Scotland Photo Tour - Isle of Skye & Glencoe (Highlands)
An unforgettable 8-day photographic holiday of a lifetime, capturing some of the most stunning landscape photography that the Scottish Highlands has to offer!
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Dates & Times
2023
1) Sat 7th – Sat 14th October
2) Mon 16th – Mon 23rd October
Guaranteed Departures!
2024
1) Sat 5th – Sat 12th October
2) Mon 14th – Mon 21st October
Fitness Level
Moderate
Price
US$4,495 (hotel, depart Inverness)
(single supplement = $495)
Availability
2023
1) Sold Out!
2) Last 3 places! ($500 Discount!)
2024
1) Last 4 places!
2) Available
Included
Join Us
Scotland has always inspired the spirit of adventure and its rugged, untamed landscapes await! On almost every photographer’s bucket list of ideal photography holidays, the stunning visuals have to be experienced first-hand to be fully appreciated. From Skye’s awe-inspiring geographical formations of Quiraing and the Old Man of Storr, to the sublime beauty of Glencoe, we’ll visit both the iconic locations and the hidden gems in this magnificent area of the Scottish Highlands.
From our starting point in Inverness, over eight full days we’ll visit the romantic and stunning Eileen Donan Castle en route to the Isle of Skye, also called the “Magical Isle”. Impressive geological formations await us, allowing a glimpse into a forgotten time. Volcanic crags sculptured over millennia into unique shapes abound in Skye, creating many memorable photo opportunities such as the dazzling turquoise waters of the elegant Fairy Pools, and the fossil-strewn shale beach of Elgol with the dramatic Cullin mountain range looming in the background. There are few places that match the opportunity for such a diverse array of spectacular photos to increase your portfolio or practice your photographic skills.
Daily Itinerary
Day 1 – Journey to the “Magical Isle” of Skye
The first morning of your tour we will pick you up from your hotel in Inverness between 9-10am and begin our journey to the Isle of Skye.
En route you will get your first taste of the Scottish countryside, and will naturally ponder how best to capture this stunning country through your photographs.
We’ll stop for a late lunch at one of Scotland’s most famous locations, Eileen Donan Castle, we’ll then continue our journey to Skye, photographing Sligachan Old Bridge on our way to our hotel in Portree where we’ll be staying for four nights.
Day 2 – Wild Landscapes
We’ll move on to explore the otherworldly Fairy Glen, a Quiraing in miniature, with its unique natural “castle” Ewan.
We’ll finish the day literally on a high note as we gaze off the cliffs of Skye’s most westerly tip to photograph Neist Point Lighthouse at sunset.
Day 3 – The Old Man of Storr
Today is our earliest start of the tour as we arrive in time to hike up to catch the golden rays hitting the Old Man of Storr, witnessing what could easily be a scene from Tokien’s Lord of the Rings.
Although an hour of early morning hiking may sound daunting, it is more than worth the effort for our final view!
We’ll have a relaxing rest of the day, visiting some unique waterfalls close by, and then consider making a return to Eileen Donan Castle for a sunset shoot.
Day 4 – Fairytales of Skye
Refreshed, we then head to the south of Skye to the stunning coastline of Elgol, voted as one of Britain’s most scenic beaches and exhibits an especially moody character in winter. On your way to the water’s edge any fossil hunters should keep an eye out as Elgol is famous for them.
Day 5 – Hogwarts Express (Jacobite Steam Train)
Waving goodbye to Skye, we’ll head south to the Glenfinnan Viaduct. You may recognise this gorgeous area as famous for being a filming location for the Hogwarts Express in the Harry Potter films. The steam train will be running, so be prepared to capture it in all its atmospheric beauty!
From there, we’ll travel into Glencoe, the jeweled heart of the Scottish Highlands and a favourite of landscape photographers. Carved by glaciers and volcanic activity, this area is rich in history and brimming with photographic delights. We’ll make our home for the next few nights at the stunning Kingshouse Hotel.
Day 6 – Glen Etive
We’ll begin the day with sunrise in the Glen Coe Valley, where we’ll explore the lochs and the magical area surrounding Glen Etive. This is where you’ll find the Etive Mor Falls, with the stunning symmetrical Buachaille mountain as a backdrop – one of the iconic shots of Scotland. It offers a myriad of compositions, so we’ll take our time to explore the area beyond just the standard tourist shot.
We’ll then make our way along the Glen, stopping to shoot at various waterfalls situated upon the River Etive. There is the possibility of an encounter with the wild red deer that call this area home. In the afternoon, we’ll head to a famous filming location where James Bond’s ancestral home in ‘Skyfall’ was located.
Day 7 – Glencoe Revisted
Today we’ll explore the many lochs and lochans in the Glen Coe valley, along with the picturesque cottages in the area, accentuated by the stunning backdrops they reside in.
We may also look to photograph two picturesque castles nearby, Kilchurn Castle and Castle Stalker.
