Easy straightforward hiking generally over good trails with no major ascents. The days are fairly leisurely and we spend about 6-8 hours outdoors. Terrain underfoot is mainly on paths or hill trails which may be muddy in places. Daily walks are mainly glens or coastal hikes with some ascents up to 450m (1500ft).
Based at the privately run Holly Tree Hotel in Kentallen, the former railway station has been tastefully converted into a small luxury hotel. Standing at the edge of Loch Linnhe, it features an award winning restaurant which specialises in locally sourced produce such as scallops, venison and lamb. All guests have private rooms, which are tastefully appointed with excellent en-suite facilities. The Captain’s Lounge Bar serves both local ales and a selection of malt whiskies.
Our base at the Holly Tree Hotel in Kentallen affords the best accommodation and cuisine in the area and facilitates our opportunities for dusk and dawn photography. In Februarya civilised 7.00 a.m. departure will comfortably take us into Glencoe or the Rannoch Moor for sunrise, returning for breakfast around 10.00 a.m.
After breakfast, we will drive to another location and re-position for sunset returning around 5.30 p.m. If time permits there may be opportunities to critique some of the day’s images before heading out for dinner. During the course of the workshop there will be tutorials and a group critique session.
Below is a typical itinerary, which inevitably will change to take advantage of the optimum weather conditions on the day. The decision about the following days location is usually made the evening before when the most up-to-date weather forecasts have been studied.
Colin will meet you at 9.00am at the Information Board in Glasgow Central Station. After the group has assembled we will drive to our hotel in Kentallen, where we will check in. After lunch we will head out to Glen Etive where the River Etive falls in a series of spectacular waterfalls and head to a secluded location where Scots pine, holly and birch line the banks of a tributary river.
An early start to photograph sunrise on the BuachailleEtive Mor. Standing at the entrance to Glencoe, the Great Shepherd of Etive assumes the characteristics of a great pyramid from this angle and has become an icon of the Scottish Highlands. After returning for breakfast, we will head north to Glen Nevis. The one-hour drive will take us up a winding road to the high point which gives us access to an excellent path which takes us to the Steall Waterfall.
Another early start will take us onto the Rannoch Moor where we will have opportunities to photograph Black Mount across Lochanna-h’Achlaise. After breakfast, we will head out towards Kinlochleven where there will be time to explore the views east across Loch Leven to Glencoe, concluding with sunset at Castle Stalker.
This morning we head for a high point which overlooks the Three Sisters in Glencoe where the rising sun will strike BideannamBian and the AonachEagach Ridge. After breakfast we will drive towards Bridge of Orchy where we will work on the river and re-position on Loch Tulla for sunset.
Our final morning and we head for Glen Etive where we will have the opportunity to photograph the BuachailleEtiveMorfrom another location. Return for breakfast and check out. Our final location en-route to the station will be at Kilchurn Castle, which stands at the edge of Loch Awe. We will arrive back at Glasgow Central at 3.00 p.m. where the workshop will conclude.
This trip starts and finishes in Glasgow. For train timetables, costs and reservations follow these links:
Colin will meet you at 9.00a.m.in Glasgow Central Station. Directly opposite the newsagents, WH Smith, there is an open area with a small, free-standing waiting room which is where we will meet.
At the end of the workshop we will return you to Glasgow Central Station on Sunday at 3.00p.m.
The trip price is £1150 per person. Group size is limited to nine clients and this ensures that Colin can give a one-to-one tuition and a critique session.
THE PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE:
The ability to respond to Scotland’s changeable weather with appropriate clothing will enhance your enjoyment. The key is to bring comfortable clothing, which will maintain your body temperature under a variety of weather conditions.
If you are at all susceptible to the cold, a down jacket or windproof fleece is the most effective way to keep warm and can quickly change your mental outlook.
Carrying equipment for every eventuality is also counter-intuitive and you should avoid your experience outdoors being overshadowed by the weight of your bag – at the end of the day you are here to enjoy and not endure.
Cameras – Camera equipment is very much a personal choice and is dependant on individual preference, budget and experience. Whetheryou shoot with a 35mm DSLR or a mirror-less system is unimportant. What is important however is that you are familiar with your camera’s layout and menu structure and understand the differences between the shooting modes.
Camera bag – bring a camera bag that allows you to comfortably carry your equipment over rugged terrain. Backpacksdistribute the weight between your shoulders and hips making walking much easier than a bag with a shoulder strap and are normally protected against wind and rain.
Tripod – the ideal tripod needs to be light enough to carry but heavy enough to perform in winds. A tripod is essential for landscape photographyallowing camera settings to be used that would otherwise be impossible. A wide range of models are available from Manfrotto and Gitzo and for more advanced photographers, carbon fibre tripods offer a lighter weight solution but essentially do the same job as those made from aluminium.
Remote release– an indispensible accessory, which eradicatesvibrations when the camera is mounted on a tripod.
Lenses – again, lenses are dependant on personal choice, budget and also the subjects pursued by each photographer. For travel photography an excellent solution is to have two zoom lenses such as a 24-70mm and a 70-200mm. With two lenses, a range of 24-200mm can be covered, which will account for 95% of your images. If you are interested in more intimate landscapes, a 100mm Macro lens opens up a wider range of possibilities.
Backup and storage – ensure that you have adequate memory cards and a means of backing up your work, either on a laptop, iPad or supplementary storage drive. Bringing your own laptop will allow you to see what you have shot each day and will facilitate critique sessions.
Spare batteries – batteries can be re-charged daily if necessary, however it makes sense to bring a spare battery to maximise your opportunities of taking photographs.
Lens cloth – a lens cloth is useful for removing rain or sea spray if it finds its way onto a lens.
We accept bookings online, by phone and post. Booking online is straight forward and enables us to confirm your reservation immediately. Before booking, it is important that you read the relevant Trip Dossier and our Booking Terms and Conditions. If you have any doubts regarding your suitability for a trip, please contact us.
To book online, simply click the relevant link from the trip page on our website. You will then be asked to complete the online booking form and proceed to payment. All payments made are directly through Worldpay in a totally secure environment.
For online bookings we accept payment by Maestro, Visa Electron, Visa Debit and Solo debit cards or Visa/Mastercard/American Express credit cards. Please note that there is no charge for payment by debit card but a 2% surcharge for payment by credit card. A deposit of 25% is required at the time of booking unless you are booking less than 56 days before departure. In this case, full payment of the trip price is required.
Should you prefer, you can call us with your reservation and card payment. This will enable us to confirm your place although, in all cases, we require a completed booking form (either online or by post) with details of all persons travelling. If booking by post, we accept all of the above payment methods plus cheque or bank transfer. If booking online we will confirm your booking immediately, including a copy of the Trip Dossier and an invoice for payment of the balance. If booking by any other method, we will confirm your booking within seven days of receipt.
It is a condition of booking that you are insured against medical and personal accident risks. This must include cover for the activities to be undertaken during the trip. We also strongly recommend you take out cover for cancellation and curtailment and baggage cover. We work with and recommend Campbell Irvine Insurance whose policies are specially designed for adventure holidays and are underwritten by AXA Insurance.
Insurance can be arranged directly at Campbell Irvine.