SCOTLAND: Isle of Lewis & Harris / Cairngorms National Park

The Isle of Lewis & Harris in the Outer Hebrides is the largest island in the UK, yet it can be explored in just a few days, allowing us to visit all the iconic viewpoints, as well as a few secret locations. Along with our local guides, we’ll put you in the best spots at each location, and we’ll get you there in the best light available.

The rugged, weather-beaten Atlantic coast of Lewis & Harris boasts some of the world’s most spectacular beaches and rock formations. The 5000-year-old standing stones and abandoned cottages that litter the island add to the diversity of photographic subjects we’ll share with you.

Our base on Lewis & Harris will be a private Victorian lodge, which includes all meals prepared by their dedicated catering team and scheduled around our daily itinerary, ensuring we can be out at the best times of the day for photography.

After leaving Lewis & Harris, we will spend two nights in Aviemore, which lies within Cairngorms National Park, the UK’s largest national park. Here, we will explore the mountains, lochs, rivers, and ancient woodlands before returning to Glasgow.

To ensure a truly memorable experience, we plan to maximize our time at each location, shooting as much as conditions permit. But we’ll also include in-the-field instruction, ongoing image reviews, as well as informal lessons and processing instruction when we’re not out shooting.

We invite you to join us on this photographic adventure and find out why Scotland is a top destination for landscape photographers.

If you have any questions about this workshop, please contact us. We look forward to hearing from you.

COST
$7,400 CAD*
A deposit of $1,500 is required to confirm your registration; the balance of $5,900 is due June 30, 2023.
Full payment is required for any registrations after this date.
*Cost based on single-occupancy accommodation; deduct $250 per person for double occupancy.

GROUP SIZE
Maximum of 10 participants (minimum of 7) to ensure you receive personalized attention throughout the workshop. Register early so you don’t miss out.

WORKSHOP LEADERS
David Topping and Viktoria Haack
(plus 2 instructors from the award-winning team at Skye Photo Academy)

Friday, November 10
Travel to Glasgow, Scotland (typically an evening departure from Canada or the U.S., arriving early the next morning).

Saturday, November 11
Arrive in Glasgow and spend the day at your leisure adjusting to the new time zone or touring Glasgow City Centre. In the evening, we’ll gather for an informal, pre-workshop dinner (optional) at the Holiday Inn Glasgow Airport hotel, which is one of several hotel options we recommend for before and after the workshop (it’s conveniently located just across the road from the terminal).

Sunday, November 12 (Day 1 – Glasgow to Stornoway via Loganair)
We’ll meet at the Loganair counter in the Glasgow airport and fly together to Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis & Harris. Upon arrival, we’ll be picked up and taken to our private lodge, which will be our base for the next several days. If time permits, we’ll head out for an afternoon/sunset shoot before settling down to our first meal at the lodge (all meals and drinks at the lodge are included).

Accommodation: Eishken Lodge

Monday, November 13 to Thursday, November 16 (Day 2-5 – Lewis & Harris)
Ours days will start with breakfast at the lodge before heading out for a morning/sunrise shoot. After a lunch break, we’ll continue with an afternoon/sunset shoot before returning to the lodge for dinner. Evenings may be spent in one of the cozy common rooms enjoying a whisky or beer by the fire as we review photos from the day.

Accommodation: Eishken Lodge

Friday, November 17 (Day 6 – Stornoway to Ullapool via ferry / drive to Aviemore)
Our final day on Lewis & Harris starts with a morning/sunrise shoot before heading to the ferry terminal for the afternoon departure to Ullapool. Upon arrival, we’ll drive to our hotel near Aviemore and check in to our hotel.

Accommodation: The Boat Country Inn

Saturday, November 18 (Day 7 – Aviemore / Cairngorms National Park)
Today, we’ll explore Cairngorms National Park. With such a diverse landscape, including some of the most beautiful lochs in Scotland and forests containing ancient Caledonian Pines, it’s easy to see why this park is one of the most popular places to visit in the UK for many photographers.

Accommodation: The Boat Country Inn

Sunday, November 19 (Day 8 – Aviemore / Cairngorms National Park to Glasgow)
On our final day together, we will have one last morning/sunrise shoot in the park before heading back to Glasgow. We’ll arrive at the airport at the end of the day, where you’ll be dropped off at your hotel.

Monday, November 20
Depart Glasgow (typically an early morning flight back to Canada and the U.S.) or continue on your travels if you decide to extend your stay beyond the workshop.

