fbpx
Close
Articles by Year

<<     >>

Articles by Category
866 740 3890

Activities

Locations

Selected Trips

    Photography Trip

    Islay

    Next Trip: 16th - 20th Apr 2024 Duration: 5 Days / 4 Nights

    From: £2,550 View Prices & Dates

    Travel Planning & Advice

    Book With Confidence

    Trip created by Colin Prior
    View Colin's Profile

    Region: Inner Hebrides including Skye
    Trip Type: Photography
    Accommodation: Classic
    Max Group Size: 8
    Confirmed: When 4 Travellers Book
    Deposit From: £657

    Grading:

    Carbon Footprint: 131kg ? What does this mean?
    Click here to find out about our carbon labelling project and what we're doing to be more sustainable.

    All you need to know about your trip, this essential document is a must for all adventures.

    Download Itinerary

    There’s a charm about Islay that captivates – perhaps it’s about the diversity of the interface between land and sea, which changes dramatically around the island. Perhaps it’s the richness and abundance of its wildlife, or perhaps it’s just ‘Ileach time’ – a pace that is more in keeping with the natural rhythms of the Hebridean island. Capture the magic of this special place alongside our expert guide and award-winning landscape photographer, Colin Prior.

    We are based at the Port Charlotte Hotel in the conservation village of Port Charlotte on a beach-side location with stunning sea views of Loch Indaal. The hotel is recommended in Michelin and Good Food Guides and is highly rated in the Best of Scotland Guide, and holds a ‘Taste our Best’ Certificate awarded by Visit Scotland.

    Trip Highlights

    • Improve your photography skills in the company of Colin Prior - one of the UK's leading landscape photographers.
    • Dusk and dawn photography in some of the most iconic locations in the Hebrides.
    • Tutorials and critique session with individual feedback on each participant's work.

    Day by Day Itinerary

    Day 1 – Glasgow to Islay

    Colin will meet you at 09:00am within Glasgow Central Station in the small glass waiting room, which is centrally located and faces the information boards. After the group has assembled, we will drive to Kennacraig to catch the ferry to Islay. We will continue our journey to the Port Charlotte Hotel, where we will check in before heading out to our first location. (D)

    Day 2 – Saligo Bay, The Oa and Lower Killeyan

    We’ll rise early this morning to capture the sunrise at Saligo Bay where marram grass dunes overlook the Atlantic. Return for breakfast at the hotel, after which we will drive to the Oa peninsula in the south of the island. The cliffs afford great views in all directions – north to Eileanan Mora and Loch Indaal and east to Beinn Mhor and Port an Eas. After lunch, we will head over to Lower Killeyan, the cliffs around the bay forming a natural amphitheatre overlooking Loch Indaal where the seals haul out on the skerries and sea stacks. (B, L, D)

    Day 3 – Loch Gruinart and Sanaigmore Bay

    With a favourable forecast an early start will take us to Sanaigmore Bay for sunrise. Following breakfast we drive north, towards Loch Gruinart where expansive white sand beaches are rivalled only by those on Harris. When the tide is low, myriad shades of turquoise and blue can be seen in the water. At the end of the peninsula, Ardnave Point lies beyond marram grass dunes and overlooks Nave Island. The area is an RSPB Reserve and is rich in all kinds of bird life, particularly wildfowl and waders. (B, L, D)

    Day 4 – Isle of Jura

    Today we will drive north to Port Askaig and cross the Sound of Islay by ferry to Jura. During the day we will explore Jura’s coastline, shooting at several locations, including Craighouse’s coastline and Lowlandman’s Bay, before returning to Islay for dinner. (B, L, D)

    Day 5 – Port Askaig, Kennacraig and Glasgow

    After checking out, we will drive to Port Askaig and board the ferry and depart for Kennacraig. Back on the mainland we transfer across to Glasglow where the workshop will conclude at 2:30pm. (B)

    X
    Photography Trip
    Islay

    To download a PDF copy of our Trip Itinerary, containing full details about this holiday, please complete the form below:

    Fields marked with * are mandatory

    The phone number field is not required but if you would like us to give you a call to help find the trip for you, then enter your telephone number including the country code.

    Trip Dates & Prices

    All payments taken in local currency GBP

    Trip Dates for 2024AvailabilityStatusPriceBook
    16th Apr - 20th Apr 2024Trip FullFULLY BOOKED £2,550

    Trip Details

    Accommodation Read More

    Based at the Port Charlotte Hotel, all clients will have a private room with en-suite facilities.

    Single rooms

    Each client will have a single room (unless a double or twin is requested) and all of the rooms are en-suite.

    Meals Read More

    All meals are included from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on the final day and we can look forward to some delicious three-course dinners. Any special dietary requirements can be catered for.

