Saturday 24 January 2015

Birdlip, Glos and the Royal George Hotel

We've been back for a few days to Birdlip, Gloucestershire and stayed again at The Royal George Hotel.  

They welcome dogs so, of course, William goes along with us and he even remembered the room we had stayed in before, which we got again.     I did sketches, which I'll show you in a minute, but first some pics...starting with the view from our room.  We had our own little patio area, ideal for getting straight out and walking William.


 then off to the viewpoint


~ Barrow Wake, Viewpoint ~
This viewpoint shows how high Birdlip is - I reckon it must be two coats colder up here - see the frost!






The Cotswold's has so many cute village and towns, I'll do more photos of them next visit




and Mr. Hopeful at breakfast!

with so many places to visit in the area, it was difficult to decide
where to start. Worcester got the highest vote!






Clear skies, but bitter cold ~ I still sat and sketched though...



Another day with went to Evesham...where I seemed to be obsessed with sketching from a car park roof...



talking of cars....



near Gloucester ~ an out of town shopping complex...


Sketching in the Hotel bar....



sketched this one from the restaurant area ~ one window in particular where I could just see the tops of buildings opposite...


Then sketched in Taunton on the way home...










20 comments:

Faye said...

Ann, your sketches are beautiful! What a stalwart person you are to sit in bitter cold to do art! The results, though, are amazing. I also love the photographs. What a lovely place to stay!

Cris, Oregon Artist said...

Two coats colder Huh? Lol love that. Loved all the pix and sketches. The hotel bar sketch..just enough detail to get the flavor of being there. Oh and mr Williams sitting at the table. So much like Annie. Did he get something? Fun to travel with you. :)

CJ Kennedy said...

You'd be so comfortable visiting here in Massachusetts USA. Place names are the same. Worcester is not only the 2nd largest city in MA but the 2nd largest city in New England (Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, and Rhode Island) Gloucester is a seaport/fishing town on the North Shore of MA. Taunton in Southeast MAwas the birthplace of the silver industry in the 19th c.

ann @ studiohyde said...

Thanks Faye, I did wonder about my sanity at the time, as I sat there getting colder and colder. The promise of a hot drink kept me going, lol :-)

ann @ studiohyde said...

Glad you enjoyed these pictures Cris and yes, William did get some treats ;)

ann @ studiohyde said...

I would feel right at home CJ, all those names that are familiar. I wonder if they were named after the places here, perhaps they were because of settlers. Thanks for mentioning this, I'm going to Google them on Street View now :-)

Christine said...

lovely sketches, wonderful sightseeing!

ann @ studiohyde said...

Thanks Christine, glad you enjoyed the journey :-)

robin cox walsh said...

Your sketches are fabulous! But I think I like the picture of William being hopeful the best! ;)

ann @ studiohyde said...

Yes, he doesn't let us forget he is there! lol

Jane said...

A beautiful landscape filled with great subjects for painting,and you certainly didn't miss the opportunity, love your beautiful and fresh watercolors!

Mary said...

All such marvelous sketches Ann. The place, and the colors. The photos are lovely too, and it does indeed look chilly. William is so adorable in that photo as he always is. They must love him at this Inn where you stay.

I feel a little homesick when I look at photos taken in England, especially of certain regions. It makes absolutely no sense since I've never even been there, let alone lived there...

Shammickite said...

What a nice trip. And lovely sketches. William's a lucky boy to be able to travel with you. I haven't done any travelling in that area, but have traced my mother's Chandler ancestors back to the Cotswolds.... mainly Stroud, Minchinhampton, Bisley, Chalfont. The new Duchess of Cambridge also has Chandler ancestry in the Stroud area..... so you never know do you?

ann @ studiohyde said...

Thanks so much Jane, it was a wonderful visit which we really did enjoy. Hope to go back again before too long.

ann @ studiohyde said...

It is a stunningly beautiful area Mary. It was cold weather, so I didn't get as many outdoor photos as I would have liked. Hopefully next time I will get to photograph some of the towns and villages, we drove through some gorgeous ones.

ann @ studiohyde said...

We wouldn't go if we couldn't take William, so he is the key to our trips. My goodness, you could be related to her Duchessness, lol !

John (JWJarts) said...

We visit the Cotswolds often Ann, though a little further East than you were. It certainly is a beautiful part of the country. I'm inspired by your sketches. I keep telling myself I really must get out and sketch but I never seem to do it. I really must make more of an effort. Wonderful work!!! ;-)

Joan Tavolott said...

Wonderful sketches and photos of the area!!! I smiled at your rooftop sketch. I love the views looking down or over at roofs too. I always find myself taking photos of spots like that. Looks like you ALL enjoyed the trip.

ann @ studiohyde said...

Thanks so much John, glad you like my sketches. Yes, the Cotswolds are lovely, I really enjoy our visits there. Hope you do get out sketching. Personally I'm looking forward to longer warmer days, that makes sketching out and about so much better :-)

ann @ studiohyde said...

Yes, why is it we are pulled towards those unusual angles and views Joan...must be an arty thing, lol :-)