fbpx
Close
Articles by Year

<<     >>

Articles by Category
Close
+44 (0)1479 420 020

Activities

Selected Trips

    Locations

    Selected Trips

      Themed Travel

      FAQs

      Photography Trip

      Muck and the Small Isles

      Next Trip: 18th - 25th May 2023 Duration: 8 Days / 7 Nights

      From £2,650 View Prices & Dates

      Travel Planning & Advice

      Our assurance that we continue to deliver responsible and financially protected adventure holidays.

      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: £662.50 £662.50

      Grading:

      Carbon Footprint: 149kg ? 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

      The Small Isles are some of the richest and most abundant marine landscapes of Scotland, just waiting to be captured as you explore them alongside our expert guide Colin Prior.

      The Small Isles archipelago comprises the islands of Muck, Eigg, Rum, Canna and Sanday and are located north of the Ardnamurchan peninsula and south of Skye. Around 40 species of birds regularly breed on Muck, and the marine life around the island is particularly rich due to the Gulf Stream, which flows past its shores, creating a rich marine environment that includes a large colony of common seals, dolphins, minke whales and occasionally, basking sharks.

      The week will be spent photographing on Muck, which not only has varied landscapes but superb views out to Rum, Eigg and beyond to Skye where sunrise and sunset opportunities will be possible. We’ll island hop to Eigg, Rum, Canna and Coll to capture some of the remotest coastlines in Scotland, made possible by our boat, the MV Lochan.

      Trip Highlights

      • Improve your photography skills in the company of Colin Prior - one of the UK's leading landscape photographers.
      • Access to some of the finest wilderness landscapes in Scotland by using our private boat as you tour the Small Isles.
      • Capture the spectacular mountain scenery and encounter wildlife such as basking sharks and corncrakes.

      Did you know?


      This trip can be booked as a private departure


      Learn more

      Day by Day Itinerary

      Day 1 - Arrival

      We meet in Mallaig which can be reached by car or train via the spectacular West Highland Railway line. Colin will meet you at the Calmac Ferry Terminal in Mallaig at 09:30am. The ferry crossing sets the scenes and you can admire the surrounding mountains from the ferry whilst keeping your eyes peeled for wildlife. After checking in at Gallanach Lodge, we will explore Gallanch Bay, where coral sands are backed by rocky terraces on which a large colony of common seals resides. (D)

      Day 2 - Exploring Eigg

      A short sea journey aboard the MV Lochan will take us to the Island of Eigg. We will be met at the pier, where we will transfer into a mini-bus for the short journey to the Bay of Laig, on the eastern side of the island. It is a spectacular location with a coral sand beach, set against the backdrop of the Rum Cuillin that rises vertically from the sea to over 800m. Endless photographic opportunities are to be found along the rocky shoreline where cannonball concretions stand exposed on the sandstone pavements, creating bold spherical shapes against the skyline. (B, L, D)

      Day 3 - Discover Canna and Sanday

      Today we head out towards the Isle of Canna’s north cliffs, which rise 150 metres above the sea. These are home to thousands of breeding seabirds, which include puffin, razorbills, shags, kittiwakes, and occasionally a white-tailed eagle makes an appearance. If conditions permit, we will land at Langanish and explore the headland where hexagonal basalt columns rise from the sea. After lunch, we will head around to Sanday, where following a dinghy landing, we’ll photograph the sea cliffs towards the basalt stack of Dùn Mòr on which a large colony of puffins nest from May to July. (B, L, D)

      Day 4 - Gallanach Bay and Muck

      Following breakfast, we will head over to the south-facing bay at Camus Mor on Muck where Valtos Sandstone has been overlain by lava flows that erupted during the Palaeogene period (66 million – 56 million years ago). After lunch, we will make the easy climb to the top of Ben Airean (138m) where the whole island reveals itself – with the Sgurr of Eigg and the Isle of Rum as a backdrop. Gallanach Bay is a popular playground for porpoises, which may have been a factor in the naming of the island as they are called ‘sea-pigs’ in Gaelic. Over 80 species of birds nest here, with the sea birds favouring Eilean nan Each. There are also many visiting species to behold and photograph. (B, L, D)

      Day 5 - Lichens and Castles

      The Isle of Rum is a landscape of contrasts. From towering sandstone cliffs to secluded sandy beaches, it is ideal for observing wildlife in its natural environment. As well as having one of the largest manx shearwater colonies in the world, Rum was the original location of the white-tailed eagle reintroduction program and has been responsible for their dispersal throughout the Hebrides. Red-throated divers, hen harriers and golden eagles can all be seen at Bagh Rubha a’ Mhoil Ruaidh, a secluded beach formed by rounded Torridonian sandstone boulders, which rise at an angle of 30° – the result of its exposure to Atlantic storms. Here, a colony of lichens embellishes the rocks in an explosion of colours. Following lunch, we will visit Kinloch and the castle, which was commissioned as a hunting lodge by George Bulloch, the son of a wealthy industrialist in 1897. (B, L, D)

