Moray Coast Photography Tours & Workshops
small group landscape & seascape workshops
Discover Scotland's north east coast
The wonderful coastline of Moray & Aberdeenshire includes such locations as Findhorn, Crovie, Portsoy, Rattray Head and so much more. Discover and photograph 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.
Locations & Subjects you can Photograph
Dramatic cliff views
Our accommodation, Dipple House in Fochabers 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
Pennan is a charming coastal village set against stunning scenery. A row of houses faces the shimmering ocean, with dramatic, steep-backed cliffs rising behind them. This picturesque spot exudes quaint beauty and tranquillity. The village offers wonderful photography opportunities, capturing the perfect blend of rustic architecture and breathtaking natural landscapes. It’s a hidden gem on Scotland’s coast.
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.
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.
