Isle of Skye & Glencoe Photography Tour | 18 - 25 January 2025

Join me for a fabulous photography tour and workshop based on the Isle of Skye and Glencoe in Scotland during the Winter of 2025. The photo tour is centred in the very heart of Glencoe and Portree on the Isle of Skye. We will use our two bases to photograph the stunning mountain scenery of Glencoe as well as the surrounding Scottish Highlands landscape and lochs up on the Isle of Skye.

During January, the area around Glencoe will be transformed into a winter wonderland. Snow will be on the high peaks and with any luck will be on the ground around Rannoch Moor. The Isle of Skye is similar and if we’re lucky we may even get an aurora borealis above the island.

Our stay is based firstly in the village of Onich, 5 miles north of Glencoe. Double rooms are provided with breakfast. Then we will move northwards to the Isle of Skye where our stay will be based in the Portree Hotel which is a central point on the island.

Highlights of the Isle of Skye and Glencoe photo tour, other than the endless mountainous scenery, will be Rannoch Moor, Buchaille Etive Mor, Lochan na h-Achlaise and the Black Mount as well as other places such as Castle Stalker and and the Fort William area. And up on the Isle of Skye will will cover locations such as the Old Man of Storr, the Trotternish Ridge and Elgol.

During January the average time of sunrise is 0850am whilst sunset is around 400pm. During our photo tour of the Isle of Skye and Glencoe, we will have breakfast before heading out to catch the sunrise.

After sunrise, we continue until lunchtime either into the landscape or in woodland before breaking for lunch.

In the afternoon, we’ll head back out again this time concentrating on photographing the landscapes. The day will finish with sunset then we’ll head back to our base to eat dinner in the evening.Isle of Skye.

18 January 2025

Pick up at Glasgow Airport (GLA) at 930am. From here we will drive to our hotel in Onich to start the photo tour of Glencoe. We will endeavor to make the best of the light during the day and capture the stunning scenery around us.

19 – 21 January 2025

During the next two days, we will again make the best of the scenery of the Scottish Highlands around the Glencoe area. In the late morning, we’ll start the drive northwards to the Isle of Skye where we’ll check into our hotel in Portree.

22 – 24 January 2025

We’ll have three whole days to take in the otherworldly landscapes of the Isle of Skye. This island otherwise known as the Inner Hebrides has become world renowned for its stunning scenery. We’ll have access to places such as the Trotternish Ridge, the Old Man of Storr (a 1-hour hike up), and Elgol.

25 January 2025

If we get the weather then we’ll head out to do one last sunrise then head back to Glasgow Airport (GLA) for a drop-off time of 630PM. This will give us plenty of time for us to take the long drive back and stop for lunch on the way.

In January temperatures can reach well below freezing and especially so on Rannoch Moor. You’ll need to ensure that you have clothing that will keep you warm from the inevitable cold and wind chill that we will be experiencing during our days out.

Make sure you bring good quality footwear as well as warm socks. Wind chill is likely to be a factor as if we are standing around waiting for the most opportune light then you’ll need to make sure you have the appropriate clothing such as a down jacket to deal with this. Don’t forget the all-important base and mid-layers too. A good pair of trousers to ensure that your legs are kept warm. I usually put my Paramo Cascada trousers on to help against the cold. Lastly, make sure a good quality hat and gloves are part of your wardrobe.

Good, sturdy walking shoes that are waterproof are perfect for the terrain that we’ll be working in. Places such as Rannoch Moor can be wet and muddy underfoot and so make sure your feet are protected. On the Isle of Skye be prepared for the rocky beaches and hike to the Old Man of Storr.

A wide-angle lens (16-35mm) and medium zoom (24-70mm) are the lenses we’ll be using the most. A longer zoom (100-400mm) will be useful to cover most compositional eventualities that we may need to isolate. It’s likely the most used lens will be in the 24-70mm range as a super wide-angle can create the pancake effect on the mountainous landscape, so make sure this focal length is covered. 

Although not essential, it’s a great idea to bring a laptop computer with you so you can discuss imagery with myself. 

What’s included in the tour?

• Double room single occupancy accommodation with ensuite bathrooms
• Breakfasts
• Transport during the tour
• Pickup from Glasgow Airport (GLA)
• Tuition from Julian Elliott

What’s not included

• Meals not mentioned
• Transport to Glasgow Airport
• Insurance