Trip created by David Russell
View David's Profile
Region: North West Highlands
Trip Type: Photography
Comfort: Classic
Confirmed: When 2 Traveller(s) Book
Deposit From £362.50
Difficulty:
All you need to know about your trip, this essential document is a must for all adventures.
Download ItineraryThe landscape of the Assynt and Coigach is unique. Its defining quality could be described as ‘ancient’ with the underlying rocks billions of years old.
The light found in the north-west Highlands is amongst the finest in the world and combined with the superb graphics offered by the mountains, photographers have the potential to capture rare moments which will never repeat themselves exactly. Colin Prior’s photographic knowledge of the Highlands and Islands is second to none – and this region is one of his absolute favourites.
Colin will meet you underneath the main display board in the arrival hall at Inverness Railway Station at 8.30a.m. on Wednesday morning. Inverness is a small station so it will be easy to identify Colin. After the group has met and subject to weather, we will head for Torridon where we will spend our first day, stopping to photograph Liathach and Loch Clair in Glen Torridon. After lunch we will drive to Loch Maree where we will have the opportunity to photograph Slioch from a variety of locations. We will depart around 3.30 p.m. for Ullapool following the coast road via Gairloch and Poolewe arriving at our guest house around 5.00 p.m. (D)
Today we will drive north to Clachtoll where the white sandy bay gives way to a rocky foreshore. Beautifully rounded boulders composed of Torridonian sandstone are punctuated with those ofLewisian gneiss – the building block of the north-west Highlands. After lunch we will head for Stoer Head lighthouse and take a short walk across the moorland, which gives superb aspects back towards the lighthouse and the cliffs. On our return we will stop at a high-point which overlooks the mountains of Assynt and Coigach – Canisp, Suilven, CulMor, CulBeag, StacPollaidh and Ben MorCoigach can all be seen linearly on the horizon. (B, L, D)
Today we will hike up Stac Pollaidh following a well-maintained footpath which winds its way up the east side of the mountains and retuns by a path on its west side. A one hour walk will take us to the top where views over Loch Sionascaig, Quinag, Suilven and Cul Mor are amongst the finest in Scotland. On the October trip, we will have an early start so we can be at the summit for dawn. On the May trip it will be a post-dawn walk in the morning as sunrise is so early at this time of year. We will spend the afternoon exploring the headlands and coral sands of Achnahaird Bay. (B, L, D)
After breakfast, we depart for Garvie Bay – a 45-minute walk across the moorland takes us to a secluded beach where Suilven creates the perfect backdrop to the foreshore. After lunch, we will head back to Achnahiard follow the path along the cliff-tops overlooking Enard Bay. Here the views across the sea towards the Assynt mountains create a spectacular backdrop – Suilven, Cul Mor, Stac Pollaidh and Ben Mor Coigach punctuate the horizon with their enigmatic shapes. (B, L, D)
After checking out, we will drive to Dundonnell and ascend a high point, which gives unbroken views towards An Teallach. The well-wooded area has stands of mature trees, which eventually give way and the An Teallach Massif is revealed in its entirety. A 1300 departure will facilitate arrival at Inverness Station around 1500 where the workshop will conclude. (B, L)
To download a PDF copy of our Trip Itinerary, containing full details about this holiday, please complete the form below:
ACCOMMODATION
Our accommodation for this holiday is a 4-star guest house located on a hillside just outside the fishing village of Ullapool. The house enjoys fantastic views over Loch Broom and the hills beyond.
Freshly prepared, locally sourced meals are taken in a range of local restaurants. Meals are a real highlight of this trip, with freshly caught seafood a particular specialty. Naturally any special dietary requirements can be catered for.
SINGLE ROOMS
Each client will have a single room (unless a double or twin is requested) and all of the rooms are en-suite.
Freshly prepared, locally sourced meals are taken in a range of local restaurants. Meals are a real highlight of this trip, with freshly caught seafood a particular specialty. Naturally, any special dietary requirements can be catered for.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
You will be met by Colin Prior at the fixed seating area in the centre of Inverness Railway Station at 08:30 on Day 1 of your trip. The London Sleeper arrives at 0830 and if you are on this please let us know in advance. Inverness is a small railway station so it will be easy to identify Colin. For full details on how to get to Inverness, please see our website: Recommended Travel.
For advice on getting to and from Scotland please our travel advice page on our website:
YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY COACH
Colin Prior is one of Britain’s leading landscape photographers. His spectacular panoramic images capture the beauty and eternal quality of the world’s wild places, especially those of his own native Scotland.
He brings to his work a strong personal vision combined with supreme technical mastery of his chosen medium. Each photograph uniquely captures fleeting moments of nature that will never repeat themselves.
Colin is also a patient and skilled photography coach and enjoys helping clients improve their skills on these trips.
| Trip Dates for 2019 | Availability | Status | Price | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16th Oct - 20th Oct 2019 | Trip Full | FULLY BOOKED | £1,450 | |
| Trip Dates for 2020 | Availability | Status | Price | Book |
| 28th Apr - 2nd May 2020 | 10 place(s) left | UNCONFIRMED | £1,550 | Book Now |
| 14th Oct - 18th Oct 2020 | 7 place(s) left | CONFIRMED | £1,550 | Book Now |
Sometimes it's nice to get family and friends together and travel privately for some quality time. This means you benefit from all the features of the group departure, including hand-picked accommodation and expert local guides and we'll take care of it all. Then you can make your choice of departures dates and we'll get back to you to finalise the details.
David loves the lure of wild places. He’s regularly seen heading off with his canoe, camera and tent for a night under the stars. David spent 5 years as an outdoor guide and instructor with qualifications from the Mountain Training Association and British Canoe Association. He’s passionate about photography and has been commended for his striking images of Scotland’s wild places.
- David Russell
Ask David a QuestionGreen Graded Photography Holidays 1-3
Our Green graded photography trips are suitable for people who enjoy outdoor photography and easy hiking, and have a reasonable level of fitness. We will be accessing wild locations to photograph so you should be comfortable hiking for up to 3 hours at a time. Our Knoydart trip utilises a private launch and dinghy to access some remote locations so for this trip you must be also be comfortable getting in and out of the dinghy.
The terrain will be mostly good paths and hill trails but these can still be muddy and rough in places. Some hikes may involve an ascent up to a max of approx 1,500 feet / 450m. The days are fairly leisurely and we spend about 6-8 hours outdoors. Out timetable will be flexible however, so we may head out early for a few hours before taking a break and going out again in the evening to take advantage of the best light.
Our photography trips are not graded by your degree of photography skill – a small group size means you will have lots of time for one-to-one tuition regardless of your starting level.
Rated 4.78 out of 5 based on 18 review(s) of Photography – Assynt and Coigach
Every client receives a feedback survey when they return from their guided, self guided or tailor made holiday with us. Once completed the review is published on our website just as soon as our database updates. The little touches and details are important to us and where issues are raised we make positive changes to our trips to improve your experience.
That’s why we read each of our client’s reviews and although we don’t respond to all of them, if it’s glowing feedback then we get the satisfaction of helping to make your holidays truly memorable.
Susan Carlyle
Reviewed on 24/10/2018
Age: 80 - 90
Country: United Kingdom
Trip Date: 17/10/2018
Trips Taken: 3
The Bottom Line
Except for the dinner restaurant, everything else was brilliant.
Katharine Ronald
Reviewed on 24/10/2018
Age: 60 - 70
Country: United Kingdom
Trip Date: 17/10/2018
Trips Taken: 2
The Bottom Line
Philip O'Loughlin
Reviewed on 16/05/2018
The Bottom Line
Good but a little pricey
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