This was my third trip to the United Kingdom, which, like the others, occurred during the winter (when things are theoretically cheaper). Like the other trips, I was fairly fortunate
with the weather. Though it was cold, we experienced little rain, even as far north as the Orkneys. Now if only the airline hadn't lost our luggage... |
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Trip Highlights
Farm Stay in Yorkshire - We were fortunate enough to stay with a friend who lives on farmland in Yorkshire, doubly fortunate due to the lost luggage issues. This is such
beautiful countryside, most of which is accessible to hikers via a nationwide system of trails that runs through private land. It really deserves a minimum of several days in the
summer. Find a B&B in a cute town or village such as Hawes and use that as a home base to explore, or travel from town to town on foot!
The Highlands - It's difficult to describe how different and beautiful this landscape is. Also deserving of much more time than we gave it, this region is full of beautiful
terrain which could make for some great hiking rain or shine.
Orkney Islands - Flat, quiet and way out of the way, these islands offer solitude and a little peace. Explore neolithic sites, ancient dwellings and flat, remote hiking trails.
If you don't want to take chances with freezing temps, wet weather and little daylight, your best bet is probably to stick to the summer. Besides, one of the Orkneys' greatest attractions
is their birds, much more plentiful in spring and summer.
London - There's something about this city that I can't get enough of. Perhaps it's the vibrant mix of cultures and people, the ease of getting around (remember, I'm from
Seattle), or the possibility of wandering aimlessly for a few hours and always running into either a) something interesting or b) a tube stop which will let me get to something interesting
around the next corner.
The Weather! - I haven't said it enough. It was freezing cold, but we experienced very little rain, and the sunny days in the Highlands and the Orkneys made the trip. The UK
can be explored during the winter. |
Trip Lowlights
I'm not going to dwell on the negatives too much, I promise.
SAS & Sterling Airlines - Thanks to the SAS pilots for going on strike the morning we flew into Copenhagen. Thanks to SAS for not allowing us to retrieve our baggage before
being put on a separate airline. Thanks to Sterling for not getting our baggage to us upon arrival in London, or Yorkshire, or Edinburgh, or Fort William or the Orkneys. We finally got
our warm clothes a full 9 days after arriving in the UK. What a way to enjoy a winter wonderland.
Prices - Yes, the exchange rate sucks. But if you're American you really need to be prepared for what you're in for. The UK is expensive anywhere you go. In London,
we stayed in an 8 person hostel room our first night ($35+ each) and were able to book the cheapest run-down hotel (name withheld) at the end of our trip for the low low price of $80/night.
We rented a car for Scotland, which is a great idea. But remember that gas prices are a bit insane in Europe... one tank cost us $80 to fill. The ferry from the mainland to the
Orkneys was also fairly pricey for a car. It may be best to fly there or wait to rent a car in the Orkneys if you plan on going.
Canon G6 - Jenn's camera died two days into the trip. There was no reason for this, as it didn't suffer water damage and the batteries didn't die. My backup body was in one
of our aforementioned lost bags, so she was out of luck most of the trip.
Rude Guy on Train - Sorry bud, we reserved those seats ahead of time. Better luck next time.
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What We Packed
Well, there was lots of warm clothing, but we didn't see it for most of the trip. Nor did we see our toiletries, camera accessories, or the bags themselves much of the time...
Pack for cool and wet weather no matter when you go. I'm always an advocate for durable, easy-to-carry bags. Backpacks, not suitcases. Dragging a suitcase onto the tube and from
the station to a hotel is a pain. Opt for something that can be carried over the shoulder or on your back whenever possible! Security is also a good idea for larger cities such as
London. Get a couple of small combination locks. Combined with a bicycle security wire, these can effectively anchor your bag to any hostel or hotel furniture to prevent theft.
I once again had my MountainSmith lumbar waist pack for my camera gear, which remained with me at all times and was reliable and convenient as usual. |
Photo Gear
Nearly all of my equipment fit in the waist pack I mention in the packing section. The two main lenses were attached to the pack's waist straps in their cases. The
media storage device was in our backpack, but the chargers were all left in the lost bags. Note: if using a waist-type pack to tote gear or any valuables, always carry the
pack in front (on your tummy) in urban settings. This isn't entirely comfortable for one's back, but it's the best way to avoid giving thieves easy access to your stuff. A small
combination lock on the main compartment works well as an added precaution.
2 bodies: 20D, Elan 7n (digital & film for this trip)
(backup 20D was in lost bag)
3 lenses: 70-200mm 2.8IS, 24-70mm 2.8, 50mm macro
420EX Flash
Extra Batteries, Memory Cards, Film
Lens Wipes/Brush, Rain Gear (plastic bags), Polarizer
Epson P-2000 storage device |
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