UK Dgrinners meet up...

Mike Lane

Let's chat about a UK dgrinners meet up. Post your ideas about where and when and we'll try to come to some kind of consensus. If you know a UK dgrinner tell them about this thread.

luke_church

When:

After June 8th.

Where:

I don't really mind, but I'd really like to be able to get there by train.

-> Cambridge is very good on interesting architecture, ranging from the modern glass sculptures to the American cemetary to some really old university buildings...

-> The train line between Huddersfield and Manchester has some really interesting ex-mining towns, but is probably a bit of a trek.

-> London would be kind of cliche, but obviously has a lot of interesting places....

But as I said, pretty much anywhere I can get to

caroline

Mike Lane wrote:

Let's chat about a UK dgrinners meet up. Post your ideas about where and when and we'll try to come to some kind of consensus. If you know a UK dgrinner tell them about this thread.

Suggestions:-
Exmoor, Britains smallest and arguably most beautiful National Park, scenery has great variety in quite a small area, includes moors, wooded valleys, coastline, rural, wildlife - native Red Deer, plenty of camping and accomodation. Disadvantages - motorway & transport links (thats why it stays the way it is)

MY home area of the Mendips, also close to cities of Bath, Bristol, Wells, Cheddar Gorge

As Luke says, anywhere I can get to

Caroline

Mike Lane

I'm liking the Exmoor idea. I also like the idea of Bath or Bristol. But if it is too much of a haul for many/most people, then lets try to find something that is more equitable as far as travel.

If you can give a general idea of where you live that'd be super. I'm in Faringdon, Oxon.

I won't be able to do anything until the 2nd week of July, and the earlier we schedule, the more likely I'll be able to actually make it (got to make sure the wife is around to watch the kid).

Mike Lane

I started a google map of where we all live. Once I get people's towns, I'll add them on.

wxwax

Is the Lake District as beautiful to photograph as they say it is?

caroline

wxwax wrote:

Is the Lake District as beautiful to photograph as they say it is?

Stunning, susceptible to English weather, can be very busy in the summer season. I've only been a couple of times in the winter and it was amazing.
Are you coming with us ?

Caroline

photocat

caroline wrote:

Stunning, susceptible to English weather, can be very busy in the summer season. I've only been a couple of times in the winter and it was amazing.
Are you coming with us ?

Caroline

Lakes is wonderful... I do know some little back roads via Catbells and such that are beautiful... Of course, when it rains, it rains in the Lake District...
I would also like to suggest York, which has lots of little things. If it rains in York, it is not that bad... grin

Manchester would be interesting too, as it has lots of derelict buildings, but is nonetheless a big Northern England city... Or Leeds for that matter...

I am very very interested in a get together. I live in Ripon, half an hour from Leeds.

If you want to see nice stuff, the first weekend (or second, need to check it out), there is the appleby horse fair. It is when all the gypsies (travellers) travel to Appleby, to sell horses. They wash them in the River Eden. It is a wonderful experience, I went last year, and will go again this year...
It is on the edge of the Lake District...
http://www.applebytowncouncil.fsnet.co.uk/events/fair.htm
I will go on friday, as saturday and sunday are hectic...
If you can come up on thursday, I do have a guestroom . I will probably leave on thursday evening and stay till friday night.

photocat

SimonTALM

I'd be interested in a weekend photography jaunt.

I live just south of Manchester in Stockport near a number of national trust places including the fabulous Lyme Park it is also just on the Peak District and usually spend my weekends between Blackpool and Fleetwood, bit skint at the moment so somewhere reasonably local to either of these places would be best for me.

I can also reccommend the Mendips area (having schooled in Wells), and if this ends up the plan I can stop at my parents' place.

As for timing, any time (as long as weekend) in July / Aug / Sept should give us the best chance of good weather.

caroline

Yorkshire, York, - Appleby Fair would be great but its no go this year for me, next year.

I'm fairly open to going anywhere, its timing that is more critical.
I'm not really interested in industrial landscapes although I would join in just for the fun of it:D

Bristol has the Balloon Fiesta in August which is spectacular
http://www.bristolfiesta.co.uk/content.php?pid=18
as long as the weather is OK, for flying that is.
Bristol also has much else to offer, SS Great Britain, Clifton Suspension Bridge, and the work of Banksy, graffitti artist
http://www.banksy.co.uk/outdoor
I haven't been into Bristol other than supermarket visits for years so would do a recce if anyone is interested, still close to Bath or countryside too.

Caroline

Mike Lane

caroline wrote:

Yorkshire, York, - Appleby Fair would be great but its no go this year for me, next year.

I'm fairly open to going anywhere, its timing that is more critical.
I'm not really interested in industrial landscapes although I would join in just for the fun of it:D

Bristol has the Balloon Fiesta in August which is spectacular
http://www.bristolfiesta.co.uk/content.php?pid=18
as long as the weather is OK, for flying that is.
Bristol also has much else to offer, SS Great Britain, Clifton Suspension Bridge, and the work of Banksy, graffitti artist
http://www.banksy.co.uk/outdoor
I haven't been into Bristol other than supermarket visits for years so would do a recce if anyone is interested, still close to Bath or countryside too.

Caroline

I don't know about anyone else, but I am definitely going to be at the Bristol Balloon fest. If people are willing to make this our get together so much the better.

Stan

Sounds like a great idea. My life gets abit hectic by the middle of July with harvest but I wish you luck with the trip. Exmoor would get my vote or the lakes. I was supposed to go to the Lakes last winter for the snow but it never came off.

Stan

caroline

Th Balloon Fiesta is good for me from the Saturday afternoon onwards so I'll go with this too.

I think Exmoor is best in the spring because the leaf cover in the river valleys is still quite light, there is also quite a lot of beech which is great whn it is very fresh and young, plus wildflowers etc.

If anyone wants to take this further and plan ahead maybe we could make this a meet for 2008 ?

Caroline