Scotland Landscape, Culture, and Whisky Photography Tour I

Itinerary

Sunday, May 15

Depart US/Canada

Monday, May 16

Arrive in Edinburgh, Scotland, any time of day. Transfers provided to the Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh. Spend the day at leisure to recover from jet lag or begin exploring Edinburgh’s many attractions,  just outside your room within walking distance. Pamper yourself in premium “rooms with a view” for two nights at the renowned Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh.

Tuesday, May 17 (B, D)

Gourmet breakfast at the Waldorf. We’ll head out in the early morning to explore the medieval Old Town of Edinburgh with a local guide. Along the Royal Mile, we’ll photograph the historic fortress, Edinburgh Castle. Other highlights along the Royal Mile include Victorian-style houses, Holyrood Palace, and an extensive mix of shops, restaurants, galleries, museums, and pubs. Edinburgh is a beautiful city rich in history! Lunch on your own with some free time to explore. A pre-dinner whisky tasting at The Scotch Whisky Experience for those interested. Group welcome dinner to follow. Overnight Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh

Wednesday, May 18 (B, L, D)

Today we’ll board our private 35-passenger coach with bathroom and make our way to the beautiful Isle of Skye. Our first planned stop will be at the small St. John’s Episcopal Church in Ballachulish. This time of year the bluebells should be in full bloom, a beautiful foreground for photographing this old stone church. We’ll stop for a quick tasting at the Ben Nevis Distillery in Fort William (along with any others that we may pass along the way). Visit and photograph the romantic and iconic Eilean Donan Castle. On an island, surrounded by the forested mountains of Kintail and at the meeting point of three sea-lochs, Eilean Donan is an awe-inspiring site, and in fact, one of the most recognized castles in Scotland. Lunch on Isle of Skye with a quick stop at The Gaelic Whiskies before we arrive at the beautiful Kinloch Lodge. Tonight we dine at their Michelin-starred restaurant.

Thursday, May 19 (B, D)

An early breakfast and then depart to the oldest continuously inhabited castle in Scotland, Dunvegan Castle. Dunvegan is situated on a rocky outcrop from the shores of Loch Dunvegan and has been home to the Chiefs of Clan McLeod for nearly 800 years! Photograph the vast landscapes of Skye.

No trip would be complete with out a little shopping therapy…guess who included this in the schedule?? We plan to stop at Skyeskyns, where sheepskins are made using time-honored methods of leather-making, one of the oldest crafts known to man. Find a lasting Skye keepsake – luxurious fleeces and quality leather goods, including the world-famous Highland hand-combed fleece, exclusive to Skyeskyns. One more chance for a unique Skye keepsake today when we visit Edinbane Pottery, supplying an alluring variety of unique wood-fired pottery.

We continue the scenic loop around Skye, visiting the famous Kilt Rock, spectacular sea cliffs that resemble a kilt due to the colorful basalt columns that form it. Mealt Waterfall fireballs off the cliffs into the Sound of Rassay below. We will see Old Man of Storr, a large, spectacular pinnacle of rock featured in the movie Prometheus. The day will be filled with landscape photography. The month of May on Skye is full of frolicking spring lambs – hard to not stop and photograph the spring babies! A full day ending with dinner and an evening shoot of the Portree Harbor. Overnight Kinloch Lodge

Friday, May 20 (B, D)

On our final day on the Isle of Skye, we’ll make a visit to the captivating Fairy Pools of Glen Brittle. Here waterfalls from the River Brittle create blue and aqua crystal-clear water pools. The Fairy Pools combined with the rocky Callin mountains of Skye as a backdrop create stunning landscapes. After the Fairy Pools, we’ll surely be ready for a swallow of award-winning single malt Scotch whisky, so we’ll head over to the Talisker Distillery, the oldest working distillery on the Isle of Skye. Informal lunch at the Oyster Shed. Additional optional activities may include a culinary class or a spa treatment. Overnight Kinloch Lodge

Saturday, May 21 (B, L, D)

Today a morning visit to Armadale Castle. We’ll board a nearby ferry that will take us to Mallaig, a port town on the west coast in the Highlands of the mainland. We’ll drive along the coast from Mallaig heading toward our next ferry boarding destination. After lunch, we’ll board a ferry to take us to Tobermory, one of the “prettiest ports in Scotland,” on the Isle of Mull. An evening shoot of this colorful harbor town and its coastline is planned for this evening  Overnight The Tobermory Hotel

Sunday, May 22 (B, L)

After breakfast, we will take a boat ride to explore the islands of the Inner Hebrides. We aim to visit the Isle of Staffa, named by the Vikings and known for the world-famous Fingal’s Cave. Keep an eye out for dolphins, porpoises, and whales! May is a great time to see the large colony of puffins on Staffa. These “clowns of the sea” congregate on the cliffs of the island and dive to catch fish in the sea below. We’ll continue to explore the isles and make our way to the Isle of Lunga, another popular breeding area for puffins. Guillemot, razorbill, kittiwake, fulmar, shag, great skua, and seals are also commonly seen here. Dinner and evening on your own tonight in the little town of Tobermory. For those interested, stop by the Tobermory Distillery for a tasting. Overnight The Tobermory Hotel

Please note that if weather is not cooperating, we will plan alternative activities for this day.

Monday, May 23 (B, D)

This morning we’ll make our way to the ferry point and take the ferry to Oban. In Oban, you’ll have free time to shop, explore, and have lunch on your own. Taste the local whisky at the Oban Distillery, one of the oldest and smallest distilleries in Scotland! Or climb up to Mccaig’s Tower for spectacular bird’s-eye views across Oban Bay and the Atlantic islands. Excellent fish and chips in Oban, including Cuan Mor and the Waterfront Fishouse Restaurant. A ferry runs every 30 minutes to the nearby island of Kerrera if you want to visit the ruins of Gylen Castle or spend some time with the Highland cattle. We’ll spend about 2.5 to 3 hours in Oban, so make the best of your time in this alleged “Seafood Capital of Scotland”! Our next destination is Dalhousie Castle, where we’ll spend our last two days in Scotland feeling like kings and queens! Dine in the Dungeon this evening.

Tuesday, May 24 (B, D)

Our final day begins with breakfast followed by an early morning drive with a local guide around the Scottish Borders to some iconic locations for photography, including the impressive ruins of Melrose Abbey. An early Christian monastery, Melrose Abbey was largely destroyed by the English army around 1385, but the magnificent ruins of a church built on the site in the early 15th century provide a picturesque elegance unsurpassed in Scotland. Decorated masonry in Gothic-syle architecture, superb windows, and unusual sculptures surrounded by lush greenery make this a location a haven for photographic opportunities.

The afternoon is free to experience all that Dalhousie Castle has to offer, including their Owl Encounter, maybe enjoy some time at the spa, or photograph the grounds. We could also arrange golf in the area. We’ll celebrate our newfound friends and memorable experiences tonight at Rosslyn Chapel with a private event of wine, tapas, dinner, and exclusive photography opportunities in and around Rosslyn Chapel. The chapel was founded in the 15th century as the Collegiate Church of St Matthew. This church boasts the finest architecture in Scotland with its unique and mysterious carvings and ornate stonework. You may be familiar with Rosslyn Chapel from the blockbuster movie, The Da Vinci Code.

Wednesday, May 25 (B)

Depart Edinburgh. Group transfer provided to Edinburgh by Dalhousie Castle.

Lang may yer lum reek!