Inspired by the first blush of spring, we packed up the car and drove three hours from where we live in south Wales to the…
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Category: UK
1,500 days of daily cold water swimming in the frigid waters of the Gower peninsula in south Wales.
Leave a CommentThese handpicked luxury getaways redefine the New Year celebration, offering not just a stay but an experience that transcends expectations. Learn more.
Leave a CommentThe waves were huge, too huge for me, so I got out of the water. Back at my van, in the time it took me…
Continue ReadingHaze for Days: Llangennith Beach, Gower (Wales) w/ Fujifilm XT4 + 55-200mm Zoom Lens
1 Comment London is an aspirational city whether you’re just passing through, enjoying a sight-seeing vacation or eyeing up a move to the busy capital city. And…
Leave a CommentWhile Gatwick is well-known for its airport and transport links – it also has plenty to offer nature lovers. With the Surrey Hills and High…
Leave a CommentBack in March I posted a photo journal depicting scenes of Gower smothered in snow. Beautiful, of course, but not exactly inviting. Today, just a…
Leave a CommentIt was March 7th, 2023. We were excited about the arrival of spring. Then it snowed. The Gower peninsula (south Wales) is not used to…
1 CommentThe point of this post is to demonstrate that… well, the camera you have with you doesn’t need to be “the best” for you to enjoy the simple pleasures of photography.
Leave a CommentIf you’re looking for a more alternative side to London, Shoreditch is the perfect place. The area, which stretches from Kingsland Road to Old Street…
Leave a CommentAlternative title: “Post-Apocalyptic Pumpkin Patch” Even here in semi-rural Wales, life has become Americanised. That’s not a complaint, just an observation. When I was a…
Leave a CommentThe UK is filled with natural beauty, from the lush green countryside to sparkling blue coastlines. In addition, the summers tend to be milder than…
Leave a CommentSummer is here and Baby Holbrook is five months old, so we eased ourselves into our first family adventure with a luxurious glamping stay at…
Leave a CommentLangland Bay is arguably the most famous beach on the the Gower peninsula’s southern stretch. And it’s one of the main reasons the village of…
Leave a CommentUnedited SOOC photos shot with my Fujifilm XT3 XF 23mm F2 R WR lens – Classic Chrome and Acros film simulations.
Continue ReadingSOOC Fujifilm XT3 Photos + XF 23mm F/2 R WR Lens – Tor Bay, Gower Peninsula, Swansea
2 Comments I took these photos of Penclawdd over the last year and a half (2021/22). I had no idea in mind of what I’d do with them, no goal. But after putting them together, side by side, I realised that they painted a picture, a portrait – a portrait of my home.
1 CommentLocal boy Ben Holbrook guides James and Lucy through his beautiful country, which is famed for its spectacular coastline and countryside.
Leave a CommentMy first film of 2022, and boy does it feel good to be back behind the camera! I shot this short at the glorious Rhossili…
Leave a CommentScotland is a country that is full of beauty. Although it can experience its fair share of rainfall, it is still a place that can…
Leave a CommentIt’s the night before and my hands are trembling as I’m packing my bag. The tent, the air mattress and pillow, the sleeping bag. The…
2 CommentsWhether you’re looking for a short break, a mid-week stay or a longer staycation in the UK, you’ll need to find the perfect cottage for…
Leave a CommentI asked my fellow UK bloggers to share their favourite beach towns in England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. Here’s what they had to say!
Leave a CommentThere’s a farmer who owns a woodland on the Dulais River in south Wales. For a few quid a night he lets you pitch your…
1 CommentLlangennith beach to Rhossili Bay across Rhossili Downs is easily one of the most scenic walks on the Gower peninsula (in south Wales, UK). This…
Leave a CommentPenclawdd is a village of 3,500 people located on the Gower peninsula in south Wales. Its bountiful coal, tin and copper mines saw it prosper…
4 CommentsHike one of the wildest and most beautiful beaches in the Gower peninsula, and don’t miss the iconic Whiteford Point lighthouse.
Leave a CommentHere’s what to avoid doing while visiting London, so you can make the most of your time in this handsome metropolis.
Leave a CommentI grew up in Penclawdd, on the marsh, the estuary forever in view. But it’s only now that I’ve returned as an adult that I…
Leave a CommentWe drank too much – wine and beer and gin and god knows what. I took some blurry drunken photos…
Leave a CommentIf you’re interested in vintage themed restaurants and bars in London, here is a list detailing some of the top rated establishments with a time-transcending1920s theme.
