Topic: Hebrides, Scotland, any advice? (Read 10000 times)

crisdesign · « **on:** May 22, 2011, 10:21:09 am »

Hi,
After seeing Edge of the World by Jim Richardson on NGM
I decided I had to go there.

I'm planning a 10 day trip at the end of june and i was wondering if you guys have any recommendation?
I will land and depart from Inverness and have 10 full days, my rough idea is to see Skye and Harris.

Thanks so much for your help.
Cris

Here's my short list but i feel it's already too much stuff...

INVERNESS
Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle

INVERNESS TO SKIE
Loch Duich
Eilean Donan castle

SKYE
The Old Man of Storr
Black Cuillins
Dunvegan Castle
Loch Coruisk
Assynt

ISLE OF HARRIS
Luskentyre, Scarista and Dalbeg

ISLE OF LEWIS
Calanais, Lewis

INVERNESS TO LEWIS
Loch Torridon
Applecross
Rua Reidh Lighthouse
Inverpolly
Achiltibuie
Ardvreck Castle lock Assynt

Wim van Velzen · « **Reply #1 on:** May 22, 2011, 10:31:37 am »

hi Cris,

The Hebrides are a wonderful place (I have loads of pictures on my site: http://www.fotografiewimvanvelzen.nl).

Inverness and Urquhart castle are not all that interesting, so I would go Skye, Harris and Lewis. Be sure to make the most of the early morning and evening light. You'll probably find yourself making photographs from 4 - 7 a.m. and 7 - 10 p.m, having a wee sleep in between...

cheers! Wim

Ben Rubinstein · « **Reply #2 on:** May 22, 2011, 10:32:03 am »

Urquhart Castle is not that exciting, I'd take a detour to Glen Afric (about 15 mins drive from Inverness) instead, especially at Dawn.

Lisa Nikodym · « **Reply #3 on:** May 22, 2011, 01:11:12 pm »

On my one trip to Scotland many years ago, my favorite part was wandering around the following pair of brochs (ancient stone forts), which were a little ways off the road leading to the Skye ferry (if I remember correctly):
http://www.lochalsh.co.uk/glenelg_broch.shtml

You may need to have a love of archaeological sites and other "old stones" to really appreciate them, but I did. They might not be much out of your way...

Lisa

Ben Rubinstein · « **Reply #4 on:** May 22, 2011, 01:20:15 pm »

Don't forget the Farie (fairy) Glen on Skye, incredible to shoot, georgous to walk around in.

One of the best things about Skye is the incredible amount of photographic (and soul relaxing!) opportunities within just minutes drive of each other. I spent 2 weeks there in 2004 and if I had to retire somewhere...

IanP · « **Reply #5 on:** May 22, 2011, 03:08:14 pm »

Hi Cris - my advice as follows;

Leave Inverness asap heading north on A9 then west on A835 to Garve. Turn left at Garve then left again at Achnasheen further down the road. This is when the real stuff starts and photo opportunities abound! Follow the road to Kinlochewe then turn left for Torridon. Travel around the Torridon peninsula anti-clockwise from Shieldaig to Applecross. Take the 'bealach na ba' from Applecross east to Kishorn then through Lochcarron village and around Loch Carron to the village of Plockton. From here take one of the wee roads south to join the A87 (small detour east along A87 to take in Eilean Donan castle at Dornie). Now head west on the A87 and over the bridge to Skye. Take the ferry from Uig at the top of Skye to Tarbert on Harris & nip south for Sielebost,Losgaintir and Scarista beaches. Travel on north to Lewis for Calanais stones and get ferry from Stornoway to Ullapool. Get out of Ullapool asap heading north then west to Achiltibuie. Take the wee Inverpolly coastal road north to Lochinver then pick up the A837 around Loch Assynt and back to Ullapool. From Ullapool take the A835 back to Inverness.

I'd waste no time in Inverness, Ullapool or on the roads between Inverness and Garve and then Ullapool to Inverness on your return. If you're into landscapes that is!!!

This route will take in all your choices in the most sensible manner I think. There are plenty of wee gems along the way - research well in advance and use the OS 1:50000 maps for navigation - plenty of topographical detail. Book the ferries (Caledonian MacBrayne) well in advance - especially the Stornoway to Ullapool one.

Good luck

Ian.

PS there's a link on my website where you can search some of my photos of the area. The pictures are not stunners but may give you some ideas.

markadams99 · « **Reply #6 on:** May 23, 2011, 03:20:37 am »

I second IanP's advice and excellent itinerary. Your time is better spent in the Highlands and Islands than round Inverness.

On car rental from Inverness Airport: I've had good experience with Hertz there, but try booking the car over the internet without registering any Hertz Gold membership or other preferential treatment. The preferential treatment gets you twice the rate compared with a punter who appears to their algorithm to be shopping around. Last time I got a 4-door Kia Diesel for £110 for 5 days all-in, > 450 miles per tank, which is a great advantage away from civilization.

