- Spend seven days on location with Colin Prior
- Enjoy access to some of the most varied and dramatic locations in Scotland
- Six nights, single occupancy accommodation at the Harris Hotel
- Breakfast, three course dinner and packed lunch
- Transport to and from Inverness Station
- Tutorials and critique session with individual feedback
HARRIS AND LEWIS PHOTOGRAPHY TOUR
September 18, 2021 - September 24, 2021
£2199
TRIP AT A GLANCE
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Dates: 18-24 September 2021
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Duration: 7 days
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Location: Harris
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Start/Finishes: Inverness
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Exertion: Moderate
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Price: £2199
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Moderate – these tours involve straightforward hiking generally over good trails. Terrain underfoot is mainly on paths or hill trails which may be muddy in places. There may be a limited amount of uphill walking.
On Day 3 we walk across to Traigh Mheilein, a secluded white sand beach which entails following a costal path uphill for around thirty minutes and descending the other side – this obviously need to be repeated to return to Huishnish.
Six nights, single occupancy, en-suite accommodation at the Harris Hotel. The hotel is comfortable and has an excellent à la carte restaurant which is included in the price. The residents’ lounge and public bar offer a wide variety of beers, wines and whiskies.
- Food aboard Calmac ferries
- Travel Insurance
- Drinks
- Gratuities
SYNOPSIS
Harris is a place of dramatic contrasts: on the west coast, white sands stretch for miles backed by mountains, dunes and machair, while the east coast is an intricate series of bays and headlands pocked with rock and loch with small hamlets clustered in inlets that look like miniature fjords. There are sudden moments when you have to pull over to stop and stare – perhaps a series of rainbows scattered over the green-gold moor after heavy rain, or the setting sun reflected in hundreds of small lochs, or the beauty of the creamy white waterlilies that dot the peaty water in June. The wild, rugged emptiness of the place has a way of capturing you unawares.
The Harris Hotel in Tarbet is perfectly situated for access to the shell sand beaches of Seilebost and Scarasta where there will be opportunities to photograph at sunrise and sunset. We will spend a day in Lewis at the spectacular Mangersta sea stacks and visit famous and most enigmatic standing stones of Callanish, Scotland’s equivalent of Stonehenge.
ITINERARY
The itinerary may be subject to change to suit weather conditions on the day.
Day 1 – Pickup and Tarbet
Colin will meet you underneath the main display board in the arrival hall at Inverness Railway Station at 0800 on Saturday morning. On the final day of the workshop, we will return to Inverness Railway Station at 1800. After the group has met, we will drive to Ullapool and board the ferry to Stornoway which departs at 1030 and arrives in Stornoway at 1300. We will continue our journey to the Harris Hotel in Tarbet where we will check in and head out to our first location.
Day 2 – Luskentyre and Traigh Rosamol
An early morning rise to capture the sunrise at Traigh Rosamol where views across white coral sands and dunes are backed by the mountains of Harris. We will return for breakfast, after which we will head back out to explore more of Harris’s extensive beaches.
Day 3 – Huishnish and Traigh Mheilein
The journey west past Amhuinnsuidhe Castle takes us to the road end at Huishnish. From here we will follow a coastal path up and over to the remote beach of Traigh Mheilein which, to my mind, is the most beautiful and secluded beach in Harris. To the east, Loch Cravadale is set against a mountainous backdrop where golden and white-tailed eagles can be seen.
Day 4 – The Golden Road and Traigh Scarasta
An early start for sunrise where marram dunes give elevated views over the shell sand beaches. After breakfast, we will follow the Golden Road, south-east, through Manish to Rodel. The indented coastline features several sheltered harbours and wild headlands. Our return takes us to Traigh Scarasta, where big Atlantic swells break on the beach in clouds of white spume – in passing showers, the landscape often mutates in a palette of pastel colours.
Day 5 – Mangersta and Callanish Stones
After breakfast, we will head north and then west to explore the rocky coastline of Lewis. Rising like shark’s teeth, an impressive group of sea stacks rise from a secluded bay close to Mangersta and are backed by tall cliffs and sea caves. Both white-tailed and golden eagles are residents of the area. On our return, we will visit the Callanish Stones which date back to 3000bc and were once part of a megalithic complex associated with celestial observations.
Day 6 – Traigh Nisabost, Traigh Scarasta
An early morning rise to the beach at Nisabost, followed by breakfast, and then a final chance to photograph the shell sand beaches at Scarasta. Later in the afternoon, we will enjoy a group critique session back at the hotel.
Day 7 – Stornoway – Ullapool – Inverness
After checking out, we will drive to Stornoway where you will have a couple of hours before boarding the ferry to Ullapool. We will arrive at 1630 and reach Inverness around 1800 where the workshop will conclude.
RECOMMENDED PERSONAL EQUIPMENT
The ability to respond to Scotland’s changeable weather with appropriate clothing will enrich your enjoyment of the tour. Bring comfortable clothing, which will maintain your body temperature under a variety of weather conditions.
If you are susceptible to the cold, a down or insulated jacket is recommended.