    Inclusions Read More
    • 4 nights accommodation in a single room in the Port Charlotte Hotel, which enjoys expansive views across Loch Indaal.
    • All meals from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on the final day. (Meals included indicated as B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
    • All transport throughout the trip, in a spacious people carrier, starting and finishing in Glasgow.
    • The services of Colin Prior, who will work closely with each group member throughout the holiday, helping you develop your photography skills.
    Trip Grading Read More

    Green Graded 1-3

    Green graded walking holidays are suitable for active travellers who are reasonably fit and enjoy moderate hikes. We walk at a comfortable pace and you can expect to be out for 5-6 hours a day. 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. Distances will be typically 8-10km but there may be the odd slightly longer day. Daily hike details are available in the itinerary.

    Travel – Arrival and Departure Read More

    You will meet Colin Prior at Glasgow Central Station in the small glass waiting room which is centrally located and faces the information boards at 09.00am on Day 1 of your trip.

    You will be returned to Glasgow Central Station 2:30pm on the final day of your trip.

    If you would like to use your own vehicle on the trip please get in touch with our team to discuss.

    Your Photography Coach Read More

    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.

    Photography Equipment Read More

    The information below is intended simply as a guide to help you achieve the most enjoyment from this tour.

    All brands of cameras and lenses do the same thing; they look outwardly into the world and record what they see on different sized sensors. What differentiates what they see is not the camera, but the person looking through the viewfinder. So, what will help you gain most from this tour is a familiarity of your own camera’s layout and menu structure. There is no shortage of tutorials on You Tube to aid you in this process and it is essential that you take the time to understand how to control the most salient features of camera.

    Camera bags come in all shapes and sizes. It’s important that your bag can hold the equipment you wish to carry, comfortably, over uneven terrain and that your balance is not affected by its design, or lack of it. Backpacks distribute weight evenly between your shoulders and hips and are normally supplied with a rain cover.

    Lenses are a personal choice. Many landscape photographers will choose to shoot with a 16-35 mm, 24-70 mm or a 24-105 mm lens. Shooting with zoom lenses makes a great deal of sense as it reduces the equivalent number of prime lenses that would otherwise, have to be carried. Many photographers compliment their wide-angle zooms with either a 70-200 mm or 100-400 mm lens. If you enjoy working within the landscape, a 90 mm or 100 mm Macro lens opens myriad possibilities.

    Under certain circumstances, filters are indispensable. Graduated neutral density filters control contrast locally and come in a range densities and graduations. The dynamic range of modern sensors has mitigated the need to use filters on many occasions and accordingly, I carry only two – a 0.6 (2 stop) filter with a soft graduation and a polarising filter which I used judicially.

    Despite, image stabilisation allowing the hand holding of cameras down to very low shutter speeds, there is still no substitute for a good tripod in landscape photography. The emphasis should be on a relatively lightweight model which is easy to carry with one caveat; that it is more vulnerable in strong winds. One important factor when considering a tripod is that you can work comfortably with your camera at eye-level – many u2018travel tripods’ reach their maximum height well below this height and are stressful to use. Carbon fibre tripods are lighter and more expensive than those made from aluminium but do the same job.

    Backup and storage – always a good idea to have your images in more than one place. It’s a good idea to bring your laptop onto which you can back up but also to select your best images for the critique session at the end of the tour.

    Wet weather protection for your camera – this isn’t essential, however most digital camera don’t like moisture that much and it makes sense if you have some sort of cover – if it was raining heavily, it is unlikely that we would be photographing for long, however, a random shower or constant light drizzle can sometimes be problematic. Whilst there are specialist solutions available, having a polythene bag to hand would do the job.

    Lens cloth – a lens cloth is useful for removing rain or sea spray if it finds its way onto a lens.

    A remote release is crucial to ensure sharp images, either cable, Bluetooth or App.

    Spare batteries – make sure that you don’t run out of juice.

    Photo Gallery

    Speak to an Expert

    Bridget Brown

    Our friendly office team hail from across the world but share a passion for the outdoor and wild spaces of Scotland. We are committed to providing you with the best customer service and are more than happy to chat through options and provide help and advice. Get in touch to find your perfect adventure.

    Ask Bridget a Question

    Meet Your Guide

    Difficulty Grades Explained

    Green 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.

    Trip Reviews

    Rated 5.00 out of 5 based on 1 review of Photography – Islay

    1
    0
    0
    0
    0

     

    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.

    RC

    Roddy Clark

    Reviewed on 04/05/2022

    Age: 60 - 70
    Country: United Kingdom
    Trip Date: 19/04/2022
    Trips Taken: 2

    The Bottom Line

    The Bottom Line

    Fabulous photography trip to Islay, an island I had never been to before. Great time!

    Want more Wilderness in your life?

    Sign up for our newsletter and be the first to hear about trip news, blogs and offers.