May 12th to May 22nd
2008
$3,725 USD per person [land
only] | Limited to 8 photo travelers
This photography tour has 0 sign-ups, and
8 places are available at this time
updated Friday the 9th of May, 2008
GATEWAY
CITY: Glasgow, Scotland [GLA] | ARRIVAL WINDOW: 7:30 a.m. to
10 a.m.
Go
to
Orbitz
for the average roundtrip air-fare from your city
Air New Zealand have a very good UK
fare for US west coast dwellers
here.
Also see
Scotland
photo essay
OUTLINE: The
isles of Mull, Skye, and Iona, plus the western Highlands and bagpipers etcetera - a memorable Gaelic sojourn!
Hear the name 'Scotland', and your mind is most probably flooded
with mental images of timeless castles aside placid lochs, or
perched on rock outcrops. Understandably, you might toss in an
audio background of a lone bagpiper’s lament drifting across
loch, and peaks of tussock grass, Sheep and purple Heather. Yes,
that is Scotland, but there is much more! British Photographer
John Baker will guide you around the Highlands and Islands of
the Inner Hebrides taking in Mull, Iona and “over the sea to
Skye.” The small group of 7 maximum will then photo-explore Glen
Coe, the western Highlands, and the Loch Ness region.
The lighting is often moody, and a shaft of light illuminating
white-washed cottage, castle and glen is what is ‘scheduled’ for
you! It’s ancient, modern, and magical. The folk are laden with
barely discernable accents, but a willingness to share
their homeland of granite and green slopes, ocean and colorful
tartans.
OVERSEAS TRAVEL
<> It is recommended, but not imperative, that you arrive a day early to be fresh and on time for the trip!
<> Early arrival also enables you to explore the gateway city should you wish.
<> A late flight arrival on day 1 of the trip might entail you having to find your own way to the first hotel, if not close to the airport.
<> Please note that the ending date of the trip is the day of your departure flight. Please arrange your flights accordingly.
Clients from the Americas, Africa, Asia and Australasia should depart their home country a day or two prior to Day 1 for on-time arrival in Glasgow, Scotland.
DAY 1
| To SCOTLAND and the ISLE of MULL Arrive Glasgow in the early a.m. to be met by John and head via the ‘high road’ via Loch Lomond to the
very photogenic and historic Inverary. The town, harbor and castle will provide plenty of ‘emulsion diminishment’ along with remote Kilchurn Castle to the north, and then we’ll
continue on to Oban for harbor photography and a ride on the last
ferry out to the Isle of Mull. It is an island oft described “as
Scottish as heather and porridge", and is a lush, green Scottish
domain peppered with Black-face Sheep, Highland cattle and
whitewashed cottages. You'll photograph the well situated Duart
Castle from the ferry ride then from Craignure we'll make our way to
Tobermory for a one-night stay. ISLE of MULL, 1 night
DAYS 2 and 3
| The ISLE of IONA
You'll be out before breakfast to explore the colorful Tobermory
harbor where sunken ships still hold tightly onto their centuries
old treasures, and the place that British children dream of after
seeing TV's 'Balamory' program. After breakfast we'll loop around
the island on a one-lane road shooting as we go for several hours. On south late in the day
to Fionnphort for our short ferry ride to the enchanting Isle of Iona. The island is considered to be one the most significant seats of Christianity in Britain, and was established by St. Columba in 563. It is a peaceful place preserved by the Scottish National Trust, and which you will find quite striking and timeless. The Abbey, Celtic crosses, coastline and Scottish island life will bring you much photographic and spiritual fulfillment,
and it is a wonderful place to walk around and take in the
invigorating Atlantic breezes. ISLE of IONA, 2 nights
DAY 4 | To GLEN COE Leaving Iona in the morning we’ll shoot more of the Isle of Mull
including the Torosay Castle gardens and Duart Castle set against
the Sound of Mull. Then a short ferry over the same back to the mainland