- Lightweight boots or wellies – often the terrain we cover is boggy and wellies are the best way to keep your feet dry.
- Waterproof jacket and trousers
- Hat for sun protection or warmth
- Casual clothes for evening wear
- Personal wash kit
- Head torch
- Midge net
- Sunscreen
- Re-usable water bottle
PHOTOGRAPHY EQUIPMENT
The information below is intended as a guide to help you achieve the most from this workshop.
All brands of cameras and lenses do exactly the same thing; they look outwardly into the world and record what they see on different sized sensors. The only thing that differentiates what they see is not the camera but the person looking through the viewfinder. So, what will help you gain most from this workshop is a familiarity of your own camera’s layout and menu structure and an understanding of the relationship between shutter speed, aperture and ISO.
Consider a camera bag that is comfortable and which allows you carry your equipment over uneven terrain. Backpacks distribute the weight evenly between your shoulders and hips and are normally supplied with a rain cover.
Lenses are very much a personal choice and will be influenced by the subjects which you, as a photographer, pursue. For many outdoor photographers, the combination of two lenses – either a 24-70mm or 24-105mm and a 100-400mm provides them with the ability to shoot from 24-400mm with just two lenses. If working within the landscape is something that appeals to you, then a 90mm or 100mm Macro lens opens up myriad possibilities.
Under certain circumstances, filters are indispensable. Graduated neutral density filters control contrast locally and come in a range densities and graduations. I use, almost exclusively, a 0.6 (2 stop) filter with a soft graduation. A polarising filter is also extremely useful for a number of scenarios and worthwhile having in your camera bag.
A tripod is essential for landscape photography. The emphasis should be on a relatively lightweight model which is easy to carry. The disadvantage of a lightweight tripod is that it is more vulnerable in high winds to both camera shake and to the risk of being blown over. One important factor when considering a tripod is that you can work comfortably with your camera at eye-level – many ‘travel tripods’ reach their maximum height below this height. 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. A laptop or iPad is ideal and will allow you to see what you have shot each day and will facilitate feedback.
A remote release is essential. Whether it is a cable, IR device or a phone app it will ensure sharp photographs.
Spare batteries – batteries can be re-charged as required, however it makes sense to bring spares.
Lens cloth – a lens cloth is useful for removing rain or sea spray if it finds its way onto a lens.
BOOKING CONDITIONS
To confirm your booking, you are required to pay a non-refundable deposit of 25% of the trip price. Once we receive your deposit, the contract between us will become binding and covers everyone you are booking on behalf of. After this, we will send you an invoice for the balance and advise you of the date for payment of the same. Brochure and website prices are quoted in UK Sterling. Payment will be accepted by:
- Maestro, Visa Electron, Visa Debit and Solo debit cards or Visa/Mastercard/American Express credit cards.
- Bank Transfer (details available from our office).
For our full Booking Conditions can be found here:
INSURANCE
We strenuously recommend that you take out a travel insurance policy as soon as you have booked your trip with us.
A travel insurance policy protects you and your holiday arrangements from the unexpected before and during your trip. It is your responsibility to make sure you have adequate cover and we are not able to offer advice on insurance. However, we recommend your policy should include cover for emergency medical costs, cancellation or curtailment of your trip, personal belongings/baggage and personal liability:
- In the event of emergency rescue and medical care and/or repatriation from a trip due to injury or medical emergency, any evacuation and medical costs will be borne by the client.
- If you need to cancel your trip with us, then you may lose some or all of the money you have paid.
- All luggage and personal equipment are, at all times, at your own risk. We will not be responsible whatsoever for any loss, damage to your luggage and/or personal equipment.
Some options for Travel Insurance Providers inculde:
However, we recommend you do your own research to find the best provider for you.
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INVERNESS ACCOMMODATION
MEETING INSTRUCTION
Colin will meet you underneath the main display board in the arrival hall at Inverness Railway Station at 0800 on Saturday. We need to arrive at Ullapool no later than 0945 to board the ferry to Stornoway.
At the end of the workshop on Friday, we will return you to Inverness Railway Station at 1800.
CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)
We recognise that you may have questions regarding the impact of Coronavirus COVID-19 with regards to existing and future bookings with us. As this is a dynamic situation, we do not intend to publish all the facts here but rather to give you the direct links where you can read more about the situation from primary sources, rather than via mainstream media.
The UK Government guidance and latest information on COVID-19
(https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-public)
Foreign and Commonwealth Office Travel Advice (https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice)
For detailed FAQ please visit this World Health Organisation page.
There are no travel restrictions to or within Scotland and our trips will run as planned.
As we always do, we strongly encourage you to take out travel insurance that will provide adequate cover in case your plans change for any reason.
Once you have booked a trip with us, our terms and conditions apply for any cancellation or postponement of your trip. You can view our booking conditions here:
If any restrictions were put in place by Government, the impact of this is likely to be covered by your travel insurance policy, however, you should check this with your provider. Insurance does not usually cover “disinclination to travel” where Government does not advise against travel. You may be able to pay a premium for cancellation for any reason but you must speak to your insurance company about this. It is your responsibility to make sure your travel insurance provides adequate cover.