Club weekend away: going west

[Sarahrs]

Hi All,

We’ve started to plan for the first of the 2018 trips.
We’re planning to based in Bristol to enable exploring of the west.

We’re currently thinking that either the weekend of Friday 13 April might suit or Friday 20 April.

The basic plan is likely to follow Norfolk trip of Dinner Friday night and everyone head back on Monday. If anyone has commitments on the Monday and not driving it is possible to catch a train to Paddington from Bristol on the Sunday evening which takes about 1 hr 40.

Two questions
1. Are you interested in coming along?
2. Can you make either of the proposed dates?

[Rose]

If I can I would like to join you, but I'm waiting for a date for my shoulder surgery so I can't plan anything at the moment. I have a photographer friend who lives in Bristol, we had a great day with our cameras there last year.

[Tina]

Hi Sarah
I'll start the ball rolling. We can possibly make the weekend of 13th April but not 20th.
Tina & Graham

[rebeccaclark]

I may possibly be interested as I think Fri 13th is the end of my Easter holiday. But I would need to go back on Sunday. I'll have a think about it!

Rebecca

[Michaelplatts]

Hi Sarah,

Just to confirm that Keith and myself are interested in the club weekend to Bristol.

The proposed weekend of the 13th April would be fine for us.

Thanks,

Michael.

[jeffwin99]

Hi,
Jane and I are interested in coming on the trip and could make either date.
Jeff

[Sarahrs]

Ok looks like the Weekend the Friday 13 April it is.

So for prices we have two options for hotels (saver rate for three nights is £146)

Option 1: Bristol South Primer Inn. Plus based on the outskirt of Bristol, gives an excuse to wander and explore (without needing to lots in the city). Sunrise is scheduled for 6.19am. So any early morning photography likely focus on Bristol.

Option 2: Wells Preimer Inn. Based in a lovely town with lots of stuff near by. Much better for early morning landscape photography. Though less opportunity to see Bristol unless special effort is made. more difficult to get to if your not travelling by car.

Please state preferences asap and we can finalise and book while its cheap.

[Rose]

Bristol has a Park & Ride: https://www.firstgroup.com/bristol-bath ... park-ride/

There is a National Express bus service from London Victoria to Wells: https://www.busbud.com/en-gb/bus-london ... vj0-gcn57d The bus station is a few minutes walk from the Premier Inn.

And there is also a bus service from Wells to Bristol: https://www.firstgroup.com/bristol-bath ... rvice-376/ The route passes through some lovely countryside and villages.

[Mike Farley]

Bristol has a Park & Ride: https://www.firstgroup.com/bristol-bath ... park-ride/

Thanks, Rose. According to the website, the Park and Ride operates Monday to Saturday and parking is free. There is a fare for the buses, but concessionary pass holders can travel without paying. The car parks close at 9:00 pm on a Saturday, so some care is needed if staying late for night time photography. Any cars left in the car park after closing time will receive a penalty charge notice.

Bath also has a Park and Ride service. Given the difficulty of finding somewhere to park centrally there, not to mention the expense, that would be a worthwhile option for any visit.

https://www.firstgroup.com/bristol-bath ... k-and-ride

I have found a couple of articles which provide suggestions for possible locations. There are some broken links for a couple of the images on the page for the first one.

http://www.wow247.co.uk/2015/06/12/phot ... ug-jewell/

http://www.wow247.co.uk/2015/07/07/10-s ... n-bristol/

The Bristol visitor information site also has a number of possible locations.

The Clifton Suspension Bridge and SS Great Britain would be on my list of thing to see, although getting the best from the former might depend on good evening light.

[Rose]

There's SS Great Britain and the Matthew in Brunel's old dock area which is a heritage site, and good views of the suspension bridge from there too. A riverside walk from there takes you right through the shipping yards into the city with lots of colourful houses and boats along the way. Look out for any exhibitions in the M Shed - they had WPOTY there last year. Millennium Square is a favourite with photographers. And in the old town Bristol has some of the steepest streets in the UK.