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April 26th to May 8th,
2010
12 nights
| Limited to 7 participants
OVERVIEW:
Having lived among the Welsh for ten years and learnt their
language, I find them to be a noble race that dwell proudly in
‘Cymru’, while holding tightly onto one of Europe’s oldest
cultures.
These ‘hill folk’ are reputed to be the original Celts, and
claim the oldest language in Europe as being the ‘Language of
Heaven.’ I invite you to join me for pieces of Welsh heaven amid
this intimate land of mountains, ocean, moorland, forests,
tumbling rivers, castles and unique culture.
Geographically speaking, Wales sits to the west of central
England and is approximately 70 by 120 miles in size. Contained
within this intimate landscape are a plethora of picture
opportunities and cultural experiences. Some of those images,
i.e. castles, were the result of oppression from their English
neighbors, and their vain attempt to ‘control’ the Welsh! Today
those same castles, such Caerffili, Caernarfon, Caerhiw, Harlech
and Cricieth, are classic images just waiting for you to capture
them from the best vantage points.
After flying into London’s Heathrow, the itinerary gets under
way at Tintern Abbey in South Wales, and then it’s on to the
Cardiff area for the coal mine created character of rows of
terraced houses tumbling down steep hillsides under the weight
of strong Welsh accents. We’ll then go west via the Gower
Peninsula to the St. Davids region in southwest Wales. Here,
mighty St. Davids cathedral ‘hides’ in a hollow, and St. Govans
Chapel is tucked into the ‘cleft of a rock.’
Moving north via the Preseli mountains from whence came the rock
for Stonehenge four millenniums ago, we’ll pause amid the lush
green landscape that contains the three ‘Devil’s Bridges’ atop
one another, plus Aberystwyth castle on the oceanfront at dawn.
I lived in North Wales, and the best is saved for last as the
group photo-explores Snowdonia National Park, Harlech,
Caernarfon, a sheep farm plus much more. The north is where
spectacular mountains rise from boulder-strewn lakes, and
narrow, but paved, one-vehicle lanes await your visit armed with
sufficient film and memory cards. You’ll need plenty!
Bird song follows us everywhere we go, and having been a Young
Ornithological Group regional leader back in the 70’s and
familiar with all the bird species, I’ll take you to a spot to
[hopefully] photograph the Water Ouzel and more.
Lastly we'll explore more
lush green rolling hills around Llangollen where stone walls
have given way to hedgerows, and wild Pheasants rule the roost.
John Baker, former
Welsh resident photographer
TRAVEL TO THE GATEWAY AIRPORT
o It is recommended that clients arrive a day early to be fresh for the trip, and to also counteract possible flight delays.
o Early arrival also enables you to explore the gateway city should you wish to do so.
o When booking flights, add a day for overnight travel or two days if also crossing the Pacific Ocean/International Dateline.
o The last day of the trip is the date you should arrange your flight home unless you plan to stay on. Thank you!
DAYS 1 and 2
| The CARDIFF region
I'll meet
your morning flight and in our comfortable van, we'll
head west on the M4 motorway and over the Severn suspension bridge into the land of song, harp,
Red Dragon and the 'language of heaven'. We'll turn north to take
in the 12th century Tintern Abbey ruins where you'll find plenty
of compositions to be created. From Tintern, we'll continue west
to our accommodations near Cardiff.
Day 2 will see us in Cardiff for the Castle, Llandaff Cathedral,
and the terraced symmetry of the
valleys shaped by the coal industry. If you like people
pictures, and like to hear strong local accents, you'll find the
residents will be very obliging.
SOUTH CENTRAL WALES, 2 nights
DAYS 3, 4 and
5 | ST. DAVID'S and COASTLINE
As we head
towards St. David's we'll traverse one last coal valley, and move on to the Gower Peninsula.
Rhossili Head is spectacular with it's views to Worms Head and
across Rhossili Bay. Dylan Thomas did his best work from
his boat shed at Laugharne, which sits at the mouth of the Taf
River and we'll take that spot in too.
Working from the St. David's area, on days 4 and 5 we'll point
lenses at St. David's Cathedral, Martin's Haven, Solva, St. Govan's Chapel
in the cleft of the rock, Carew Castle and explore coastal
landscapes etcetera.
