for late afternoon. A macro lens will be useful plus wide angles as well. You need to be careful when taking photos to not step all over the snowdrops and wear a decent pair of shoes as it will be muddy.It is also steep in places.

Peter

SATURDAY 23RD MARCH 2024 - BIRDLAND, BOURTON-ON-THE-WATER

A very popular tourist attraction.It is a super place to visit with lots of really good photographic opportunities. Bring a longer lens as well. I suggest that we meet at the visitor entrance at 10.30am. There is pay and display parking nearby (not cheap). They are building a new cafe but you may want me to book a pub in the village which I can do if I know numbers in advance. Birdland is worth a long visit but we may see another attraction in Bourton if we have time.

Peter

MONDAY 1ST APRIL 2024 - COLEFORD FESTIVAL OF TRANSPORT

This annual Easter Monday event is free and is held in the Forest of Dean town of Coleford. There will be a huge collection of all kinds of cars and hopefully some interesting photographs to be taken. We meet at the clock tower in the centre of the town at 11.00am. The car parks will be taken up with the exhibitors so you need to try to find some on-street parking and parking sensibly. There are plenty of takeaway food stalls there as the pubs will probably be very busy.

Peter

FRIDAY 3rd MAY 2024 - ST NICHOLAS MARKET WALKING TOUR AND CORN STREET AREA

I have booked myself on the 11.00am walking tour and underground air raid shelters and rooms If you want to come along on the same tour as myself you need to book it at this link asap. The cost is £10 per adult.

St. Nicholas Market Walking Tour | Public walking tour of St.Nicholas Market Bristol | England (st-nickstours.com)

Afterwards we will have a walk around the Corn Street area visiting some of the sights there including St Stephen's church which should be open. If you wish we can meet up at The Secret Cafe which is next to the church at 10.00am

Peter

SATURDAY 4TH MAY 2024 - HEALE HOUSE GARDENS

These lovely gardens north of Salisbury are really worth a visit. I have been many times and they are particularly good in Spring. There is also an excellent cafe on site. Admission free for members of The Historic Houses Association. I suggest that we meet at the entrance at 11.00am when the gardens open. The nearby village of Middle Woodford has an excellent pub-The Wheatsheaf which depending on how many people turn up we will have to book. To get there-Instead use SP4 6NU for Upper Woodford.

Website Heale Gardens

Peter

SATURDAY 1ST JUNE 2024 - COTSWOLD WILDLIFE PARK

This is a great place for taking animal photographs, not just for the amount of different animals but quite a few have no bars in the way. I suggest that we meet at reception at 11.00am and aim to stay there for the rest of the day. Good catering facilities on site and if you want to visit a pub in nearby Burford which has a huge choice in the evening afterwards please let me know. Long lenses needed.

Website Cotswold Wildlife Park

Peter

SATURDAY 29TH JUNE & SUNDAY 30TH JUNE 2024 - BLACK COUNTRY MUSEUM & DUDLEY ZOO

I am organising a weekend trip to Dudley for us to visit The Black Country Museum on Saturday & Dudley Zoo on Sunday. Obviously you can choose to visit something else. With this trip I am not booking your accommodation but Cynthia has recommended The Premier Inn in Kingswinford which is not too far away and it has a Beefeater Restaurant on site. See details

Dudley Road, Kingswinford, Dudley
DY6 8WT
Sat Nav Directions: DY6 8WT
What 3 Words: ///hint.market.tries


Please book your accommodation well in advance and both attractions recommend booking your entrance tickets in advance as well.

This should be a great chance to get some really good images.

I would like to know who is intending to come along.

Peter

SUNDAY 7TH JULY 2024 - KEYNSHAM MUSIC FESTIVAL

This annual event which lasts for a week culminating on the first Sunday in July is great for music fans and is a really good opportunity for photography. Donations of £5 per person are requested. Some of the acts are outside including on the bandstand and others are in marquees where the lighting levels are lower. IMPORTANT-If you intend to come along and take photos you will need an official photographer's pass and so please let me know by Monday 24th June. I would suggest arriving to take photos by 12.00 so you don't miss the action. The event runs into the evening. You will need long lenses i.e 200-400mm

Website Keynsham Music Festival

Peter

TUESDAY 9TH JULY 2024 - TREDEGAR PARK

As there are so many events going on during the weekends this visit is on a weekday. This is a very worthwhile National Trust property to visit and it is just west of Newport, Monmouthshire.. The house is very attractive with many interesting rooms and indoor photography is allowed.There are extensive gardens with many flowers and a good parkland. The car park is Pay & Display but free for National Trust members. Accessibilty is generally good. but inside the house you do have to climb stairs to see all of the house. We will meet at the tea rooms at 10.30am,

Peter

SATURDAY 10TH AUGUST 2024 - ABERGAVENNY

This attractive Monmouthshire town is well worth a visit. There is a lot to see including the parish church of St Mary's Priory which has been described as the 'Westminster Abbey of South Wales' and we will meet there at 11.00am outside the front door.We can walk around the town and up to the castle (free admission) which also houses the museum which is worth seeing especially if the weather is poor.

