- Spend five days on location with Colin Prior
- Enjoy access to some of the most varied and dramatic locations in Scotland
- Four nights, single occupancy accommodation at the Eilean Iarmain Hotel
- Breakfast, three course dinner and packed lunch
- Transport to and from Inverness Station
- Tutorials and critique session with individual feedback
SKYE AND TORRIDON PHOTOGRAPHY TOUR
August 31 - September 4
£1799
TRIP AT A GLANCE
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Dates: 31 August – 4 September 2021
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Duration: 4 nights/5 days
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Location: Skye and Torridon
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Start/Finishes: Inverness
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Exertion: Moderate
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Price: £1799
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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.
Four nights, single occupancy accommodation at the Eilean Iarmain Hotel. Situated in a secluded bay with its own pier and views across the Sound of Sleat, to the Knoydart peninsula, the Eilean Iarmain Hotel is perfectly situated for our tour. A three course dinner at the Birlinn Restaurant and at Sea Breezes in Portree is included. More information can be found at http://eileaniarmain.co.uk/
- Travel Insurance
- Drinks
- Gratuities
SYNOPSIS
The Skye and Torridon Photography Tour was designed to showcase the finest mountain scenery in Scotland. During the tour, we will photograph the Black and Red Cuillin at sunrise and sunset, spend two days exploring the Quiraing and the Old Man of Storr and spend a day in the presence of the Torridon giants – Ben Alligin, Liathach and Beinn Eighe.
A particular charm of this trip is the contrasts of the mountain scenery – the Black Cuillin weathering into dramatic arêtes and ridges whilst the Precambrian sandstone of the Torridon mountains rise up like giant cathedrals from sea level to over 1000 m. In such places, the mind expands in new vistas of light and space.
Situated in a secluded bay with its own pier and views across the Sound of Sleat, to the Knoydart peninsula, the Eilean Iarmain Hotel is perfectly situated for our tour. A three-course dinner at the Birlinn Restaurant and at Sea Breezes in Portree is included.
ITINERARY
The itinerary may be subject to change to suit weather conditions on the day.
Day 1 – Pickup and Tokavaig
Colin will meet you underneath the main display board in the arrival hall at Inverness Railway Station at 0830 on Wednesday. On the final day of the workshop, we will return you to Inverness Railway Station at 1500, allowing clients to connect with rail services south. After the group has assembled, we will drive to the hotel where we check in and head out to Tokavaig and Dunscaith Castle. Dinner at Eilean Iarmain
Day 2 – Elgol and The Quiraing
If weather permits, an early start will allow us to position for sunrise at Elgol. The headland and rocky foreshore offer superb views 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 reposition for sunset.
Day 3 – Ord and Old Man of Storr
After breakfast, we will watch a tutorial and then head north again towards the Old Man of Storr. We will then drop down 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 at Sea Breezes, which allows us to be in reposition for sunset.
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. Dinner at Eilean Iarmain
Day 5 – Kintail and Glen Shiel
After breakfast we will check out and before departing have our group critique session. We will thendrive to Kintail where the River Shiel, drops around thirty metres in a series of waterfalls and has created deep pools overhung by rowan, hazel and willow trees. After lunch, we will depart for Inverness at 1300 to facilitate arrival at Inverness Station at 1500 where the workshop will conclude.
Day 1 – Pickup and Tokavaig
Colin will meet you underneath the main display board in the arrival hall at Inverness Railway Station at 0830 on Wednesday. On the final day of the workshop, we will return you to Inverness Railway Station at 1500, allowing clients to connect with rail services south. After the group has assembled, we will drive to the hotel where we check in and head out to Tokavaig and Dunscaith Castle. Dinner at Eilean Iarmain
Day 2 – Elgol and The Quiraing
If weather permits, an early start will allow us to position for sunrise at Elgol. The headland and rocky foreshore offer superb views 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 reposition for sunset.
Day 3 – Ord and Old Man of Storr
After breakfast, we will watch a tutorial and then head north again towards the Old Man of Storr. We will then drop down 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 at Sea Breezes, which allows us to be in reposition for sunset.
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. Dinner at Eilean Iarmain
Day 5 – Kintail and Glen Shiel
After breakfast we will check out and before departing have our group critique session. We will thendrive to Kintail where the River Shiel, drops around thirty metres in a series of waterfalls and has created deep pools overhung by rowan, hazel and willow trees. After lunch, we will depart for Inverness at 1300 to facilitate arrival at Inverness Station at 1500 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.
INVERNESS ACCOMMODATION
A list of hotels and guest houses can be found here:
MEETING INSTRUCTION
Colin will meet you underneath the main display board in the arrival hall at Inverness Railway Station at 0830 on Tuesday.
At the end of the workshop on Saturday, we will return you to Inverness Railway Station at 1500.
CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)
New bookings
If you are interested in a workshop with us in 2021, we would be delighted to have you join us. Please note that new bookings will only be accepted on the provision that if the trip is unable to go ahead due to Covid 19 restrictions and the trip suspended, payments will be held indefinitely and can be put towards any future workshop.
Traveller responsibility
- We request that all travellers bring a minimum of 2 reusable masks so you can wash one each evening and leave the other to dry.
- That clients declare to us if they have had Covid or Covid like symptoms.
- That client’s self-health check and declare to the guide as soon as possible if they do feel any Covid symptoms. It would be beneficial if you would bring a thermometer to keep track of your temperature.
- That you do not travel if you feel unwell or are symptomatic before the trip.
- That you follow all guidelines and procedures set out by your guide and any suppliers we use.
The current situation in the UK
To stay informed, we recommend you visit the UK Government website as well as the Scottish Government site where they are updating the situation daily.
We find this webpage which tracks Scottish COVID-19 data daily hugely useful to understand what the incidence of the virus is in the regions in which we live and also run our trips in.
Travel advisories and inbound health measures
If you are travelling from outside the UK then you must review the contents of this section of the Scottish Government guidance before considering travel to Scotland.
Travel advice for travellers visiting the UK from common locations.
United States | Canada | Australia
We recommend you check your own government advice with regards to travel to the UK and Scotland.
Pre-trip information
Please take extra care to read through any pre-trip information you are sent, paying particular attention to the Covid-19 details and requirements, such as bringing your own face masks, and being aware of any rules which apply in Scotland which may be different to rules where you live.
Please also check with your airline/train company about any specific requirements they may have in place for your journey to Scotland. If you’re informed, then you’ll be able to raise any questions with us ahead of your trip, which of course we’ll be delighted to help with.
Will I need to wear a mask?
You will need to wear a mask while travelling in our vehicles and in other locations specified by Government regulations (e.g. – shops).
There may be occasions when you need to put a mask on briefly – for example, if your guide is assisting you with your equipment.
However, you will not need a mask during the day’s activities outdoor, so you can breathe in the fresh Highland air and enjoy the unencumbered views.
Can I bring my own car instead of travelling in your vehicle?
Yes.
Where it is practical to do so, you are welcome to use your own vehicle throughout the trip.
There will be no reduction in price as we will still be operating our vehicle on the trip. Trips which involve ferry crossings may be more challenging to arrange due to limited capacity on some ferries.
If you are planning to bring your own vehicle, you must let us know as soon as possible so that we can plan accordingly.