      Day 6 - Coastal Seas

      Today we will continue to ramble and explore Muck and revel in the ever-changing aspects of sea and sky. In the north-west two drying islands form a peninsula. Eilean nan Each (G. – horse island) and Eilean Aird nan Uan – (G. – island of the headland of the lambs). In Gallanach Bay, sea beans from the West Indies are sometimes washed in by the Gulf Stream into the beautiful stretch of shell-sand beach and are considered lucky charms. Two long reefs form the east side of Gallanach Bay and between them is the tiny Port Chreadhain with a small jetty. Beyond there is another small bay called Camus na Cairidh (G. – bay of the weir), probably used for trapping fish in the past. As we walk we’ll be able to capture all of these novel sights and so much more in a deeply affecting view focused on the sea. (B, L, D)

      Day 7 - In Pursuit of Sharks and Skua

      After breakfast, we will head to the island of Coll aboard the MV Lochan. Coll has a rich variety of habitats from coral sand beaches with wildflower-carpeted machair to rolling dunes and grassland and remains one of the UK strongholds of the rare and secretive corncrake – with over 150 of these threatened migrants arriving on the island each spring. Depending on the wind direction, we will visit one of Coll’s secluded beaches, where we may have the opportunity to see Red-throated Diver, Hen Harrier, Merlin, Arctic Skua and Twite. During May and June, there is no better place to encounter one of the world’s largest sharks – the plankton-eating basking shark, as these majestic aquatic creatures (that can reach 11 metres in length), roam the warm waters offshore. Seals and otters are also likely, and as with any Hebridean island, there is always the chance of something unexpected. (B, L, D)

      Day 8 - Homeward Bound

      Following breakfast, we will check out of Gallanach Lodge and explore at our leisure until our departure on the ferry at 12:40pm. (B)

      Download Itinerary

      X
      Photography Trip
      Muck and the Small Isles

      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

      Trip Dates for 2023AvailabilityStatusPriceBook
      18th May - 25th May 2023Trip FullFULLY BOOKED£2,650
      1st Jun - 8th Jun 20234 places leftCONFIRMED£2,650Book Now

      Trip Details

      Expand All
      Accommodation Read More

      Seven nights, single occupancy accommodation at Gallanach Lodge. The family run lodge offers the finest in local cuisine, the most comfortable rooms and an intimate and relaxing atmosphere. Eight individually styled bedrooms provide the ultimate sanctuary and comfort with tremendous views over Gallanach Bay. The bathrooms and shower rooms have all been fitted with powerful showers and deep baths, as well as under floor heating and heated towel rails. All bathrooms have been finished to a very high standard and come with complimentary toiletries. A total of 8 bedrooms share 4 bathrooms and shower rooms u2013 there are no ensuite rooms.

      Meals Read More

      Freshly prepared, locally sourced, meals with freshly caught seafood a particular speciality. Included dinners are two courses as standard. Special dietary requirements can be catered for.

      Inclusions Read More
      • 7 nights accommodation in the purpose-built Gallanach Lodge by the shore. Each client will have their own single room unless a twin or double room is requested.
      • Breakfast, packed lunches and evening meals are included throughout.
      • All boat transfers during the holiday, starting and finishing in Mallaig, aboard the MV Lochan.
      • The services of Colin Prior, who will work closely with each group member throughout the trip, helping you develop your photographic skills.
      Trip Grading Read More

      Green Graded 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.

      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. Our 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.

      Travel – Arrival and Departure Read More

      Arrival

      Colin shall meet you in Mallaig at 9:30am on Day 1 to depart upon the 10:20am ferry to Muck.

      Departure

      On the final day, you shall depart Muck at approximately 12:40pm, arriving in Mallaig roughly 2 hours later where the journey shall end.

      Photo Gallery

      Make This Trip Private

      Fancy this trip just for your group? Get together with family and friends spend quality time exploring wild places. A private trip allows you to benefit from all the features of the group departure, including hand-picked accommodation and expert local guides but with the advantage of the flexibility to tailor the days to your group. Make the trip more or less challenging depending on your experience or choose to add in some optional extras like castle or distillery visits depending on your interests. The price of a private trip will depend on the number of travellers in your group. Let us know your prefered departure date and we'll take care of the rest.

      Speak to an Expert

      View Profile
      Chris Page

      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 Chris a Question

      Meet Your Guide

      Colin Prior
      18th May - 25th May 2023

      Colin Prior
      1st Jun - 8th Jun 2023

      View guides for all departures

      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.

      Want more Wilderness in your life?

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