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Epic 7-Day UK Mother/Daughter Roadtrip through England and West Wales

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A horse with long hair standing in a grassy field.

Some of you may know that I just returned from a long overdue trip to see my family in the UK.  While I was there my Mum and I embarked on a pretty epic week-long road trip around South East England and Wales.    Anticipating a mix of family visits, quick photo stops, and new discoveries, we packed our bags and set off.  Here’s a rundown on what we got up to:

Day 1 – Cotswolds

Leaving Buckinghamshire behind, Mum and I embarked on a whistle-stop tour of the Cotswolds. Bourton-on-the-Water, Broadway the Lavender fields at Snowshill welcomed us with their classic English charm. As day turned to night, we found ourselves in Historic Gloucester, ready to rest up for the journey ahead.

Day 2 – Ledbury

The journey continued to Ledbury. We were visiting my brother and his girlfriend, both Police Officers with the Gloucestershire Constabulary, and meeting their new partner, K9 Zeus was a particular highlight….of course, he had to have his own portrait session!

A dog running through a corn field.
A black dog running down a dirt road.
A german shepherd dog running through the woods.
A german shepherd dog is standing in a field.
A dog running through a corn field.
A black dog in the water with a green toy in its mouth.

Day 3 – Ledbury

Ledbury’s history embraced us as we explored the town, with camera in hand, I managed to capture some charming photos of local dogs. Later on, dinner at The Olive Tree, an Italian spot in town, rounded off a great day.

Day 4 – Much Marcle to Conwy

Breakfast at the Home of the famed “Stowford Press” Cider at Weston’s brewery in the adorably named village of ‘Much Marcle’ set us up for our journey to Wales. After a backroad detour involving narrow lanes and MANY sheep and checking into the Shelbourne Hotel in Llandudno, we met with my talented friend and Wildlife Photographer of the Year, Kevin Morgans in Conwy. Despite our initial concerns about the weather for our photo session in the Snowdonia mountains, luck was on our side. Like magic, as we left the car park on foot, the clouds parted, allowing us to photograph the Carneddau Ponies with a stunning sunset and the Irish Sea as our backdrop.

A view of a hillside and a valley with wind turbines in the distance.
Two brown horses with long manes in a field.
Two horses standing next to each other in a field.
A white horse standing on a hill next to the ocean.
A woman sitting on a rock taking pictures with her binoculars.
A horse is standing on a hill in a field.
Two horses standing next to each other in a field.
A horse is standing in a field of flowers.
A view from a hill overlooking a valley.

Day 5

Luck remained on our side as the weather Gods smiled upon us during another (very early) mountain expedition with Kevin. Mum indulged in a slower-paced morning back at the hotel, while I Kevin hiked into the mountains again to visit our beautiful equine friends and burned through many camera batteries and memory cards.  Photographers – watch this space for updates on some workshop/retreat plans Kevin and I have in the works for next year! 

A beach with sand dunes and a boat in the sand.
A woman standing on a beach
A group of boats in a body of water.

After a quick stop at Harlech Castle and a lovely chat with one of the owners of Harlech Castle Gift Shop, the day took a nostalgic turn with a visit to Dyffryn Ardudwy, a place Mum had cherished memories of from her childhood. My mum has wanted to visit this beach again for years, she hasn’t been there since staying at the campsite with her parents and brothers when she was a little girl.

A dog sits on a sand dunes with a blue leash.

We stayed a little while on the blustery beach, where I was able to capture a shot of a passing Bedlington terrier named Jeff at the beach’s iconic entrance between the sand dunes, as the storm clouds rolled in behind.  Back at the campsite, The Fish & Chip shop was still there, just as my Mum remembers it from 50+ years ago…of course, we weren’t going to pass up the opportunity for Fish & Chips by the sea!

Nateos mansion An old stone stately home house with ivy growing on it.
A group of bells hanging on a wall.
A stone floor in a room with a door.
An arched doorway in a room with stained glass window in background
A gravestone with the word rufis in the grass.
A black tea kettle sits on stove

Nanteos House in Aberystwyth awaited us. This historic mansion, formerly owned by The Powell family, played a role in our family history. The “big house” as my mum remembers it being called, sits just a few miles outside of Aberystwyth and was once a hub of activity (think scaled down, Downton Abbey type of place), but is now a hotel and popular wedding venue. Our connection ran deep, as my Mum’s great-grandfather, Amos Landers Hopkins, had once been their head gardener for many years. He lived in the lodge house with his wife and children, where my great-grandmother was later born.  Unbeknownst to Mum, I had booked us a two-night stay at Nateos House, allowing us some time to truly soak up its history

Day 6

Our stay at Nanteos Mansion also took us to nearby Aberystwyth beach when I was quick to break out my camera to capture some of the many happy dogs during their evening stroll on the boardwalk.  I highly recommend The Glengower for some local fare and a great view of the sunset over the beach.