The large Castle Meadows car park near the castle should be free (check the signs) although the rest are pay and display.

SATURDAY 31ST AUGUST 2024 - NORTH COTSWOLD STEAM & VINTAGE SHOW.

We haven't visited a steam fair for a while and this is a small, weekend show also on Sunday 1st September and used to be The Northleach Show, having moved to this new site which is situated not far from Bourton-on-the-Water just off the A436 post code GL54 3BS. It looks as though accessibilty is good but will be slippery if it has rained. Plenty of food options there and let's aim to meet at 10.30am. Best to contact each other when we are there.

Peter

SATURDAY 7TH SEPTEMBER 2024 - LLANCAIACH FAWR MANOR

This sixteenth century manor near Nelson in Glamorgan is well worth a visit. Visits are by guided tour and I am not sure at the moment whether indoor photography is allowed but it should be an enjoyable day out to somewhere a bit different. I will supply more details nearer to the date.
See website Day Tours and Prices - Llancaiach Fawr Manor Llancaiach Fawr Manor

SATURDAY 28th SEPTEMBER- INTENTIONAL CAMERA MOVEMENT (ICM) WORKSHOP AT WELLS WITH ROSE ATKINSON ARPS

This a chance to try out some practical techniques doing ICM with Rose Atkinson who gained her ARPS using this approach, This workshop is limited to six people with a cost of £95 for the group to be shared among the participants.See the link for more information.
The Art of Blur: ICM PhotoWalks (lightrocket.com)

We will be visiting Wells Cathedral on the day so if you want to just visit Wells Cathedral we will be free on the afternoon as the workshop will be in the morning,

Please let me know if you definitely want to come along.
Peter

THURSDAY 10TH OCTOBER TO SUNDAY 13TH OCTOBER 2024 - IRONBBRIDGE/MUCH WENLOCK

Four days in Shropshire in a beautiful part of the country. Lots to see including Blists Hill Victorian Town, Attingham Park (National Trust) and many attractions within Ironbridge itself.I will be staying for longer but I will be organising events for three days. I am looking to book good quality, reasonably priced accommodation for all of us and so I need to know by 31st December 2023 if you want to come along. If you want to book your own stay somewhere nearby that is fine.

A good area to get some good photographs and there is the social element to it as well.

Peter

SATURDAY 26TH OCTOBER 2024 - RAGLAN CASTLE

A trip to this impressive Cadw site in North Monmouthshire. We will meet at the castle entrance post code NP15 2BT at 10.30am and then go to a nearby cafe and allow a couple of hours to explore the castle. I am aiming to book a table at The Beaufort at Raglan for 1.30pm. As the castle closes at 5.00pm there may be time after lunch for more pictures of the castle. We will see.If you want to explore all of the castle there are lots of steps.

SATURDAY 16TH NOVEMBER 2024 - GLOUCESTER DOCKS

So much to see here and if the weather is poor there is also The National Waterways Museum and The Soldiers of Gloucester Museum plus The Mariners Church with many different viewpoints available.. There is a good walk around the docks . There is city centre car parking at Gloucester Quays if you have a car full or use the Park & Ride.we meet at the entrance to The National Waterways Museum at 11.00am. Lots of food options.

SATURDAY 7TH DECEMBER 2024 - RAGGED VICTORIANS & SS GREAT BRITAIN

This is an annual event and in fact runs over this whole weekend. The Ragged Victorians are a very popular photographic subject but it is important to remember that they are not there for photographers but as part of a living history project so everyone is asked to respect this. Your admission ticket covers the ship and the museums and lasts for twelve months from the issue date.I think that it is excellent value for money.There is a cafe just outside which will be busy but another food option is Brunel's Buttery(with outside seating) nearby. Let's meet at the SS Great Britain shop at 10.00am.

