Wedding in Oxford then 11 days in England..with an 18 month old baby
 

this forum is amazing...many have helped me plan trips I know would not have turned out as beautifully as they did, if not for all of you. In early August 2015, we get to go back to England to watch and help photograph a family wedding at Oxford University. Once the wedding activities are over, my husband and I plan on renting a car and explore some of the cathedrals and Gothic ruins I've always hoped to see. I'm an architectural/ landscape photographer and know my "must see list" has already gotten entirely too BIG. I was hoping to receive some advice on what is logical and possible when it comes to my wish list... along with the reality of traveling with our (at that time, 18 month old son.) My husband and I were used to a very quick pace travel style, many times, staying in B & B's for only one night before jetting off to the next destination (while traveling Scotland and also during a Mediterranean Cruise.) I understand, I will have to put into account my little son and the frequent stops and "down time" he will need. The 11 day travel (12th day boarding the plane) will be dedicated to my photography business, focusing on subject matters such as Cathedrals, old libraries, Gothic architecture, pretty landscapes, old charm homes/cottages and hopefully, a few small towns. My hope is to find B & B's/hotels in some of the towns of the Cathedrals I really want to go to so if needed, my husband can walk around with our son in the town squares or even bring him back to the hotel/b&b for naps when needed. My husband is being extremely generous with his time dedicated to our son for this trip because he knows what a "once in a lifetime" opportunity this is for my photography business so he perfectly fine with and aware that I will be off on my own, from time to time to get my shots (I tell him everyday how much I know how fortunate I am to be his wife ;). Here are some of the places I've done some research on when it comes to the Cathedrals or amazing "captures" I'd love to get for my photography. I know I can't do everything but was hoping for some realistic advice when it comes to distance, and what I can really do in a day when it comes to visiting hours for cathedrals and not wanting to drive much at all during dark hours. Thank you for any help/advice you can offer. P.S..I love reality checks...they keep me grounded ;)

We will be leaving from Oxford to start our 11 day vacation:

Ely Cathedral in Cambridgeshire UK
possibly Cambridge University for the old libraries and churches
Salisbury Cathedral
Winchester Cathedral
Gloucester Cathedral
Castle Combe, United Kingdom (other small towns?)
Tintern Abbey
Margam castle (wales)

Places I don't want to miss are Gloucester Cathedral and Ely Cathedral. We have no desire to stay in London since we've been there before. I would LOVE to spend time in and around York but realized I must narrow down my options. We have not purchased our plane tickets yet. Any help would be appreciated! Thank you!

York Cath, Fountains Abbey, Bolton Abbey, Jervaulx etc etc

http://www.visit-yorkshire.info/hist...y-priory.shtml

you sure you are going to the right end of the country?

I agree with you about Salisbury which I think is the finest example in the country.

Can we go back to first principles.

Relatively few English or Welsh cathedrals are Gothic. None are ruins. Properly conserved medieval villages don't have ruins either, and Margam isn't a ruin.

If you just mean "ruined old buildings", your easiest source is ruined monasteries like Tintern - but nothing else on your list qualifies.

Tell us - preferably having the courtesy to break your stream of consciousness up into paragraphs we can read - what it is you want to do.

I completely agree, bilboburgler! Changing my entire itinerary to fit Yorkshire has crossed my mind. Thanks for the post!

You are absolutely right, flanneruk. I'm trying to cram too many thoughts and questions in while my son was still napping. I will try to be more precise once I get a chance to write again.

Yorkshire - now we're talking...
Also add Rievaulx and Byland Abbeys as well as Mount Grace Priory to the list of great Yorkshire ruined abbeys. And don't foget Whitby with its Dracula connections and the ruins of Whitby Priory.

Also factor in Beverley Minster which is well of the tourist beat but is regarded by many as one of the best gothic churches in Europe and architecturally better than York. There is parking opposite and entry is free unlike York Minster which will set you back £10. At the other end of the town is St Mary's Church - go and find teh carving of a rabbit said to have given Lewis Carroll the inspiration for the White Rabbit in Alice in Wonderland. Beverley is a most attractive town and worth exploring.

There are some lovely small villages to explore in the Yorkshire Wolds and North York Moors. On the cost, Robin Hood's Bay and Staithes spring to mind. On the edge of the North York Moors are Pickering and Helmesley, both with a ruined castle.