A brown dog is leaning on a railing near the water.
A brown and tan dog standing on a ledge.
A dog with a blue collar standing in front of a building.
Two dogs sitting on a rock next to the ocean.
A black and white dog standing on a cobblestone.

Day 7 – Breakfast at Nanteos was followed by an enlightening tour with historian Janet Joel, who shared stories and insights that intertwined with our family’s past.  The Powell family’s history with hunting dogs, known as Nanteos Harriers, struck a chord, resonating with our love for dogs. Our tour included, to my delight, a stop at the old stable block, which unfortunately has seen far better days.  Closing my eyes and inhaling the musty aroma of the years gone by, I could still a faint whiff of that unmistakably sweet smell of horse.  A visit to Janet Joel’s website will offer a deeper dive into Nanteos’ rich history.

An old stone house in the middle of a green field.
A stone urinal next to a stone wall.
A hook hanging on the side of a stone wall.

The trip culminated in a reluctant farewell to our Welsh roots, taking us back to English soil. The road trip, spanning over 500 miles, 2 countries, and lots of dogs and ponies was more than just a road trip – it was an experience, blending family history with new adventures and memories. A trip well-spent, and one that I would love to repeat sometime soon!

Promotional image for a photo tour called "un-retreat" featuring picturesque hills and dates from aug 27 to sept 3, 2024, with text "applications now open!.
Promotional image for a photo tour called “un-retreat” featuring picturesque hills and dates from aug 27 to sept 3, 2024, with text “applications now open!.

Photographers – Sign up here if you are interested in exploring Snowdonia and beyond with me and my camera in 2024!

A pit bull puppy is standing on a concrete wall.
A brown and white dog wearing a green collar.
A brown dog laying on the grass in a field.
A brown dog sitting on the steps of a door.
A black and white dog standing on a cobblestone.
Springer spaniel on a leash on a sidewalk.
A dog sits on a sand dune in ireland.
A white and brown dog standing on a cobblestone street.
Two dogs on a leash.
A dog running through a corn field.
A dog sitting on a bench in front of a building.
A dog is standing in the grass.
A german shepherd dog running through a corn field.
A dog running through a corn field.
A dog running through a corn field.
A german shepherd dog running through a corn field.
A dog running through a corn field.
A dog running through a corn field.
A german shepherd dog running through a corn field.
A german shepherd dog running through a corn field.
A german shepherd standing in a wooded area.
A dog in the water with a frisbee in its mouth.
A dog in the water with a toy in its mouth.
A german shepherd dog running through a wooded area.
A german shepherd dog running through the water.
A german shepherd dog wading in a river.
A black dog with a green toy in its mouth.
A dog in the water with a frisbee in its mouth.
A german shepherd dog walking through the woods.
A german shepherd dog running through a corn field.
A german shepherd dog running through a grassy field.
A german shepherd dog running down a dirt road.
A german shepherd standing in a corn field with his tongue out.
A german shepherd dog running through the woods.
A german shepherd dog sitting on a trail in the woods.
A dog in the water with a green toy in its mouth.
A dog running through a corn field.
A german shepherd running in a field with a leash.
A dog is standing in a field.
A german shepherd running through the woods with its tongue out.
A german shepherd dog running through the woods.
A german shepherd standing on a dirt road.
A black dog running through a wooded area.
A german shepherd dog is standing in a field.
A german shepherd dog running down a dirt road.
A german shepherd standing on a barrel in a field.
A dog standing on a dirt road.
A german shepherd dog running through tall grass.
A german shepherd standing on a dirt road.
A dog is walking through a corn field.
A german shepherd dog is standing in a field.
A german shepherd dog is standing in a field with his tongue out.
A german shepherd dog is standing in a field with his tongue out.
A large building with ivy growing on it.
An old mansion with ivy growing on it.
An old building covered in ivy.
A set of stone steps in front of a stone wall.
A stone building in the middle of a grassy field.
An ornate fireplace with an ornate mirror.
A kitchen with copper pots and pans on the shelves.
An ornate doorway in an ornate building.
Four bells hanging on a wall.
A gravestone with the word rufus written on it.
Charlotte terry's charlotte terry's charlotte terry's charlotte terry.
A black stove with pots and pans on it.
A black tea kettle sits on a table next to a glass of wine.
Two brass lanterns hanging from a window in a kitchen.
A stone floor in a building with a doorway.
An old coffee grinder on display in a kitchen.
A rusty hook hanging on the side of a stone wall.
A green field with trees and a house in the distance.
A castle on top of a hill.
A person is sitting on a beach in front of a building.
A group of boats docked in a harbor.
A sand dune on a beach with a cloudy sky.
A woman standing on a beach with a camera.
Charlotte Detienne headshot

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