As the weather conditions can change rapidly in the Highlands, we’ll monitor our feature highlights, as the exact same scene can look completely different after some fresh overnight snow on the peaks or a recent downpour dramatically changes the look of the waterfalls. In just a couple of days, it is possible to gain a photography portfolio of vastly different-looking shots from the exact same location!
Day 8 – Return to Inverness
This will be the final day of our workshop. We’ll wake for an early sunrise in the Glencoe area, before returning to the stunning surrounds of Glen Etive for another opportunity to capture the Buachaille Etive Mor Falls.
Packed with full memory cards and wonderful memories of the Highlands’ unique landscapes, we’ll make our way back to Inverness and drop you off at your hotel around 15:00 to 16:00.
Recommended Equipment
- Wide angle lens – 16-35mm, 10-24mm, 14-24mm
- Walk around/kit lens – 18-55mm, 24-70mm, 24-105mm
- Longer focal length lens – 70-200mm
- Tripod
- Extra Batteries
- Battery Charger (we have charging facilities on our vehicle)
- Extra memory cards
- ND Filters – optional/recommended for long exposures during the day – we have multiple sets of Kase ND filters available to borrow (please let me know the filter thread size of your lenses prior to the workshop)
- Shutter trigger (wired trigger recommended)
- Full wet weather gear – just in case!
- Knee high rain boots (Wellington boots) are essential to explore our locations.
A full packing list will be provided prior to the tour.
Included / Not included
- Included:
- Professional photo guide & tuition.
- Return transportation from Inverness in our comfortable 8 seat vehicle.
- Accommodation – we run both cottage/apartment & hotel versions of this tour. Please check before booking. Hotel version includes all meals. Cottage/apartment version does not include food/drink. There may be supplements for Premium rooms (if available).
- Kase filter kits if required
- Battery charging facilities in vehicle
Not included:
- Personal & travel insurance
- Food & drink (if non-hotel tour)
- Travel to start point or from end point of tour.
- Anything not specified as “Included”
- Professional photo guide & tuition.
Fitness Level
This tour involves walking of 30-60 minutes along paths/trails and requires occasional steep steps and inclines. A person of average fitness level should have little difficulty.
Where we'll meet
Start/finish point – Invernes, Scotland.
Collection at 9am, Columba Hotel, 7 Ness Walk, Inverness IV3 5NF
We expect to return to Inverness between 3-4pm on our final day.
Meeting point map.
Gallery
Testimonials
I just got back from my tour almost two weeks ago. I participated in their Scotland tour, led by Dion Hitchcock. We had a group of 5 tour mates and our guide. We had such a fantastic group of people and an excellent guide.
If you’ve never been to Scotland, I highly recommend it. Dion’s expertise in the field, his extremely friendly disposition, and his knowledge of the region are beyond any expectations. I truly valued everything I learned from him, made lasting memories with my new tour friends, and came home with hundreds of photographs. We named our tour the Reflections Tour, as we were presented with far more reflections than one could expect in a moody, windy country
This was a tour and a country to remember for a lifetime. I can’t wait for my next trip.
Dion did an awesome job as guide and I thoroughly enjoyed the Scotland Photo Tour!
I enjoyed getting to know the other participants and having lots of laughs. Dion did a superb job of balancing the daily weather conditions with sites that he and the group wanted to photograph. This maximized our time each day so that we could capture as many great photos as possible whether it be sunrise & sunset, or moody scenes unique to the Scottish landscape. Dion was very attentive to people’s photography skill level and provided instruction to capture the best scenes considering the settings on their various camera makes and models. He also gave the more experienced photographers in the group the freedom and flexibility to do their own thing when at the photo locations.
I highly recommend this photo tour to anyone from beginner to advanced wishing to advance their photography skills in many of the magnificent locations in Scotland highlands and Isle of Sky! Barry Brestel (2022 Scotland Photo Tour Participant).
Guide
Dion Hitchcock
UK Photo Tours is owned and operated by professional photographer, Dion Hitchcock.
Dion brings over a decade of expertise in teaching and guiding photography. He is an expat Australian and when not running photography tours, resides in London, UK, running photography workshops or as a locum pharmacist. His extensive travel experiences, spanning over 40 countries, ignited his passion for photography as a means to chronicle his journeys. This passion quickly evolved into a profound interest, leading him to actively participate in various camera clubs, assisting them in conducting workshops. Today, Dion independently operates his own workshops mainly across the UK, and occasionally internationally.
His London-based photography Meetup groups have 7,000+ members and over 500 5-star ratings.
Dion still maintains his registration as a pharmacist professional, dedicating his time to aiding patients and educating pharmacy students. However, he has transitioned his time into the realm of photography, where he assists clients in understanding the craft’s technical and artistic aspects. This shift, though unconventional, aligns with his upbringing; both of his parents were artists who nurtured his appreciation for the world’s inherent beauty. His extensive photography experience, professional background, passion for teaching, and numerous five-star reviews ensures you’ll be in the best of care whilst on tour.
You can reach Dion at info@uk-photo-tours.com
Reviews from our workshop clients
We’re extemely proud that a large number of our bookings are repeat clients or have been referred by previous clients.
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