Hi all,

Within the next couple of months I'll slowly be migrating back home to England, having been fortunate enough (as many of you will be aware) to have been studying somewhere as picturesque as St Andrews. In my 5 or so years here I've found time to explore relatively little of the surrounding country, making the odd brief road trip to places like Loch Ness and Skye, but not much more.

What I saw while on the move left me yearning for more, and I'm finally in a position where I have a free work schedule for a bit and a reliable car... soo.... I'm thinking of heading on the odd short excursion around the highlands. Only thing is I could use some pointers on general areas/ specific photogenic locations to head to.... I'm up for hiking, maybe camping, and would want to avoid too many things requiring entrance fees unless it's essential.

Any ideas?

Adam

Adam best of luck with your excursion.Sorry that i cannot help you about deirectionms etc.I will be waiting what jewels you capture on camera when you are out on excursions.
Regards
Christo.

cheers Christo

just thought I'd add this link in: http://www.photospots.co.uk/

I've always wanted for something like that... but it seems a little sparse in Scotland (and generally actually, at the moment)

Adam
Thank you for sharing the link mate.Trust i will still see more jewels that you have captured when you are back in England.Have a safe trip and may Gods hand be over you and everyone else when you are heading back my friend.
Christo

I've only been to Scotland a few times, but I loved the west coast spots, especially Plockton and the surrounding area.  Oban was also a good base for sightseeing journeys.  And I would have liked to spend more time in Inverness, too.  Looking forward to your visual records!

 West Coast... hands down... and bring me along too - when you going? =P

Fisrt take plenty of Midgie spray..the place is absolutley awash with them..especially near the Lochs.
We have been over to the west caost area a few times...great for landscapes.
In my own humble opinion some of the better known lochs were disappointing in as much as you can drive around them but cant see much of them...Loch Lomond and Loch Ness are two that come to mind.
Many of the castles are no more than a pile of rubble.There are some great ones but check out for images of any of them on the net before going there.Plus your going to pay a price to go in.
Loch Sheil is beautiful from the Glenfinnan area..plus there is a huge viaduct there where a steam train goes over from Fort William.Check the times on the net to make sure your at the Viaduct well before it comes.
There is a car park at Glenfinnan ( you have to pay ) but it is only a very short walk to a great vantage point for super shots of the viaduct..train and Loch Sheil.   
The drive from Fort William to Malag is beautiful with several little lakes on the way.
Loch Linnhie is beautiful..on a calm day lovely coast shots..in poor weather lots of very moody shots with clouds hanging over the mountians.
Not sure if this is what you want but tell you more if you need it.
You can see some shots on my site at

http://www.eddie-john-photography.co.uk/scotland-galleries.htm

Eddie

thank you everyone for your replies, Rich and I spoke last night and are thinking of heading in the general direction of west coast, with a few places earmarked depending on how we do with time/weather. don't think there will be time to make it over to Skye or up to the north coast on this occasion, but we'll see what the west has to offer.

great tips Eddie, and very nice photos on your website.... I remember the area around Fort William was very beautiful but I didn't have enough time to explore it fully last time. Loch Linnhie sounds useful to know about given the possibility of overcast weather/ rainy spells, so will definitely check that out a bit later.... today I'm planning and researching for a 2 1/2 day trip so I guess we're more along the lines of being selective than incorporating everything going. I'll note everything mentioned here and amalgamate it with the few places I've come up with so far.

In my notes at this point as possible places/ places I need to research:

• Dunkeld Falls
• Luss (Loch Lomond)
• Scourie (count that out for this time, too far north)
• Glencoe
• Kilchurn Castle
• Five Sisters of Kintail, Loch Duich
• Bruar Falls
• Rogie Falls (with susp. bridge)
• Buachaille Etive Mor
• Clyde Falls

Input most welcome ;)