Here's a few recent shots of the Lewis ferry at Ullapool and taking off for Stornaway. More of the area north of Ullapool here.

jeremyrh · « **Reply #7 on:** May 24, 2011, 10:04:08 am »

Excellent advice from IanP - that is exactly where I would go.

Slightly obvious comment: take raingear !! Scotland in the sun is as beautiful as anywhere I have seen. But ....

crisdesign · « **Reply #8 on:** May 25, 2011, 04:50:49 pm »

Thanks Ian, Mark and others!
i'm studying the itinerary you are proposing, i probably stay in skye and harris and skip other things.
Thanks again

Ken Bennett · « **Reply #9 on:** May 25, 2011, 09:29:14 pm »

If you are going to be in Skye, and you happen to appreciate a wee dram, the Talisker distillery might be worth a few hours at midday, when the light is no good anyway.

viswan · « **Reply #10 on:** May 26, 2011, 01:30:57 am »

HI:

I have a whole series on the Hebrides at my website, you might check it out for ideas. It sounds like you could easily spend 2 weeks just on Skye alone..... I am a believer in staying in one place and knowing an area well. I was about 7 weeks just on South Uist, North Uist, and Barra alone...... and those are small islands!!

My site - http//www.joseftornick.com

DavidJ · « **Reply #11 on:** May 26, 2011, 05:26:10 am »

If you are new to the North West of Scotland do remember that the best light is often accompanied by the Scottish monster 'the swarm of midges' go prepared!!! Getting badly bitten can spoil a photography holiday.

Also some of the roads to the best places are single track so you need a fairly relaxed driving schedule.

David

Ben Rubinstein · « **Reply #12 on:** May 26, 2011, 06:47:46 am »

Was just about to mention the midges...

jeremyrh · « **Reply #13 on:** May 26, 2011, 07:36:33 am »

I have a whole series on the Hebrides at my website, you might check it out for ideas. It sounds like you could easily spend 2 weeks just on Skye alone..... I am a believer in staying in one place and knowing an area well. I was about 7 weeks just on South Uist, North Uist, and Barra alone...... and those are small islands!!

My site - http//www.joseftornick.com

Awesome, awesome, awesome pictures. I have seen them before on Lens Work, and if they don't provide inspiration for a Scottish trip, nothing will !!!

Chairman Bill · « **Reply #14 on:** May 26, 2011, 08:32:30 am »

Midgies - the potential for death by exsanguination if you hang around too long. Get a midge-net to wear over a wide-brimmed hat, roll your sleeves down, tuck your trousers into gaiters, socks, or use drawcords to close them around your boot-tops. Then stay indoors, just to be on the safe side.

Ben Rubinstein · « **Reply #15 on:** May 26, 2011, 08:47:37 am »

Nah you can't stay indoors, I shot this image while being eaten to death by midgies on Skye.

keithrsmith · « **Reply #16 on:** May 28, 2011, 03:24:22 am »

Dare I share these images from a trip to the western isles last year.

http://www.keithrsmith.webege.com/western%20isles/index.html

Keith

ps Please be gentle with me.

markadams99 · « **Reply #17 on:** May 28, 2011, 03:50:56 am »

Keith. Here's what I think:

1. This thread is about the Hebrides, not the Caribbean!
2. If you culled the gallery down to 15-20 best shots, it'd have more impact.
3. The blue of the sky seems slightly lurid to my eye.
4. I love these northern clime sea-surrounded setttings where the light bounces up and down between the sea and the sky. Jutland's the same.
5. Good stuff! The wind-spun clouds make some fine images.

stamper · « **Reply #18 on:** May 28, 2011, 04:02:43 am »

Quote from: Chairman Bill on May 26, 2011, 08:32:30 am

Midgies - the potential for death by exsanguination if you hang around too long. Get a midge-net to wear over a wide-brimmed hat, roll your sleeves down, tuck your trousers into gaiters, socks, or use drawcords to close them around your boot-tops. Then stay indoors, just to be on the safe side.

and open a good bottle of malt.....?

Sussex Landscapes · « **Reply #19 on:** May 29, 2011, 04:39:14 am »

think of the driving distances and how long you have.
Rub re lighthouse is a lenghty drive on its own from the villgae, though worth the effort.
if heading out Applecross way, be sure to stop off at Russell Burn
when heading north, stop off at the small sands of mellon udrigle, very nice
you can as mentioned turnoff of Torridon, but drive on another 2 miles for Loch Maree, very nice again
images can be seen on y website under the scottish folder, along withsome others:
www.sussexlandscapephotography.co.uk

happy shooting,

simon

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