The west coast of Scotland is a region rich in dramatic landscapes and photographic possibilities. Join Richard Young with photographers Verity Milligan (in Harris) and then Ben Osborne (Skye & Glencoe) to take you to some of the best locations and guide you through a photographic journey to encapsulate the spirit of the Scottish Highlands and Islands.

The tour has been carefully planned to make the most of the light, but the Scottish landscape offers ample photographic opportunities at any time of the day. Add to that the constantly changing weather conditions, and you know that the combination of light and landscape will be magical. Whatever your skill level, this tour aims to show you the landscape at its best, with unforgettable views, allowing you to hone your craft while experiencing one of Scotland’s most beautiful islands and highlands. 

Day 1-5: Isle of Harris, Outer Hebrides

We start our tour on the breathtakingly beautiful Isle of Harris in the Outer Hebrides. Harris boasts some of Scotland's most stunning landscapes and is a consistent draw for landscape and seascape photographers alike. From captivating white-sand beaches to the impressive and imposing Harris hills, the island is perfect for capturing a wide range of scenes, whatever the weather.

Our time on Harris aims to show the best of the island, exploring both the West Coast and hidden spots on the East Coast that are often overlooked. We will provide hands-on instruction for photographers of all levels, covering essential techniques while allowing room for experimentation as we capture the ever-changing light as the weather moves through.

We’ll visit iconic spots such as Luskentyre Beach, with its brilliant turquoise waters and vast tidal flats, the serene sands of Scarista, looking back towards the Harris hills, the rugged outcrops at Hushinish Bay (and the iconic Highland cattle that live there), and many other beautiful locations. The end of October is the perfect time to visit, with plenty of light and the occasional storm rolling through, adding to the atmosphere. Harris is an island that thrives in moody weather, bringing out the iridescent turquoise blue hues in the water. 

Day 6-8: Isle of Skye

From Harris, our group will then move on to Skye - the jewel in the crown of the Inner Hebrides. The island has so many features and intriguing landscapes that a photographer could happily spend months there and never run out of subject matter. From the drama of the Black Cuillin hills to the watery complexities of the Fairy Pools, this island has plenty for us to focus on. In many ways, the combination of intimate foreground features with dramatic mountain backdrops allows the creation of multi-dimensional compositional pathways through each Image. In autumn, the colours are at their most exciting, although for anyone interested in monochrome photography, the rock formations, rivers and mountains also provide structure and detail. And looking out from the coast, distant islands and dramatic skies are to be discovered.

For this tour section, we will stay in Plockton, a scenic settlement near Kyle of Lochalsh. We will travel over the Skye Bridge on both days and explore the southern end of the Isle of Skye. This area includes the Cuillins, Bla Bheinn, Elgol, the Fairy Pools and Sligachan. We will also visit Eileen Donan Castle on the nearby mainland. This is one of Scotland’s most famous and (justifiably) most photographed castles. 

Day 9-12: Glencoe

We then head south, spending a day travelling through magnificent Highland scenery, stopping on-route to photograph some of the late autumn colours. At the end of the day we’ll arrive in Glencoe, one of the most famous, spectacular and historic glens in Scotland. For the next three nights we will be based in the superbly located Clachaig Inn and explore the scenic highlights of Glencoe.

There can be few Highland glens with as palpable a sense of drama and history as Glencoe. Within a few hundred meters of the Clachaig Inn is Signal Rock, from where the signal was given to begin the Glencoe Massacre. There is also a beautiful stretch of cascading river and a small loch; the vertical west face of Aonach Dubh dominates both. Travelling eastwards along the glen, the mountains crowd in on both sides, the tiered ramparts of the Aonach Eagach ridge rise steeply to the north, and the “Three Sisters” (a series of three huge identical buttresses) line the south side of the glen. Between these walls of rock runs the River Coe, a river characterised by tumbling cascades, thundering waterfalls, deep pools and narrow gorges. As you emerge at the head of the glen, the towering Buchaille Etive Mor (“The Great Herdsman of Etive”) greets you with its ridges, buttresses and deep gullies. It’s a spectacular pyramidal peak that creates a powerful centrepiece for images from the nearby moorland to the east. Heading further east, you cross the vast wasteland of Rannoch Moor with distant views of the Blackmount range, and to the south lies Glen Etive, famed for its Waterfalls.

Tutors

Verity Milligan (Harris) - Verity Milligan will lead the Harris part of our tour. Over the last decade, she has spent many months exploring Harris, even deciding to marry on the island because she loves it so much. Her knowledge (and deep love) of the island will ensure that each participant has the best experience exploring the usual locations and the off-the-beaten-track gems. 

Ben Osborne (Skye & Glencoe) - Ben Osborne will take you to some of the best locations and guide you through a photographic journey to Skye & Glencoe. Ben, an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society, has spent a lot of time in Scotland but is equally at home in the polar regions of our world. He is perhaps best known for his work for major BBC series, including “Life in the Freezer”, “Blue Planet” and “Planet Earth”. 

Richard Young (Whole tour) - Richard Young has lived in New Zealand for the past 20 years but is originally from the UK. He has spent several trips exploring the Scottish highlands and islands, a landscape that calls him to return to again. He will bring his unique perspective and expression approach to landscape photography to the Scottish landscape.

Included

• 11 nights hotel accommodation – single occupancy room included
• Tuition from Verity Milligan (Harris), Ben Osborne (Skye, Glencoe)
• Tuition from Richard Young (Whole tour)
• 11 Breakfasts
• Any entry fees
• Airport Transfers from recommended flights
• Transport during the tour

Excluded

• Airfares
• Meals not mentioned
• Personal travel insurance
• Visas, if applicable