Explore the stunning stunning landscapes of the Scottish Highlands on this 7-day photo tour. We will visit the areas of Glencoe and the Isle of Skye, which, in my opinion, are the two best locations for landscape photography in Scotland!
We will be staying in 2 fantastic hotels in what I consider to be the best locations in Scotland for Landscape Photography! This will mean that we are close to the locations we plan to photograph and can make the most of the fast-changing weather conditions.
Each day we will have breakfast before heading out for sunrise in a stunning location, we will then return to our hotel for some downtime and to rest/review and backup our images before having lunch and heading out for the afternoon, and to shoot sunset.
We will visit some of the most popular locations in Glencoe and the Isle of Skye, but also some hidden gems that very few people ever visit! We will spend 2 nights in Glencoe and 4 nights on the Isle of Skye, we will have a fixed base in each of these locations, enabling us to be more comfortable and avoid long drives.
Price: 3200 Euro per person in Single Rooms
Note: A 1000 Euro deposit is required at the time of booking. See terms and conditions for cancellation policy.
Dates: Sunday 17th November 2024 to Saturday 23rd November 2024
Accommodation: 2 Nights in the Kingshouse Hotel (Glencoe) and 4 Nights at Loch Eyre House (Isle of Skye)
Rooms: You will have your own Private Double room with an ensuite bathroom
Pickup: Edinburgh Airport on Sunday 17th November 2024 at 09:30
Dropoff: Edinburgh Airport on Saturday 23rd November 2024 by 16:00
Group Size: Maximum of 6 participants (I prefer small groups to ensure a more personal experience).
Spots Remaining: 2
Logistics: Whilst in Glencoe, we will be staying in the Kingshouse Hotel, this is the perfect base to reach any location in Glencoe within minutes, giving us more time to shoot and less time driving. Whilst on the Isle of Skye, we will be staying at Loch Eyre House, near the seaside town of Portree, this is a very central location, enabling us to use the weather to our advantage and visit the locations that show the most promising weather conditions.
Highlights:
• Photographing some of the most beautiful landscapes in Scotland
• We will chase the light, ensuring that we are in the right place at the right time to capture the best images possible
• Visiting some popular spots, but also lots of hidden gems
• A small group (Only 6 participants) to ensure a personal experience
• Learn new techniques and skills from your professional guide
• Travel around in a comfortable van and stay in the best hotels
What’s Included:
• 6 Nights’ accommodation in your own private room with ensuite bathrooms (Please Note: Shared / Twin Rooms are not available for this Photo Tour)
• Daily breakfast
• Transport (Including fuel, parking fees, and tolls)
• One-on-one support for photography
• Discounts from brands that I work with
• Both of my E-Books (Mastering Landscape Photography and Mastering Night Sky Photography)
• Access to all parks
What’s not included:
• Flights
• Travel Insurance
• Meals (Lunch and dinner)
• Drinks
• Snacks
Itinerary: Throughout this workshop, we will not have a fixed daily itinerary and will visit locations depending on the weather conditions and accessibility. The images on this page show the locations we will attempt to visit throughout this workshop, we may revisit some of the better locations if we don’t get good conditions the first time around.
Level of fitness
The majority of the locations on this photo tour do not require any hiking, however reaching the Old Man of Storr does require a 45-60 minute uphill hike (Depending on pace and fitness level), although this is not a long hike, it is challenging because it is all uphill. The hike is on a well-maintained rocky trail, however, it does have uneven steps, therefore good mobility and balance are required.
Below is a breakdown of the locations we will visit that require more than just a short walk to reach them:
The Old Man of Storr: 45-60 minutes to reach the classic viewpoint, however, you can also stop to shoot from closer if you don’t want to walk to the main viewpoint. (This hike is officially rated Medium for Length and Average for Difficulty. Stats: Round Trip Distance is roughly 4.5km with roughly 300 meters of elevation gain).
The Fairy Pools: 30-45 Minutes depending on what you want to shoot, there are lots of great shots early on in the walk, so there is no need to walk to the end of the trail. (Officially rated Easy for Length and Easy for Difficulty. Stats: Round Trip Distance is roughly 4km with roughly 150 meters of elevation gain).
Talisker Bay - 25-30 Minutes on level ground to get to the beach.
The rest of the locations are less than a 15-minute walk from the parking area.
