Scotland
Location: Scotland
Dates: Fall 2021
Deposit: $3,000 / Tuition: $7,995
Travel Into the Heart of The Scottish Highlands, Isle of Skye, and Outer Hebrides With National Geographic Photographer Jim Richardson
The Highlands and Isles of northern Scotland are a land draped in mist, heather, and tartan. Castles loom over stormy lochs, deer wander amongst the rolling hills, and every footpath, trail, and glen possesses an untold story of history, warfare, and whisky. Under the guidance of Jim Richardson, Summit is excited to offer a new workshop to explore the history, nature, and culture of northern Scotland.
Beginning in Inverness, we will travel along the River Spey deep into the highlands of Cairngorms National Park to photograph a traditional highland games and explore the stunning hills covered in bright purple heather. We will stay in a historic inn and will have the chance to photograph a private estate and learn about deer, grouse, and raptor conservation efforts in the region.
From the highlands we will travel west to the Isle of Skye, home to the Old Man of Storr, Quirang, Neist Point, and standing stones. We will stay in a seaside historic hotel in the small village of Portree and days will be spent exploring the otherworldly landscape of Skye, visiting distilleries, fishing villages, and lightouses along the rugged Atlantic coast. After amazing days spent in the countryside, evenings will be spent listening to music (with a dram of whisky of course) at one of the many seaside pubs in the area.
Portree, Skye (our hotel is the white building on the left)
The Baile na Cille, our home while on the Isles of Lewis and Harris
Overlooking the bay at low tide in the area of Timsgarry, Uig on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. One of the most scenic areas I have ever seen in Scotland.
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Overlooking the bay at low tide in the area of Timsgarry, Uig on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. One of the most scenic areas I have ever seen in Scotland.
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To register, please contact [email protected]
What To Know
You will be responsible for booking your flight to Inverness.
Expect cool temperatures and lots of walking.
Because we will be renting out historic and small inns, we will have to be flexible with what room arrangements are available (ex. queen vs. two twins) We will try to accommodate all requests.
Bring extra batteries and memory cards, you will fill them every day!
2021 WORKSHOP INSTRUCTORS
Jim Richardson
Workshop Faculty
Jim has work appearing regularly in National Geographic magazine and National Geographic Traveler in addition to Geographic books. Jim is on assignment for Nat Geo projects almost full time and for good reason. Richardson, a onetime newspaper photographer in Kansas and Colorado, brings amazing story-telling techniques along with detailed research to his pictures. Thirty years ago, he began photographing the area around his hometown in north central Kansas.
Matt Stirn
Program Manager
Matt is the Program Manager at Summit Workshop, a photographer and archaeologist from Jackson, Wyoming. The majority of his work focuses on travel, nature, and cultural and environmental conservation. He is a National Fellow for the Explorer's Club and has worked as a senior photographer and on assignment for archaeological and conservation projects on four continents. Matt's work has been published with National Geographic, BBC World News, Outdoor Photographer Magazine, Wild Planet Photo Magazine, Archaeology Magazine, and Photographers Without Borders Magazine. When not on assignment or digging in an excavation, Matt can be found sampling strange food or sipping artisanal beverages while planning the next grand adventure.
Workshop Information & Itinerary
Trip Highlights:
Small Group Experience (7 Students, 3 Faculty)
Experience Scotland Alongside Jim Richardson
Photograph a traditional highland games
Photograph the Scottish Highlands in Cairngorms National Park
Explore the Isle of Skye
See the standing stones and stunning beaches of the Outer Hebrides
Stay in private lodges and historic inns
Costs Included In Tuition:
Hotels, Transportation, Most Meals, Ferries, Tour Fees
Not Included:
International Flights, Alcohol
To register, please contact [email protected]
Workshop Itinerary
Aug 20
Arrive into Inverness at any time
Aug 21
We will depart in the morning for the Scottish Highlands and drive through stunning scenery to our small village in Cairngorms National Park.
Aug 22
We will wake up early and make a short drive to the Lonach Gathering, a traditional gathering where hundreds of highlanders in traditional dress march from village to village to eventually meet for a highland games. This will be a fantastic day learning about highlander culture and witnessing many of the wild and unique events at the games.
Aug 23
In the morning we will wake up early to photograph sunrise over the Cairngorms. The day will be spent exploring the national park and spending time at a private reserve learning about conservation in the highlands.
Aug 24
This morning we will bid farewell to the highlands and make our way west and over the sea to the Isle of Skye. The drive will take much of the day but we will have plenty of opportunities to photograph stunning scenery throughout the journey.
Aug 25 – 27
Our base for the next several days will be in the majestic fishing village of Portree, where wooden fishing boats are moored at the steps of our hotel. We will spend our days exploring the highlights of Skye including the Old Man of Storr, Neist Point Lighthouse, and Quiraing. Because of the long summer nights at our northern latitude, we will be able to have nice dinners at the local pub before heading back out to photograph sunset each night.
Aug 28
Leaving Skye, we will take a car ferry to the Outer Hebrides, the Isles of Lewis and Harris. Our private hotel, the Baile Na Cille is located on white sand shores of the North Atlantic and will offer a spectacular base to explore the surrounding isles.
Aug 29 – Sept 1
We will spend our days exploring the neighboring Isles of Lewis and Harris. If the weather cooperates, we will spend one day on a private boat to explore the spectacular Isle of Saint Kilda, home to tens of thousands of seabirds and puffins.
Sept 2
It will finally be time to return to Inverness, but the adventure isn’t quite over. A ferry across the North Sea will take us to the port town of Ullapool where we will meander our way along lochs and rolling hills to Inverness. After a final dinner and pint at the pub, we will bid farewell to an amazing journey.
Sept 3
Depart anytime.