where the terrain, and the photographic opportunities constantly change as we skirt inland lochs making our way to Glen Coe. In the late light of the evening we’ll carefully compose images that convey the uniqueness and ruggedness of his rocky valley. It is also so the spot where the MacDonald Clan were massacred after befriending their visitors. GLEN COE, 1 night
DAYS 5, 6 and 7
| The ISLE of SKYE Back to Glen Coe for the early light, then following breakfast we’ll be heading north to the valley of Glen Nevis. It is lush with foliage and Highland cattle, and is dominated by the slopes of Ben Nevis, Scotland’s highest mountain at 4,406’. On our way to Skye we'll pause to photograph Lochs Garry and Loyne before moving on to 13th century Eilean Donan Castle on the banks of Loch Duich . . . a castle in a spectacular setting. "Over the sea to Skye", to our new 3 night base on the island made lyrically infamous. Days 9 and 10 will be spent photographing the Cuillin Hills, Old Man of Storr, whitewashed cottages, Dunvegan Castle, the Elgol road and
Common Seals etcetera. Portree harbor hosts a spectacular sight in the evenings when fishing boats return to the harbor with a myriad of gulls in tow. You’ll be on hand to record it all. ISLE of SKYE, 3 nights
DAY 8 | To GAIRLOCH We depart Skye today and make our way to nearby picturesque Plockton and it’s lush foliage warmed by the gulf stream. Via Loch Carron to detour over the spectacular Applecross Pass, and down to the village of the same name. We’ll depart Applecross on the new coastal route and go via Loch Torridon and Loch Maree to Gairloch on Loch
Gairloch. Near GAIRLOCH, 1 night
DAY 9 To LOCH
NESS There are several one-way coastal roads to be explored in the Gairloch area, and the highlight will be that on which the Rudha Reidh lighthouse stands to the north. On to the famed Inverewe Gardens, a National Trust property for some ‘tamed’ color and excellence, to contrast with the wild Iris’s, Marigolds and Yellow Gorse seen throughout western Scotland at this time of year. We’ll look for small fishing boats bringing their catch to the quayside in Ullapool harbor, and then turn eastwards to take in Cawdor Castle near Inverness. Lastly, the late light on Urquhart Castle on the banks of Loch
ness. DRUMNADROCHIT, 1 night
DAY 10 | To
GLASGOW First light on Urquhart Castle that sits on the banks of Loch Ness, then after breakfast we'll find Scottish bagpipers to photograph there if we haven't done so previously on the trip. Today is a ‘mop-up’ day insomuch that if inclement weather has curbed photography at a favored spot during the trip, we have the opportunity to detour there on our way south.
You'll enjoy another opportunity to photograph Glen Coe as we
head south. Near
GLASGOW, 1 night
DAY 11 | Flights home Rides to the airport following breakfast this morning, and home to the USA for arrival on the same calendar day. Our trip won’t quite be over as we’ll have the field notes and photographs to carry us back to ‘bonnie wee Scotland!’
Trip Leader:
John Baker
This
itinerary is © John Baker, Travel Images,
and is not to be copied by business entities for their own
professional use.
PHOTO TOUR FEES
PRICE: $3,725 per person, double occupancy [land only]
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: $370
SMALL
GROUP SUPPLEMENT:
Only applicable to groups of less than 6.
For 5 photo travelers the Small-Group Supplement is $370 per person
For 4 photo travelers the Small-Group Supplement is $740 per person
ADMISSIONS:
Admission to the Torosay Castle gardens, Dunvegan Castle, small
boat ride for close-ups of Common Seals, Inverewe
Gardens, Cawdor Castle, Ferry rides
and the
tipping of Bagpipers for 'photographic purposes' are included in the trip fees. All other admissions such as
Inverary Castle, Duart Castle, Eilean Donan Castle, Urquhart Castle are optional and not included. You will of course have free reign to photograph the exterior of locations not included, and if time permits, to enter at your own expense.
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