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Driftwood Journals Posts

Three Cliffs Holiday Park Review: Our First 5* Family Glamping Trip (Gower, Swansea, South Wales)

Summer is here and Baby Holbrook is five months old, so we eased ourselves into our first family adventure with a luxurious glamping stay at…

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The Donkeys Are Gone Now ~ A Photographic Portrait of Penclawdd (Gower Peninsula, Swansea)

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.

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Gone for Good? ~ A Documentary Film & Photo Project Exploring the State of Our So-Called Sacred Spaces

Penclawdd 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…

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“I Do Love October” – Autumn on the Gower Peninsula w/ Fuji 35mm f/1.4 (Samples + Lens Review)

I 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).

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‘Like Living on an Island’ – A Photo Essay Exploring Life on the Gower Peninsula in South Wales

In ‘Like Living on an Island’, Ben Holbrook explores the relationship between the residents of the Gower peninsula (south Wales) and its coastline.

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5 Best/Warmest Places in Mainland Spain in Winter ~ A Hot December Guide

From the Mediterranean metropolises of Barcelona and Valencia to the southern seducers of Seville and Marbella, here are the best and hottest places to visit in Spain during winter – even in the depths of December!

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Cine Scenes from Summer 2020 (on the Gower Peninsula, Wales) ~ A 2.35:1 Aspect Ratio Photography Journal

A 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.

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Get the Analogue Film Photo Look in Lightroom with the Earth Preset Pack (+ Sample Images)

The Earth Film Lightroom Preset Pack will help you inject your digital photos with a analogue heart and soul. Read on to find out why and how, and also see a few photo samples. 

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Essential Things to Do, See, Eat & Drink in Tenerife ~ An Insider’s Guide

Paulina has lived in Spain for over 5 years and fell in love with the food, architecture and year-round sunshine of Tenerife. Here she shares her insider tips, with advice on the very best things to do, see, eat and drink in eternal sunshine of Tenerife. 

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Walking to Pwlldu Bay (Wales Coast Path) ~ The Gower Peninsula’s Most Secluded Beach

As 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. 

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‘Discovering Welsh Wine’, or ‘Standing in the Middle of this New World with Terrific Forces at Our Disposal’

Let me introduce you to the beautiful new world of Welsh wine. Yes, really! Wine from Wales! Wales in the UK!

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Day in the Life of a Travel Writer/Blogger in Barcelona

Ever imagined what it would be like to live in Barcelona and hustle a living as a travel blogger? This is an entry taken from my actual diary. Written in 2016, about a year or two after starting my career as a travel blogger in Barcelona, it sets the tone and, I think, hints at the challenges I faced while living off my wits. 

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Discover La Pedrera/Casa Milà (Barcelona) ~ Gaudi’s Most Controversial Masterpiece

Located on Barcelona’s ritzy Passeig de Gràcia, La Pedrera (aka Casa Milà) is one of the most famous Modernista buildings in Barcelona, if not the world. Here’s everything you need to know.

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Best Spanish Festivals & Cultural Celebrations ~ For Each Month of the Year

From the pyrotechnics of Las Fallas in sunny Valencia to the crazy ‘Tomatina’ tomato-throwing festival in the tiny town of Buñol, here are the best festivals and cultural celebrations in Spain for every month of the year. 

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Escape to the Gliffaes Country House Hotel in Wales’ Glorious Brecon Beacons

A 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.

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Best Things to Do in Ljubljana, Slovenia ~ A Convivial Guide

Ljubljana is Slovenia’s sensationally charming and green capital city and offers instant immersion into this blessed nation’s unique culture – here are the essential things to do and see, along with advice on where to eat, drink and sleep.

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