Scotney Castle, + Bodiam Castle at sunset!

Join us as we visit two of the photographic jewels of medieval England, the landscaped gardens of Scotney Castle and the picturesque Bodiam Castle in West Sussex!

Bodiam Castle:
Constructed in 1385 to help protect against invasion from the French during the Hundred Years War, this impressive example of a moated castle provides us with plentiful composition opportunities to take advantage of the beautiful symmetrical reflections available in the wide moat.

We'll also explore behind the castle walls and ascend the towers to admire the view of the surrounding countryside. Our visit will be timed so we can take advantage of being able to photograph the exterior after the tourists have left, allowing us to capture some iconic shots that would be difficult otherwise.

"Set in the heart of a historic landscape, with spiral staircases, battlements, and a portcullis, 14th century Bodiam Castle is one of Britain's most picturesque and romantic ancient monuments. Windows where arrows were once loosed, a tower that was once a lookout, and ruins that were once walked upon by knights; this is a place where you can relive your childhood memories and let your imagination run riot.
In the impressive gatehouse is the castle's original wooden portcullis, an extremely rare example of its kind and, beyond into the courtyard, enough of the interior ruins survive to give an impression of castle life."

We'll also visit 12th-century Scotney Castle, a picturesque country castle ruins set in the landscaped gardens of a manor estate.

Scotney Castle:
"In the 1830s Edward's grandson, Edward Hussey III, transformed the estate. He hired architect Anthony Salvin to build a new house at the top of the hill overlooking the valley. Edward Hussey III had the imagination to transform the Old Castle into a ruin to act as the focus of his new landscape garden.
As a result of his vision, Scotney Castle is now celebrated as one of the most significant survivals of a complete Picturesque landscape."

Recommended Equipment

• Walk around/kit lens
• Wide-angle lens
• Tripod – optional (recommended for long exposures - we'll have two to borrow if needed)
• ND Filters – optional (for long exposures – we have sets available to borrow - courtesy of Kase filters)

Note: This tour is also suitable for "phone-only" photographers

Included:

• Entry to Bodium Castle & Scotney Castle.
• Travel to and from central London (from Starbucks, Unit 1A Euston Tower, NW1 3DP), in our comfortable 8-seat vehicle.
• Photographic tuition.
• Camera and lens setups to borrow if required (bring a blank SD card)
• Battery charging facilities if required (just bring your USB or wall plug charger)

Not included:

• Food and drink (tearooms are available at both castles)

Note: Please dress for the weather. Layers, hat, etc. It is England after all, so bring a waterproof jacket/umbrella just in case and wear appropriate footwear for walking.

Where we'll meet:
We'll meet at Starbucks Coffee, Unit 1A Euston Tower Podium, Regents Place, London NW1 3DP, at 9:30 am and we'll talk about what to expect on the day and go through previous photos and discuss settings, composition, etc. We'll be leaving Starbucks at 9:45 am and expect to return to London between 6:00-7:00 pm.

Please make sure you check TFL to arrive at the meeting point on time as we will have to leave at 9:45 am sharp. Please be sure you can attend before RSVPing yes, as refunds can only be given if your place is taken by another participant. Thank you.

Note: This event is combined with other photography Meetup groups that I run, so I'll update RSVP numbers accordingly (ie myself +3 will mean 3 members from other groups attending).

More photos and info can be found on our Scotney Castle & Bodiam Castle Photography Tour website page.

We hope to see you there!
Dion
UK Photo Tours