Photo by: Nancy Ori
Location: England Lake District
PHOTOGRAPHY TOUR

England Lake District, Gardens, and Castles

Northumberland, North York Moors, and the Lake District

  • Nine days of photographing and instruction with accomplished photographer and tour leader Nancy Ori.
  • Explore with your local guide, learning about the local culture, historical architecture of the region, along with springtime English gardens, natural lakes and landscapes.
  • Hadrian’s Wall, a former defense fortification built by the Roman Empire.
  • Photograph dramatic seascapes of Northumberland National Park in Northeast England.
  • Travel to the cliff edge between the historic port of Whitby and the smugglers’ haunt of Robin Hood’s Bay.
  • Day trips in the Lake District photographing villages, English Gardens, various lakes, valleys and mountain peaks.
  • UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
  • Relaxed and flexible itinerary in private vehicle to make the most of the photo opportunities that come your way.
  • Tour limited to 12 participants for extra attention.
Region

Europe

Destination

England

Dates

May 29-Jun 8 2024

Duration

10 days

$5395

per person, double occupancy*

*U.S. dollars based upon minimum of 8 participants. There is a small group surcharge of $500 if 6 or 7 participants. We try to accommodate travelers who request single accommodations, as well as travelers who are looking for a roommate. If a single room is requested (subject to availability), or if we are unable to find a suitable roommate, there is a single room surcharge of $1095.

Tour Overview

LIVE IT, LOVE IT, SHOOT IT on a photographic tour through the less traveled parts of the United Kingdom:  Northern England National Parks, the landscape and quaint seaside villages along the Northeast Coast with Nancy Ori. There will be daily artistic-focused walking tours through Northumberland including Hadrian’s Wall, the Lake District and North York Moors National Parks.

The tour is open to all levels of photography...

LIVE IT, LOVE IT, SHOOT IT on a photographic tour through the less traveled parts of the United Kingdom:  Northern England National Parks, the landscape and quaint seaside villages along the Northeast Coast with Nancy Ori. There will be daily artistic-focused walking tours through Northumberland including Hadrian’s Wall, the Lake District and North York Moors National Parks.

The tour is open to all levels of photography and painting. It will focus on improving your photos from your camera or cell phone to your final work. Your guides will focus your time in-country getting you to the right places for good light and color; you can focus your time post trip on completing your vision of the subject matter. This is true for all artists whether that be in the format of a painting, photograph, or mixed media. We encourage a mix of painters and photographers, as they have much to learn from one another.

Like the work of English artist William Turner, you will be in search of beautiful light every day and evening. Turner is perhaps the best-loved English Romantic artist. He became known as the painter of light, because of his increasing interest in brilliant colors as the main constituent in his landscapes and seascapes. His works include watercolors, oils, and engravings of light-filled romantic settings of land, and seascapes.

The itinerary encompasses top-rated locations combine the best mix of what makes this region so recognizable, woodland, lakes, coastline, mountain peaks, historical sites such as garden estates, castles, and abbeys. Timing is everything. Your local guides will get you to the best locations for best available light and maximum visual appeal. It is not possible to see everything during each tour, as we also like to take time for unscheduled stops. Your guides will plan each day considering the interests of the group, and special events taking place during your time here.

Photo Leader

Nancy Ori

Hello Jacque,

It’s Sunday about 1:00 pm. I slept late in order to recuperate from touring the Lake District and flight home.

Bottom line – the trip was fantastic. Our tour guide was unbelievably knowledgeable, a great driver, super personable, I can not imagine a better tour guide. The agenda/schedule was packed full, but not so much we did not have sufficient time at each location. The number of stops each day was on target. The locations we visited were all exciting. Hadrian’s wall was perhaps my personal favorite – the day we visited, it was cold, rainy and windy, I found it perfect, I could imagine how it was for roman legionnaires almost two millennia preceding me. I found the visit glorious. Whitby Abbey, Lindisfarne, Fountains Abbey, Castlerigg Stone Circle were all great. I loved it all.

Oh yes, the hotels were all luxurious and the breakfasts were always wonderful – eggs, croissants, fruit, yogurt, etc. You did a great job designing the trip. Will definitely plan on more future trips. Best regards, Joel

— J Kleinman

Tour Itinerary

May 29: Home

Your journey to England begins with an overnight flight to (NCL) Newcastle Upon Tyne Airport. Please note your flight will be booked multi-city, into Newcastle and home from Manchester: Home/NCL and MAN/Home. (Meals on plane).

May 30: Newcastle Upon Tyne

PLEASE NOTE: Strabo has included all breakfasts and four dinners. Those that wish to get a take-out meal or have a meal on your own can do so for other dinners and all lunches. If the weather cooperates the group can stop at a local grocery store and enjoy a lunch or dinner outside.

