Moray Coast, Aberdeenshire & Cairngorms
Dramatic clifftops, enchanting coves, paradise beaches & charming towns.
Moray Coast Aberdeenshire & Cairngorms Photography Workshops & Tours
Local guide
I live in Scotland, visit this region often and know all the best places.
Great locations
We will cover all the best locations both well-known and unique.
The best scenery
You will photograph stunning landscapes and seascapes.
Discover Scotland's east coast & the Cairngorms National Park
The wonderful coastline of Moray & Aberdeenshire includes such locations as Findhorn, Crovie, Portsoy, Rattray Head and so much more. Discover over 165 continuous miles of dramatic clifftops, enchanting coves, paradise beaches & charming towns.
From Findhorn in the west to Dunnotar Castle in the south this region has remarkable coastal treasures. There is a raw but natural beauty to this part of the world that gets through to you in a very different way. You’ll be opening your eyes to a most extraordinary corner of Scotland.
Also, we will spend in the Cairngorms National Park
We will discover, experience and be a part of the UK’s largest National Park.
Workshop Details
Small Groups
Maximum of 3 participants.
Duration
Duration 6 nights.
Meeting Place
The Royal Oak Hotel in Cullen
Accommodation Included
The Royal Oak Hotel in Cullen . The Royal Oak is a traditional family run hotel, located only a stone’s throw from the beautiful sandy beaches of Cullen Bay. Nestled in between the famous viaduct and historical fishing village of Seatown.
Transport Included
Complimentary transport during the workshop in my 5-seater Ford Ranger Wildtrak with ample room for all photographic equipment.
Tuition
Workshop tutor Dean Allan is an award winning landscape photographer based in the northern Highlands of Scotland.
You will learn…
How to choose the right settings for each shot.
How to shoot in manual
How to meter and expose correctly
How to use your histogram
How to focus properly
How to compose your shot
How to use fast and slow shutter speeds to be creative
How to use filters
A landscape and seascape photographer's paradise
Dramatic cliff views
Our accommodation, the https://theroyaloakcullen.co.uk, also gives us easy access to the 17th Century harbour at Portsoy (used a location for the next series of the BBC drama, Peaky Blinders), Macduff Harbour (used last month as a location in the next series of The Crown – Netflix’s most popular original show ever produced), Slains Castle – a location commonly linked to the film, Dracula.
It is likely that the castle provided a visual palette for Bram Stoker when he started writing the book in Cruden Bay. The whole area is a magnet for drama and films alike giving the landscape photographer the perfect opportunity to draw inspiration from such awe inspiring locations.
Bow Fiddle Rock
The workshop is designed to provide a balance of visiting a variety of locations which will include seeing the wonderful cliffs and sea stacks at Bow Fiddle in Portknockie. It is a well known and popular location for photographers. But for good reason, it has so much to offer and will really provide so many opportunities to be creative in so many ways. It is a location that will continue to draw you back and is at it’s best at high tide.
Charming coastal villages
Along the coast to the west, we will visit the charming coastal fishing village of Findochty & the largest shingle beach in Scotland at Spey Bay. Spey Bay is a fabulous location for photography as the constant changes caused by the river create a succession of habitats, from bare shingle to coastal grasslands, brackish saltmarsh and wet woodland. And if we’re lucky, we will see the bottle nosed dolphins who populate this area of the coastline.
Further west along the Moray Coast we will visit the coastal villages of Burghead and Findhorn. Both coastal towns provide superb photographic opportunities varying from beautiful soft beaches, rugged harbours, evocative, colourful beach huts, and all set in a landscape of changeable weather, strong tides and dramatic light.
Lighthouses
Further east and south of Pennan, we will explore the fabulous coastal area around Rattray Head, famous for its soft sandy beach, birdlife and the Rattray Head Lighthouse (pictured below). We will explore the rugged coastline, littered with sea stacks and sea arches until we reach the famous Dunnotar Castle. This castle is where legends come to life. This dramatic and evocative ruined cliff top fortress was the home of the Earls Marischal, once one of the most powerful families in Scotland.
Dramatic weather
Steeped in history, this romantic and haunting ruin is a photographer’s paradise, a history lover’s dream and an iconic tourist destination for visitors the world over.
Expect to experience fast moving weather systems, which at times can be challenging and a real test of your technical abilities. The light will change throughout the day and you will learn to get the best out of it – this will help you not only be more productive, it can also foster creativity and make it easier to be more flexible when unexpected conditions happen in the future.
Post processing
During the evenings, we will enjoy looking back over your images shot on location in the digital darkroom. Here, we will look at the techniques used in Lightroom and Photoshop to process your images ready for display. I will be there to help and support you through the post production process and I will be happy to show you processing techniques such as exposure blending, using layers and masks. These evening sessions will be a balance between the days shoot and the post processing. I always encourage a positive group discussion so that you will all leave the week having gathered a wealth of knowledge and new skills.
Discover the magic of the east coast
These workshops are very relaxed which I hope will leave you feeling fulfilled and rewarded.
This small pocket of Scotland is a magical place and a place which offers the photographer so much creative opportunities. And once visited, this area will stay with you for the rest of your life. They are dominated by the force of the weather and are quite unique in appearance.. As a part of the “British” experience they are quite unique, and are much further from London and the centres of political power than can be measured in miles.
Upcoming Workshops on the Moray Coast , Aberdeenshire & the Cairngorms
The Cairngorms & Moray Coast Landscape Photography Workshop 5th – 11th October 2025
FULL PRICE – £1835
(Deposit £400)
5 Bedroom Old Barley Mill – Luxurious Property WITH ALL FOOD INCLUDED….
This is a fantastic workshop set in a world class landscape and staying in a luxury 5 bedroom house. This workshop includes breakfast, a packed lunch and an evening meal. I also provide complimentary transport during your entire stay
Pay full price now or £400 deposit with balance payable 8 weeks before workshop start date.
5th – 11th October 2025
2 PLACES REMAINING
Moray Coast, Aberdeenshire & Cairngorms Photography Workshop – 13th – 19th February 2025
FULL PRICE – £1595
(Deposit £400)
Pay full price now or £400 deposit with balance payable 12 weeks before workshop start date.
13th – 19th February 2025
1 PLACE REMAINING