Leave a CommentMore from the Gower Peninsula Sands of Torture ~ Lockdown on the Gower Peninsula (South Wales, UK) “I Do Love October” – Autumn on the…
Leave a CommentI can cope with most aspects of lockdown life, but…
Leave a CommentMy biggest adventure yet.
2 CommentsI haven’t travelled this autumn, but I’ve stayed creative. All photos taken with the Fuji 35mm F1.4 R lens (samples and lens review included).
2 CommentsIn ‘Like Living on an Island’, Ben Holbrook explores the relationship between the residents of the Gower peninsula (south Wales) and its coastline.
Leave a CommentA series of photos cropped using the 2.35:1 aspect ratio + tips on how to use the 2.35:1 cinematic aspect ratio to make your images look like film scenes.
Leave a CommentFrom hilly hikes and autumnal adventures to city breaks and foodie sojourns, here are some ideas to help you book the perfect UK holiday this autumn.
Leave a Comment“He’d do stupid things like that and mistake the attention he got in return for admiration.”
Leave a CommentHere are my favourite beaches on the Gower peninsula and some insider advice on where to park, eat & drink nearby – plus tips on dog-friendly beaches & accommodation in the Gower (hotels, B&Bs, pubs & campsites).
Leave a CommentHere are a few fun and essential things to do in Hackney – one of the hippest places to hang in London.
Leave a CommentAs one of the most remote and difficult beaches to get to on the Gower peninsula in south Wales, Pwlldu Bay is the place to escape to for ‘Famous Five’ style fun and frolics.
Continue ReadingWalking to Pwlldu Bay (Wales Coast Path) ~ The Gower Peninsula’s Most Secluded Beach
1 Comment Here are a few tips on where to tuck into some scrumptious Scottish grub – with neither a haggis nor deep-fried Mars bar in sight!
Leave a CommentAs if we needed another excuse to crack open a few cold ones, it’s International Beer Day (held on the first Friday of August each…
1 CommentFind out about Welsh Wine Week and discover 8 beautiful Welsh wines to sip yourself! #welshwineweek
Leave a CommentLet me introduce you to the beautiful new world of Welsh wine. Yes, really! Wine from Wales! Wales in the UK!
Leave a CommentFrom tips on where to stay to advice on getting around the city, this post is here to help you see and experience as much of London as possible on your first (or even 101st) visit.
Leave a CommentSomething’s changed. I’ve changed, the world’s changed, this blog has changed.
6 CommentsA poem by Ben Holbrook dedicated to the beautiful pubs of South Wales’ glorious Gower Peninsula.
Leave a CommentFrom the rugged Welsh coastline to the Dales up north, this is your guide to the most beautiful national parks in the UK.
Leave a Comment‘Surrender’ explores the internal battles many of us have fought during the Coronavirus lockdown, while hinting at the juxtaposition of countless lives being devastated against a backdrop of spring in full bloom.
Leave a CommentFrom exploring Georgian mansions on the Royal Crescent to sipping cider at a local pub, here are the best things to do in Bath, England.
Leave a CommentWith its Georgian charm, characterful rooms and Michelin-starred restaurant, this 4-star boutique delivers the most civilised stay in Bath.
Leave a CommentI asked my fellow pub-loving travel blogger friends for their top tips on the best boozers in Scotland, Wales, Ireland and England! Here are the results!
1 CommentEssential advice on everything from booking accommodation and finding local restaurants to navigating public transport and budgeting your travel money.
Leave a CommentHere’s a month-by-month guide to what you can expect the weather to be like when you visit.
Leave a CommentThanks to the customer booking data from Glencor Golf, we have compiled a list of the best golf courses in the UK – as voted by avid golf hobbyists and PGA professionals alike.
Leave a CommentFrom surfing to hiking, sleeping to eating, here’s your essential guide to one of the best beach/surf/camping destinations in the UK.
2 CommentsFor those seeking an authentic slice of London life, away from the hustle and bustle of the tourist traps littered around the capital’s centre, New Cross is fast becoming one of the hottest places to be.
Leave a CommentLight Breaks Where No Sun Shines (Poem by Dylan Thomas, Visuals by Ben Holbrook) Light breaks where no sun shines; Where no sea runs, the…
Leave a CommentA haven from the chaos of contemporary culture, Gliffaes Country House Hotel is the rural retreat you’ve been dreaming of.