Cheers,

Adam

If your in Glencoe then you have to photograph Blackrock cottage..every one does it with Buachaille Etive Mor ( a big pointed mountain ) in the background.Its a left turn off the A82..same turning as for the ski centre.Going on down the A82 towards Glncoe there is a turning left for Loch Etive..just as you go down the road there is a small area to park on the left near a bridge.Park there and cross the road and walk a few yards and you will have a glorious view of a river crashing over rocks with Buachaille Etive Mor in the background..great shot and it is on my site.Loch Etive is lovely..old remains of a wooden pier  ( on my site..maybe in the black and white file ) About a 20 to 30 minute drive from the A82. 
As you go from Glencoe to Fort William after a while you will glimpse a castle in Loch Linnhie.
You go round a bend and up a hill ( still on the A82 ) and there is a cafe on the left...behind the cafe is a parking area where you can walk down a short way to get shots of the castle in the loch.
There is a road where you can drive right around Loch Leven....some nice shots to be had there.There is also a water fall in a little village at the top of the loch at I think Kinlochmore.
Didnt go to it but may be worth a visit if you are up that way.
Kilchurn Castle can be photographed from both sides of the loch..who ever isnt driving needs to look out for a good shot.
Check out the Scotland galleries on this girls site..shes bloody good..got my inspiration for Scotland from her.

http://rebeccacusworth.com/

Eilean Donan Castle is a real stunner.You just park right next to it and get the camera out.Bit of a drive as it is just before you go onto the Isle of Skye on the A87.If you get there shoot it from both sides..some from the car park and some from the long bridge...looks better with the tide up so you may want to check that out if you intend to go there..use the BBC tide and times site.
Eddie

Eddie I'm blown away by this, thank you so much for your detailed help! I'm going to immerse myself in a bit of research and report back with a plan of attack when I've looked at maps/places/forecasts.... I'm driving on this occasion so I'll make a note of the places Rich should be keeping his eye out for.

Those pics you linked to are stunning, I can see why they might act as a great source of inspiration. I 'did' Eilean Donan on my trip early last year to Skye, although admittedly the light wasn't fantastic and I think I could do it better now, but if we're swinging by the area and the light is interesting it'd be worth jumping out for a quick half hour. At the time I took it I was relatively happy with my panorama of the place: http://www.renderosity.com/mod/gallery/full.php?member&image_id=1652561

Thanks again, I think we now have easily enough ideas, it'll just be cherrypicking the best and cramming them into a full 2-day schedule... west coast is looking a general favourite though =)

Yeah I have to admit that damn girl annoyed me...in as much as her work was so good but since then I have worked harder on my pics and sold some so I have her to thank for that.
I will just say the it doesnt look far from Fort William but it is a long drive..just thought I would remind you.
Liked your image of the castle,I would have dodged and burnt a bit but we all have our own tastes and what suits me doesnt suit every one else..great thing about photography.
I have to say I think Loch Lomond is a waste of time.never seen many good shots of it which is an indication that you cant get to much of it.
There are a few pull ins..one near some restuarant come shop which is where some clan got slaughtered but if I had to cherry pic I would forget it.
There is a castle on Loch Ness but when I saw the size of the area where you turn into it with its car lanes and coach lanes I shuddered at the thought of the cost.We skipped that one.
On the east side of Loch Ness there is a water fall at a place called Foyers..or near it.
Not a long walk from the road but with limited parking near a shop and I think a hotel.
Quite a famous falls for some reason but I would only suggest it if you run out of ideas..bit of a joke that.
Above that at a place called Dores there is a little bay by a pub in the village with some Nessy crap there  ( I think a guy whos been there a trillion years hoping to see it..some one should tell him ) but if your that way its a good view down the loch although you would be shooting into the sun..thats another laugh..sun.
If you need to know anything else let me know.
Have a great trip.We are going to Glencoe in September...our fourth journey to Scotland. 
 

It will be a long while until we have enough cash for another trip...this sounds very much fun for you folks.  Scotland was an intended next visit, not just to touch as last time but to go into depth.

If you are  blessed with the light and views you need please share later.