Check in time is approximately 3PM, tonight’s hotel has been included to relax after the flight, or perhaps go on a walk along the River Tyne or old town on your own. The Millennium Bridge can be an interesting photo op at dusk. The hotel can be reached via a taxi ride from the airport or contact Strabo Tours if you would like private transfer arranged. Overnight Newcastle Upon Tyne Hotel (Meals on own)

May 31-Jun 1: Hadrian's Wall and Northumberland National Park

Last night was to prepare for an early start this morning to photograph the amazing landscape and the historical Hadrian’s Wall. Travel to the great outdoors with highlights which include Crag Lough, Castle Nick, Rapishaw Gap, or perhaps one of the highest peaks – Sewingshield Crags. Continue on to the Northeast Coast for two evenings photographing the beautiful landscape amidst the least traveled park of England. Not for its lack of beauty, simply because it is the furthest away from London and more populated areas. From your home base for these two evenings there will be photo ops along the coast of Holy Island of Lindisfarne, explore the 9-acres of Bamburgh Castle, up-close and from a distance with the long sandy beach in the foreground and surrounding sky.

A visit to Northumberland would not be complete without a visit to the Victorian Cragside House, gardens and woodland in Rothbury. One of the largest rock gardens in England leads down to a beautiful Iron Bridge and formal garden. Overnight Newton by the Sea (B, D; B)

June 2: North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales National Parks

Depart early this morning and travel south to the lovely seaside villages of Whitby and Robin Hood’s Bay. On the East Cliff of Whitby, overlooking the North Sea, is the ruined Gothic Whitby Abbey, which was Bram Stoker’s inspiration for “Dracula”. Robin Hood’s Bay is a picturesque old fishing village along the Heritage Coast. Continue on through the North York Moors to just outside the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Photo stops along the way to your accommodation for the evening. Overnight Harrogate (B, D)

June 3-6: Lake District

Rise in time to be at the gate opening of the photogenic ruins of Fountains Abbey. The dramatic architecture  is the largest monastic ruin in the country. Step back into a rich and dramatic past and immerse your camera and yourself into the age of the 1100’s when the Benedictine monks from York came to escape from the extravagance of the boisterous city style. Another beautiful site is a place referred to as Crackpot Hall. The abandoned 18th-century farmhouse lies in ruins near the village of Keld in Swaledale.

Continue on after your morning shoots and enter the Lake District National Park. The Lake District is a magical region, frequented by poets and artists alike. They have turned nature in to art. Enjoy four full days here amidst so many amazing landscapes. There is a reason William Wordsworth lived in various homes in the Cumbria District – never ending inspiration. Travel at a relaxed pace to immerse yourselves in the beauty. Nancy and your local guide will tap into these inspirational locations each day, which you will each photograph in your own vision.

Speaking of poet Wordsworth, his last home, just outside the lovely town of Ambleside, is the lovely Rydal Mount and Gardens with beautiful views of Lake Windermere, Rydal Water, and surrounding woodlands. You can take an optional tour of the home or meander during your visit through the five acres of gardens, amazing natural fells and paths Wordsworth designed himself.

A beautiful view from a hilltop above Loughrigg Fell may present itself in good light just outside Ambleside. Lake Coniston is considered to be one of the most beautiful in the district with yet another lovely, yet smaller village than the more famous towns in the region. Keswick in the Northern area of the lakes and Windermere, in the South will certainly provide photogenic opportunities for your small group, yet the majority of time the group will spend in the great outdoors landscapes.

Another day closer to Keswick is Castlerigg Stone Circle, it is one of the earliest and the most dramatic of England’s stone circles, with panoramic mountain views. Lowther Castle near Penrith is considered a ruin on a grand scale, if open it will be worth a visit to the castle and gardens. Pooley Bridge is another famous site on Lake Ulswater where given proper weather conditions a traditional boat ride will be in order, after all you are in the Lake District.

There are several museums and traditional arts and craft places to visit should there be inclement weather, however your guides prefer to have more outdoor photography in the tiny village of Hawkshead, the home of Beatrix Potter with picture perfect squares, quaint traditional buildings and architecture. Overnights Keswick (B; B, L; B, D; B)

June 7: Lake District - Manchester

Enjoy another morning in the wonderful landscapes of the Lake District, photograph previously visited sites in different light or perhaps some lesser known places, favorites of your local guide. Make your way south and west to the City of Manchester.  Your driver will deliver you to your airport hotel, where you will be on your own for the evening or perhaps join Nancy and others for a farewell toast to end the program

June 8: Manchester - Home

Everyone can depart in time to check-in for their flight onward. The hotel has shuttle service taking you to the airport in time for your flight. (B)