This itinerary may be modified to provide the best photo opportunities based on weather conditions each day. Meal times, rest breaks, and photo instruction will be incorporated into the itinerary based on our shooting schedule.

WORKSHOP INCLUDES:

• Photography guiding & instruction
• Image reviews & processing instruction
• Single-occupancy accommodations (double occupancy available)
• All meals and drinks (including alcohol) at the Eishken Lodge
• Breakfasts at The Boat Country Inn
• Flight from Glasgow to Stornoway
• Ground and ferry transportation (from pick-up at Stornoway airport to drop-off at your Glasgow airport hotel)

NOT INCLUDED:

• Flights to/from Glasgow
• Airport accommodations before and after the workshop (Glasgow Airport)
• Meals not listed above (lunches, dinners, snacks)
• Personal expenses
• Travel insurance (medical and trip cancellation is strongly advised; a quote can be provided upon request)

The Lodge

The Eishken Lodge provides a unique experience for its guests. Situated on one of the island’s most impressive estates, this private mid-nineteenth century lodge offers four sitting rooms, a luxurious dining room, roaring fires, games rooms, sauna and steam room, and gym – all for the exclusive use of our group (there will be no other guests in the lodge).

The lodge’s catering team will prepare three meals daily for us from a wide range of offerings, including food that is locally sourced, such as fresh langoustine, lobster, crab from the lodge’s loch, and venison from the estate. Because the daily menu will be personalized for the group, most dietary preferences or restrictions can be accommodated.

Please note that bathrooms in the lodge are shared. However, there are many bathrooms throughout the lodge, which will easily service our small group.

Experience Level: This workshop is suitable for all levels of photographers. We will always be on hand to provide whatever level of instruction you need to ensure you have the technical skills necessary to capture the beauty of the Scottish landscape, as well as the compositional skills that will help you create compelling images.

Fitness Level: Most locations are accessed via short and easy hikes. A few locations require navigating along uneven trails or rocky shorelines. If you have any concerns about your ability to participate in this workshop, please contact us.

Travel services arranged by Fairytale Dreams & Destinations Inc.
12596 Highway 50, Unit 12598, Bolton, Ontario L7E 1T6 • (905) 857-3611 • TICO Registration # 50010111

Payment: A non-refundable deposit of $1,500 is required at the time of registration. The balance of the fee is due June 30, 2023 and is non-refundable. Participants whose balances are not received by the due date risk forfeiture of their place in the workshop. For registrations after June 30, 2023, full payment is required and is non-refundable.

Cancellation Policy: Registration for this workshop is non-refundable; however, it is transferable. If you are unable to participate, you may sell or transfer your spot to another person.

Although extremely unlikely, we reserve the right to cancel this workshop for reasons including, but not limited to, insufficient number of participants, unforeseen circumstances affecting the cost of the travel services provided (accommodations, transportation, etc.), or conditions beyond our control that would compromise the safety of participants. In the event of a cancellation, all payments received would be fully refunded to participants. However, no compensation will be made for flight cancellation fees or other associated travel expenses.

We highly recommend purchasing travel insurance to cover any non-refundable fees associated with this workshop. We would be happy to discuss the options and provide a competitive quote upon request.

Travel Documents: It is your sole responsibility to ensure that you have all the travel documents necessary for this workshop. Also note that entry to another country may be refused even if the required information and travel documents are complete.

Liability: By taking part in this workshop, you are accepting certain risks. Your registration shall serve as a release of our liability and a complete assumption of all risks by you and your heirs, administrator, executor, successors, and assign for all family members. By accepting our terms of service, you are acknowledging that you are aware that travel, wherever it may be, and by whatever means, involves some inherent risk of injury, illness, death, and loss or damage to personal property, which may be caused by acts of nature, negligence, or the actions of others. And you acknowledge that by travelling to remote areas, which may not be maintained to the standards you are accustomed, can involve certain additional risks, dangers, and inconveniences.

You are personally responsible for being in sufficiently good health to take part in this tour. By accepting our terms of service, and by your registration, you certify that you do not knowingly have any physical or other considerations of disability that would create a risk for you or other participants.

In consideration of, and as part of the payment for your participation in this workshop, you are voluntarily releasing David Topping, Viktoria Haack, Fairytale Dreams and Destinations Inc., their employees, assigns, independent contractors, or anyone involved thereof, from any damages, liabilities, costs, or injuries, whether mental or physical, known or unknown; and by participation you agree to assume all risks, whether known or unknown.