Oh my, you are right about the lady photographer.  Thanks for the link to stunning images.            Tom

Just to add to the confusion of planning I found this guy a few weeks back.
May be useful now or in the future..its the lazy photographers guide

http://www.dslr.co.uk/Articles/index.htm

Eddie

had a look at that and seems very useful... I guess really lazy = time constrained, and that's definitely us ;) so a nice read...
thanks for all the help I'll check back tomorrow with some plans!
Adam

Hi Adam,
hope you enjoy your trip where-ever you end up.
Theres some good advice about going over to the west coast.
One of the loveliest parts is, as ejn says, the drive from Fort William to Malaig.
If I was to pick an area though, it would be without doubt Inverpolly, north of Ullapool.
As you drive into (Inverpollaidh) its like you've entered another country, or went back in time.  The hills seem ancient and prehistoric, they seem to rise up from the landscape in a way you don't see else where in Scotland.  Theres some wonderful beaches , never mind the spectacular mountains, amazing waterfalls like Corrieshalloch and Ullapool makes a great base with plenty of accomodation , pubs restaraunts etc.
http://www.renderosity.com/mod/gallery/index.php?image_id=1513726&member

A walk up Stac Pollaidh is a real treat, if you've a head for heights, and the Ben Mor Cogaich ridge is also fabulous.
Try this site for easily the best information available for hillwalking in Scotland.
http://www.scottishhills.com/html/index.php

I've done over half the Monroes and been up the likes of the Cobbler at Arrochar almost 40 times, its something that just keeps pulling you back for more, but Inverpollaidh just has to be seen. If you do get the chance don't miss it.
Theres loads more scotland shots on my RR gallery, or on my website.
http://aangusphotography.com/

Expect midgies too.
They're why walking is so popular in Scotland, coz as soon as you stop they're at you!
Look forward to seeing you pictures.
Anthony

ok ok I've been a bit slow updating on here, but now it's the weekend here we go..

Anthony - thanks very much your help/advice/links ... having a look at both yours and Eddie's websites I don't think I could have asked for much more qualified aid! Inverpollaidh sounds great, gonna read up on that a bit, but long walks may be out of the question due to time constraints. I've certainly made a mental bookmark though..

If I only make it to one place, it's likely to be the Glenfinnan viaduct, but I'll factor in whatever else I can on the way there and back. I checked the train times and figured I should aim to be in position sometime around 11am or 1:15pm assuming it's about 1/3 of the way along the line from Ft William to Mallaig. It's likely to be a spur of the moment journey based on the weather forecast..

Speaking of which, Rich decided to postpone his expensive train ticket given the showery forecast on the west coast this weekend, but it's not such a long journey for me so I'll try and get "oot and aboot" sometime soon regardless... with plenty of midgie spray in tow ;)

almost drove down to the Forth bridge yesterday as the light was so nice and I'm yet to photograph it, but decided it'd make more sense to stop off on my voyage home in a couple of weeks. I'm guessing it's easier to get a good angle from between the bridges in South Queensferry than from the north side.... Rich? input?

anyway there's my little update of sorts, thanks you guys for the help, you rock!

Adam

Just a tip on the ride to Glenfinnan.We left in time to get there and got stuck behind a caravan.
We actually got there for 11.00...the bloody train was five minutes early and was going over the viaduct as we parked the car...the air was pretty blue as you can image.
When we were there the train stayed quite a while at the station.Just in case there are a couple of places to pull in further up the road and you will see the train coming thru the glen.
Probably wont happen to you but mentioned it just in case.
After the viaduct shot you just have to do the momument with Loch Sheil in the back ground...stunner if you get the light.
Eddie

Oh and have a great time....:-)

 Take it from the south - i have a feeling there is a cliff in the way on the north - tho could be worth investigating.  Most of the shots you see are from the south.  If you are feeling particularly lazy / have a good book you could get there for sunrise and wait until sunset taking the same panorama at 30min - 1 hour intervals and then put them all together in vertical slices... (shop next to tesco's in st andrews had a similar photo in a few years back - looked pretty cool)

bump... so this doesn't drop off the boards...
probably going sometime towards the end of this week and would like to be able to refer easily to the great advice above, cheers hope you don't mind ;)