There are a lot of small Norman churches around. Tiny St Gregory's Minster in Kirkdale is one of the best with its 1000 year old sundial. Then there is GArton-on-the Wold church which was restored in the C19th and the walls are covered with exquiste wall paintings....

Do NOT overestimate what you'll be able to accomplish with junior in tow. Incontinent or semi-continent hobbits with needs for naps, mommatime, playtime, etc. will slow your travels. The difference between what you can cover with the halfling and what you'd be able to cover without is immense.

Thank you so much, ESW. I have a lot of thinking to do. Yorkshire is very tempting but there are so many Cathedrals I want to visit south of Oxford. What a beautiful dilemma to have :)

agreed, BigRuss. Thanks for the two cents!

ESW, your detailed response was exactly what I was hoping for. I'm researching the places you mentioned right now. Thanks again!

Some photo links you might enjoy....
Rievaulx
http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/church...ulx/index.html
Mount Grace
http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/church...ace/index.html

Beverley Minster
http://www.silvertraveladvisor.com/t...worship/140612
St Mary's Church, Beverley
http://www.silvertraveladvisor.com/r...-mary-s-church

Pickering:
http://www.silvertraveladvisor.com/r...view-pickering
Helmesley
http://www.silvertraveladvisor.com/review?id=146570

Garton on the Wolds
http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/church...lds/index.html

Also check out the other churches in the Yorkshire Wolds restored by Sir Tatton Sykes in the C19th
http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/church...hes/index.html

Somewhere else I didn't mention earlier is Burton Agnes Hall. This is a delightful Tudor manor house and is one of the nicest stately homes we have visited. It has lovely gardens too.
http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/statel...nes/index.html

Wow, ESW...much appreciated!

Ripon Minster is just a long walk from Fountains Abbey (2 birds with one stone)

Hi noellev13,
Your plan is ambitious but not impossible, you know what your son needs from the trip and how difficult it will be so I certainly won't preach to you on that.

As you know, the UK has many interesting buildings of the type you describe, perhaps not gothic but I know what you mean. I live in Wales so will comment only on Wales.

Margam Park is a gorgeous building well worth a visit to photograph. If you are heading to the Port Talbot area, which is a bit out of your way, you may want to factor in other magnificent buildings along the way.

Ill make a few suggestions on places in the area that are in my opinion worth photographing and you can research them and make your choice of whether it interests you or not.

Llandaff Cathedral-Cardiff
Castle Coch-Tongwynlais near Cardiff
Caerphilly Castle- Near Cardiff
Insole Court- Llandaff Cardiff
Ruppera Castle-Near Caerphilly
Hensol Castle- Near Cardiff
Pierhead Building Cardiff Bay

Good Luck

Mucky

One of the most beautiful cathedrals I've seen is Wells, which isn't far from Salisbury.

I think you should keep in mind that if you spend a little time around a place, you're much more likely to find a great vantage point for a photo that you would never have found if you blew into town and blew out again.

I'm no photographer, and on trips I often don't even bring my DSLR, because I don't like to carry the extra weight all day. However, in Salisbury I found many wonderful views of the cathedral when we walked on the town path to the village of Harnham. This is one:

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/phot...eat=directlink

Noellev,

I would pick a max of 2 centres and use those for making day trips out - this will make the logistcs of travelling with your 18 month old a lot easier, as you and he will have a "home" to come back to, which makes for a much better routine for you and him. if you can afford it. I'd plump for the sort of hotel that has a restaurant which opens for several hours in the evenings - then when you get back, you can put the lad to bed and have a meal yourselves without having to worry about buying food, cooking it, etc.

as a base, Yorkshire picks itself, and a second one should be somewhere in the south so that you can hop off to Wells, Gloucester, Salisbury, Winchester etc.

I think that Cambridge and Ely are probably too far off a sensible route to be achievable. You might think about driving up to York from Oxford, then flying from Manchester to Southampton [Flybe do that route several times a day; it takes about an hour] and renting another car there for the second part of the trip, rather than driving all that way.

Salisbury also has a new infinity font, worth a snap.

Thanks again, Bilboburgler!

Thank you for your insight, Mucky. Ahhh, to live in Wales :) I will research your suggestions.

bvlenci, those are beautiful! Thank you for sharing