Peter

SATURDAY 14TH DECEMBER - AMERICAN MUSEUM BATH -WINTER WONDERLAND

Final details of this event will be available soon but each year the house is decorated for Christmas and when I have seen it before it is superb. There are a lot of exhibits to see which should take some time. There is a cafe/restaurant on site. You may need to pre-book your tickets so check the website.
Visit - American Museum & Gardens

I expect to meet at the entrance at 10.30am
Peter

SATURDAY 11TH JANUARY 2025 - STEAM RAILWAY MUSEUM SWINDON

A visit to one of the largest railway museums in the UK which is on the site of the old Swindon Railway Works. We will meet at the entrance to the museum (inside the front door) at 10.30am. Photography without flash or tripods is allowed.There is a basic cafe on site but if you want to eat more lunchtime there are many other options nearby and also in the McArthur Glen Shopping Centre next door.Number plate recognition cameras are in place in the car parks so park as close to the museum and when you pay at the museum you will receive a voucher which should give you up to five hours free car parking. If you want to stay longer on the day I will explain how to at minimal cost.I would suggest wide angle lenses to get everything in. See STEAM - Museum of the Great Western Railway

Peter

SATURDAY 18TH JANUARY 2025 - CUMBERLAND BASIN AND CLIFTONWOOD BRISTOL

A chance to do some urban photography in an area dominated by a road network. However, Cliftonwood on the side of a steep hill has some interesting little streets worth exploring.Rather than drive as there is limited car parking nearby it would be worth getting the bus.We meet outside The Nova Scotia Pub (where we will be having lunch later) at 10.30am and after a coffee start exploring. Wider angled lenses might be useful.

SATURDAY 1ST FEBRUARY 2025 - NEWARK PARK

A chance to photograph snowdrops and this is one of the best places for them.This National Trust property has lots. There are some steep paths here and the house should also be open. We will meet at the mobile cafe at 11.00am and spend up to four hours there. I have found a nearby pub which does food all day and that is The Hunters Hall Inn at Kingscote so aim to have something more substantial food wise at about 3.30pm. Macro lenses and wide angles should work well.Photography without flash is allowed in the house.

SATURDAY 15TH FEBRUARY 2025 - WELLS CATHEDRAL

Wells Cathedral is generally considered to be one of the finest cathedrals in the UK and is very photogenic inside and out.We will meet at The Bishop's Eye Cafe at 11.00am for a coffee. This is in the market square near Penniless Porch. Saturday is market day so it will be busy. I suggest parking in the nearby Waitrose multi-storey. If you would like a pub lunch please let me know.The nearby Crown is a potential choice but I would recommend booking.Bring a variety of lenses for the cathedral. There is an admission charge of £14 for the cathedral which does last for twelve months.

SATURDAY 15TH MARCH 2025 - NORTHLEACH

This is a small town in the North Cotswolds which is very attractive and there is a lot to see and photograph.There is a small car park in the centre of the town in the square but you are not likely to find a space so I suggest that when you come off the A429 you park safely on a side street. If we meet outside Lynwood & Co cafe in the town centre at 11.00am and then visit the church which is one of the finest parish churches in the UK and after lunch ( I suggest The Sherborne Arms) explore more of the town including The Old Prison which has a lot of countryside items to look at.

SATURDAY 29TH MARCH 2025 - PONTYPRIDD

Pontypridd is a largish town in the Rhondda Valley and you might be wondering what on earth there is to photograph there.The answer is lots.It has a vibrant high street with one of the largest indoor markets that I have seen (no photography), a very attractive and interesting park plus if you want to visit, a FREE museum.Plus a very interesting town bridge.This place should suit the Urban Landscape project theme well.Lots of choices for lunch and at reasonable prices.We will meet outside Lloyds Bank, Market Street at 11.00am. I suggest car parking at- Our car park address: Goods Yard, Chapel Street, Pontypridd. The post code for your sat nav is CF37 2DS. This is reasonably priced and put in for all day.

SATURDAY 12TH APRIL 2025 - COTSWOLD FARM PARK GUITING POWER GLOUCESTERSHIRE

This is one of the largest farm attractions in England and is run by Adam Henson of Countryfile fame.It is a great place for animal photography. I suggest bringing a longer lens as well as a standard lens to get the pictures.Maybe meet at the cafe at 11.00am and also book your tickets on-line in advance.Cotswold Farm Park There are large catering facilities there.If you want to have a pub meal in the evening after, please let me know. There are some good nearby pub options.

Peter

THURSDAY 24TH APRIL 2025 - COATES ENGLISH WILLOW, STOKE ST GREGORY, SOMERSET

A visit to somewhere different and the reason I am choosing a weekday is that the guided tour is only available on weekdays and I would highly recommend this. This starts at 11.00am so if you want a drink before in the excellent cafe I would suggest getting there early.If more then six of us are definitely going I can book a guided tour at a different time but if you commit to come you will have to turn up as we need at least six people for this. See Coates English Willow Baskets - Visitor Centre & Basket Makers There are nature trails to follow which can be muddy, a very good museum and this is all very reasonably priced.

Peter