SOUTH WEST WALES, 3 nights
DAY 6 | To ABERYSTWYTH
Going north
today, we'll take in some coastal village ports as we head to
the Strumble Head lighthouse. We'll pause too at the old
Fishguard Harbor where the new harbor being a busy commercial
port. The Pentre Ifan Cromlech [exposed burial chamber] will be
on our menu today, and on the nearby River Teifi, we'll look for
fishermen in Coracle boats that owe their origins to the Roman
period. At Cenarth, the falls, mill and centuries old bridge
will be worth some frames and then we'll continue north to
Aberystwyth for our one night sojourn.
MID WALES, 1 night
DAYS 7, 8, 9, 10
and 11 | SNOWDONIA and beyond
Time to explore
Aberystwyth promenade and 13th century Castle this morning. Then
we'll go east to Devil's Bridge where three distinctly different
bridges sit atop one another. To the north, the market town of
Machynlleth and estuary situated town of Aberdyfi will get our
attentions. Dolgoch Falls, Tal y Llyn Lake and Dolgellau will
also be featured as we head to our 5 night home in Snowdonia
National Park.
On days 8, 9, 10 and 11 we'll take loop trips to include Cricieth, Caernarfon,
and Harlech castles, Llanberis Pass,
the Isle of Anglesey via Telford's suspension bridge to
Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwrndrobyllllantysiliogogogoch, the
'softer' landscape of Clwyd, a slate
mine, and a Welsh farm. The Welsh language is
strong in the north, and you'll likely to hear me speaking it
with the locals . . . it also comes in handy for creating photo
opportunities!
NORTH WALES, 5 nights
DAY 12 | To
HEATHROW
As we depart Wales today
we'll encounter a 'gentler' Welsh landscape
as we journey through the Tanat Valley to Llanrhaedr-Ym-Mochnant
where 'An Englishman Who Went Up A Hill, and Came Down a Mountain'
was filmed. Nearby are the falls that give the village part of
it's name. We'll then journey to the outskirts of London via
the motorway system, and have free time before taking dinner together.
Near Heathrow, 1 night
DAY 13 | Flights home
Departing flights can be arranged for any convenient time. USA residents will arrive home on the same calendar day. I can provide free
transport to Glasgow for those staying on for my
Scotland
photography tour.
Photographer/Leader
John Baker
This above itinerary is copyrighted by John T. Baker Photographer LLC, and Travel Images.com,
and authorization is NOT granted to business entities for professional use of said material.
PHOTOGRAPHY TOUR FEES
TRIP COST: $4,115 per person, double occupancy [land only]
SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT: 14% of the trip cost
SMALL
GROUP SUPPLEMENT:
For groups of 3 only: Add 10% of the trip cost above.
For 1 and 2-person ‘groups’ only, the rate is negotiable.
INCLUDED IN THE TRIP COST:
The following items are included in the trip cost: personalized photography instruction throughout the trip by John; all accommodations; all breakfasts; on-vehicle
snacks and bottled water; all ground transportation; airport
transfers on the first and last days of the trip only; entrance fees for sites and activities listed below under ‘Admissions’; and following the trip, field notes describing the time, place and subject of each photo stop, and a disc containing images of clients 'in action' on the trip.
NOT INCLUDED IN THE TRIP COST: The costs for these items are
the responsibility of each participant: airfare; travel costs
between your home and the gateway airport and return; any
transportation or travel costs incurred prior to or after the tour’s
inclusive dates; pre-tour and/or post-tour accommodation; lunches and
dinners; alcoholic beverages; entrance fees or costs related to
optional sites or activities not included in the itinerary or a part
of the trip; excess baggage charges; medical costs; personal items;
incidental charges incurred at our accommodations such as internet
access, phone calls or laundry; baggage and/or travel insurance;
passport or visa expenses; and airport departure taxes.
ADMISSIONS: Admission to Tintern Abbey, Cardiff Castle, Harlech Castle, Llechwedd slate caverns,
and Caernarfon Castle are included in the trip fees. Any other admissions such as Caerphilly Castle,
Caerhiw Castle, Pembroke Castle, and Cricieth Castle are optional and not included. You will of course have free reign to photograph the exterior of locations not included, and if time permits, to enter at your own expense.
ENROLLMENT
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