Recover, reset and revel in the only 4-star hotel in Wales’ glorious Brecon Beacons.
How do you feel about travelling in your own country? I left Wales almost 11 years ago (to move to Barcelona and then London –…
Leave a CommentWhen I think of Wales, I think of home. I think of my friends and family… my sunburned youth. Of endless days at the beach, chasing waves and girls. Summers spent in soggy tents and cars without air conditioning.
4 CommentsI’ve been home in Wales for the last week or so, catching up with old friends and family. Drinking endless pints of Guinness and Gower…
Leave a CommentFrom heritage railway lines in Somerset to narrow gauge lines in Cumbria, here are the best steam train journeys in Britain today!
Leave a CommentLearn to ride or hone your equestrian skills in the outstanding natural beauty of Mid Wales.
Leave a CommentMy father brought me here when I was a wee nipper. He picked me up and plonked me down on a cushion of moss that…
Leave a CommentLocal travel writer Josie Sampson shares her inside advice on the best free things to do in London.
1 CommentAndina is the new sister restaurant of my favourite restaurant in London: Ceviche. However, it seems she still has a way to go before she grows…
Leave a CommentPerched on what feels like the highest point in London (it’s not), Richmond’s Roebuck is a proper boozer that bestows its patrons with lofty views over…
Leave a CommentAfter a dizzying three years of living in this vast and enigmatic city, I’ve finally managed to pin down and share a few of my…
Leave a CommentKew Gardens is a place that seduces your senses with tropical palms and ancient pines. It’s a place that nourishes your mind and soul with lungfuls of richly oxygenated air as you stride through rose gardens and climb through swaying treetops. It’s a modern-day paradise and, quite unbelievably, it’s only ten miles away from central London.
Small but comfortably intimate; there isn’t room for everyone at Ceviche. And as the lights are turned down and the food fiesta finds its momentum, you…
Leave a CommentI went home to Swansea this week and spent some time with nature… and my mum. I’m still struck by how breathtakingly beautiful it is…
6 CommentsI won’t mince my words here, there’s nothing handsome about East London. In fact, forget everything you think you know about London, East London ain’t…
Leave a CommentThe warmest welcome in London, and not at all as overpriced as everyone keeps saying…. Yashin sushi restaurant is tucked away on one of the…
Leave a Comment“‘Excuse me, gents, uh, I, uh, hope you don’t mind me askin’, but what’s that there that you’re drinkin’?” Glen held up his chalice as…
1 CommentExploring London’s epic attractions would be a lot easier if it wasn’t for the limitless supply of delicious distractions. The zingy jalfrezis and peppery steaks,…
1 CommentTake a stroll along South Bank and discover all the best bits of London, in one place….. There are two Londons. There’s the hipster, grimy,…
Leave a CommentA local tennis club that became an international icon, Wimbledon is all about getting into the community spirit…… Wimbledon is not what you might imagine.…
Leave a CommentMy good friend – and East London local – Matt Lindley, escapes the daily grind and falls in love with Regent’s Canal…. Getting a bike…
1 CommentExploring a world of different cultures on the streets of London, it’s easy to forget where you are sometimes…. A chest-pounding Egyptian beat gathered a small…
Leave a CommentGrey-haired hikers rule the Surrey countryside. Their stuffed backpacks and ski-pole walking sticks bulk them up like wealthy Ghostbusters. Where are they going? What do…
Leave a CommentMore manageable than London, and more beautiful than Cambridge, Oxford’s the England we’re all looking for….. A jodhpur-clad girl rode confidently through the traffic on a reconditioned retro racer.…
Leave a CommentCamping on the Gower Peninsula has become a holy grail for many adventurous Brits looking to escape to the rolling waves and hills. Being brought…
26 CommentsIn a last-ditch attempt to give his mother-in-law, Ana, a taste of authentic London, Ben Holbrook heads to Columbia Road Flower Market, where the bellowing…
2 CommentsBen Holbrook discovers a peaceful haven away from the London chaos, only to be greeted by another kind of crazy. Living in London, or near London as…
Leave a Comment“Take an hour for lunch and be back here ready for the dinner rush,” David told me. Luckily I had my board in the car. I…
Leave a CommentI heard about Richmond Park when I was just a kid. Everyone always talked about this amazing giant park in the middle of London –…
Leave a CommentI’ve never been one to get over-excited about watching sport. As a kid I’d fall asleep as soon as the footie was turned on and…
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