Terrain
Reaching some of the locations in this photo tour requires a good level of fitness and mobility. Although this tour is rated as Medium difficulty due to the hike to the Old Man of Storr, the majority of the locations are very easy to get to and do not require much hiking. Due to the rugged terrain in Glencoe and Skye, it is important that you have good mobility and balance, and that you are comfortable walking on hiking trails and boggy ground. We will frequently be shooting on uneven ground.
Recommended Camera Gear
● Any Camera which has a manual mode (DSLR, Mirrorless, Micro 4/3s)
● A wide-angle lens (14-24mm on Full Frame or 10mm + on Cropped Sensor)
● A mid-range zoom lens (24-70 mm)
● A telephoto zoom lens (70-200mm or 100-400mm)
● A Sturdy tripod (Lightweight/small tripods are not suitable due to frequent high winds)
● Drone + Spare batteries
● Camera Charger
● Spare Camera Batteries
● Spare Memory Cards
● Head Torch (To be used before sunrise and after sunset)
● Filters (Polarizer and Neutral Density)
● Intervalometer / remote shutter release
● Multiple lens cloths and a rocket blower
● Shower cap (To cover the camera from rain or waterfall spray)
● Backup Body (Recommended but not mandatory)
Recommended Clothing:
● Waterproof and windproof jacket (Hard Shell)
● Waterproof and windproof trousers (Hard Shell)
● Warm layers (Fleece / Down)
● Thermal base layers (T-shirts/leggings)
● Underwear
● Waterproof hiking shoes/boots
● Comfortable hiking socks and Liners
● Lightweight, quick-dry travel towel in case you get wet (Rain)
● Wellington Boots / Muck Boots – Several areas tend to be very boggy and muddy, especially after any rainfall
Other Items:
● Powerbank and USB battery Charger for Camera and Phone
● UK 3-Prong Adapter plug
● Refillable Water Bottle
● Camera bag / Backpack
● Laptop and External Hard disk to back up your images
● Toiletries
● Handwarmers
Note: A more detailed list of recommended clothing and camera gear will be sent to all participants upon booking.
Guide - Sam Scicluna
I was born and raised on the island of Malta, where my love for beautiful seascapes began. I have always enjoyed being outdoors and surrounded by nature. Growing up on an island has meant that I always had a special bond with the sea, this led to seascapes being a natural comfort zone and starting point in photography. In 2014, I went on an expedition to climb Mount Etna and later that year also climbed Monte Rosa, spending time in the mountains is what sparked my passion for landscape Photography. In 2016 I traveled to Iceland for the first time, realising a dream and further affirming my passion for landscape photography. I have always been amazed by the night sky, and going camping often has led me to experiment with astrophotography and shooting the night sky. I love outdoor activities like camping, hiking, climbing, scrambling and just exploring new places in general! I also just love taking time out to appreciate the world around me.
Safety
The highlands of Scotland are an extremely rugged and harsh environment, especially in winter. The weather can change quickly in these places, strong winds, heavy rain, and significant temperature changes all pose significant risks when photographing on location. There are several cliffs at locations we will be shooting at, and these are dangerous as they frequently crumble away and cause rock fall. You will be expected to follow safety instructions to ensure your safety and the safety of everyone around you.
Travel Insurance
We highly recommend investing in a comprehensive travel insurance policy that will not only cover any non-refundable workshop fees or unexpected medical costs but will also protect your camera gear and your luggage. A comprehensive travel insurance policy will cover missed flights and any other unexpected situations that may arise that prevent you from being able to travel or get to your destination. Flights can be delayed or you might need to return home if an emergency occurs, without travel insurance, disruptions to your trip can end up costing you a fortune. In many cases, you lose the money you've already paid and have to pay for new bookings too.
*Note: You can also book your spot by sending an email to info@samuelscicluna.com
Disclaimer:
Due to the harshness and unpredictability of the weather in the highlands of Scotland, I cannot guarantee that we will be able to visit all the locations on the itinerary, I will be checking the weather constantly and adjusting our itinerary to ensure we can make the most of the weather and light.
Some days will be easier than others, with more free time for everyone to rest and process their images.
Since this workshop is focused on landscape photography and ensuring you get the best possible photos for your portfolio, we will aim to shoot most locations in the best light, which is at sunrise and sunset, this means we will have early starts and late finishes. We will also be shooting throughout the day, and depending on the weather, we may still get some fantastic light.
For any questions email info@samuelscicluna.com