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    Photography Trip

    Skye and the West Highlands

    13 reviews

    Next Trip: 9th - 13th Apr 2024 Duration: 5 Days / 4 Nights

    From: £2,200 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: 10
    Confirmed: When 4 Travellers Book
    Deposit From: £567

    Grading:

    Carbon Footprint: 110kg ? 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

    This photography holiday explores one of the most spectacular regions of the Scottish Highlands – Skye and the West Highlands of Kintail, Applecross and Torridon. Capture these epic landscapes alongside our expert guide and award-winning landscape photographer Colin Prior.

    Skye, without a doubt, offers some of Scotland’s most varied and dramatic landscapes. Renowned for the Cuillin Mountains, which are in a league of their own, the island features many other unique features, including the Old Man of Storr and the Quiraing on the Trotternish Ridge. Its coastal scenery is no less dramatic, with superb views towards the Cuillin, especially at dusk and dawn.

    Our accommodation is perfectly positioned for exploring both Skye and the western end of Glen Shiel where the mountain scenery is also spectacular. Our itinerary is arranged to offer a wide variety of photographic locations both on the mainland and on Skye for a rewarding five days.

    Recommended Reading: Highland Wilderness by Colin Prior and Skye by Cailean Maclean

    Trip Highlights

    • Visit the Isle of Skye, the location for some of Colin Prior's signature images.
    • Photograph a variety of coastal, mountain and moorland landscapes.
    • Spend five days in the Highlands developing your photography with Colin Prior.

    Day by Day Itinerary

    Day 1 – Travel to Skye

    We’ll meet in the centre of Inverness Railway Station by the fixed seating area at 8:30. Inverness is a small station, so it will be easy to identify Colin. After the group has assembled, we will drive to our hotel for the next four nights and check in, before heading out to our first location. (L, D)

    Day 2 – Elgol and The Quiraing

    If the forecast is favourable, an early start will allow us to position for sunrise at Elgol. The headland and rocky foreshore offer superb views across Loch Scavaig towards the Cuillin Ridge and Blaven. We return for breakfast, after which, our journey takes us northwards to the Quiraing in the north of Skye, stopping at a variety of locations along the way. We return to Portree for an early dinner at Sea Breezes, which allows us to be in position for sunset. (B, L, D)

    Day 3 – Ord and Old Man of Storr

    With a favourable forecast, an early start will take us to Ord where the Cuillin rise across Loch Eishort. Following breakfast, Colin will present a tutorial that covers many relevant aspects of the photographic process. We will then drive towards the Old Man of Storr and to a wild and secluded headland where there are opportunities to explore the rocks and tidal pools. We return to Portree for an early dinner, which allows us again, to be in position for sunset. (B, L, D)

    Day 4 – Torridon and Loch Maree

    Following breakfast, we will depart for Torridon where some of the most spectacular mountains in Scotland are located, including Beinn Alligin, Liathach and Beinn Eighe. In the afternoon, we will drive to a location where Slioch rises from the north shore of Loch Maree, behind stands of ancient Scots pine. (B, L, D)

    Day 5 – Kintail and Glen Shiel

    After breakfast, Colin will organise a group critique. We will then drive to Kintail and photograph along the watercourse of the River Shiel, which drops around thirty metres in a series of waterfalls which have created deep pools overhung by rowan, hazel and willow trees. Following lunch, we will depart for Inverness where the workshop will conclude. (B, L)

    Download Itinerary
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    Photography Trip
    Skye and the West Highlands
    Download Itinerary

    Trip Dates & Prices

    All payments taken in local currency GBP

    Trip Dates for 2024AvailabilityStatusPriceBook
    9th Apr - 13th Apr 2024Trip FullFULLY BOOKED £2,200

    Trip Details

    Accommodation Read More

    We are delighted to base this photography trip at a wonderful hotel in a secluded bay on the Isle of Skye, perfectly situated for our tour.

    The emphasis is very much on dawn photography and with suitable weather, we will typically depart at 5:00 for locations in south Skye, returning for a full breakfast.

    Single Rooms

    Accommodation comprises double and twin rooms, all of which are en-suite. Solo travellers will be accommodated in a room to themselves.

    Meals Read More

    All meals are included 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 within a stylish hotel, situated on the Sleat Peninsula on the Isle of Skye.
    • All meals during the trip. (Meals included indicated as B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
    • All transport throughout the trip, in a spacious people carrier, starting and finishing in Inverness.
    • 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

    Arrival and departure

    You will be met by Colin Prior at the fixed seating area of Inverness Railway Station at 8:30 on Day 1 of your trip. The London Sleeper arrives at 8:30, so if you are on this train please let us know in advance. Inverness is a small railway station so it will be easy to identify Colin. We aim to have you back at the station by 14.30 on the final day.

    For advice on getting to and from Scotland please our travel advice page on our website:

    www.wildernessscotland.com/faq/travel-to-scotland/

    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

    Jane Gillies

    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 Jane 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 4.77 out of 5 based on 13 reviews of Photography – Skye and the West Highlands

     

    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.

    MR

    Michael Rich

    Reviewed on 28/04/2023

    Age: 70 - 80
    Country: United States
    Trip Date: 12/04/2023
    Trips Taken: 1

    The Bottom Line

    The Bottom Line

    Surprised the planning was so thorough. Definitely worth the long flight to satisfy this bucket list item!

    SP

    Suzanne Pomeroy

    Reviewed on 23/04/2023

    Age: 60 - 70
    Country: United States
    Trip Date: 12/04/2023
    Trips Taken: 1

    The Bottom Line

    JD

    John Mark Dinwoodie

    Reviewed on 21/04/2023

    Age: 60 - 70
    Country: United Kingdom
    Trip Date: 12/04/2023
    Trips Taken: 1

    The Bottom Line

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