Trip Report: Scotland: Isle of Skye, Highlands, & Castles - November 2024

Storm’n Castles and Chasing Light: A Photography Adventure in Scotland

Scotland, a land of misty mountains, ancient castles, and weather so unpredictable it could moonlight as a sitcom, beckoned the 8 daring souls and myself for the first ever photography adventure offered by BCJ to Scotland. We all met up in Glasgow, along with our two extremely knowledgeable local guides, Marcus and Nick, to begin this extraordinary escapade. After a brief meet and greet and orientation everyone was more than ready to get on the road.

Once we left Glasgow and headed towards Glencoe, the scenery cranked up the charts, despite the less-than-ideal weather. The road to Glencoe is one of those drives where every bend reveals a majestic view, if conditions allow it. Throughout the trip, the weather remained true to its Scottish roots—unpredictable, dramatic, and always part of the story. One moment, soft rays of sunlight would break through the clouds, and the next, the heavens would open with a deluge that could double as an audition for the movie “Twister”. But therein lies the charm of photographing Scotland: the ever-changing light transforms each scene into something new and magical, and this trip certainly lived up to this expectation.

Our first stop was the iconic Kilchurn Castle, perched by Loch Awe, with a name as poetic as its setting. The ruins are hauntingly beautiful, especially when wrapped in a morning mist along with some classic reflections, which we were able to capture a few mornings later when the conditions were more conducive. It was also an opportunity to grab some shots of the famous Scotland Highland cows that were grazing in the fields nearby. We then proceeded to settle into our quaint country Inn, The Bridge of Orchy, that would be our home for the next three days. We ventured out to Loch Tulla for our sunset shoot for a wonderful finish to the day.

The next morning, we set forth to the famous Black Rock Cottage. The cottage, set against the towering Buachaille Etive Mòr, was a minimalist masterpiece of contrasts. We arrived just before the sunrise, which, given the Scottish weather, is also known as "that brief moment between rain showers." We were graced with some short-lived blue hour light and some dramatic pink and orange skies to the East, before the clouds enveloped us. After a hearty breakfast at our Inn, we headed to Glencoe Lochan. The still water reflected the surrounding hills and vegetation so perfectly, only interrupted by the occasional curious duck paddling by. In the afternoon we had a stop-off at Torren Lochan.  The perfectly mirrored image of the mountains and Fall foliage was dreamlike and we wondered if nature had Photoshopped itself.

But the pièce de resistance for the day was The Three Sisters, for our sunset location. Here, a trio of dazzling ridges were dramatically lit as the weather and clouds took a brief hiatus as the sun dipped lower in the sky. It was scenes like this that made me question whether the ancient Scots built mountains as epic props for future photographers. Indeed, a beautiful sight to behold.

We then ventured into castle country, which is to say, most of Scotland. First up was our revisit to Kilchurn, then a break of storming castles for a tour at Oban Distillery, where we were “forced” to sample and learn the makings of fine Scotch Whiskey’s. A short drive later brought the group to Castle Stalker, a castle so picturesque it seems made for postcards—or comedies. Fans of Monty Python and the Holy Grail will recognize it as "that castle over there" from several scenes. While I resisted the urge to gallop around pretending to ride an invisible horse, while banging two halves of a coconut together, the temptation was real.

Our next morning had us visit Lagangarbh Hut, a lonely little house that somehow screams "Scotland!" louder than bagpipes at full blast. The low clouds and fog made for an incredibly moody scene. The highlight before reaching the Isle of Skye was Eilean Donan Castle, a place so stunning it’s practically a cliché. This castle, perched at the meeting point of three lochs, is what happens when medieval architecture meets geographical genius. It was used in Monty Python too, and I half-expected to find a French knight yelling insults from the battlements. Late afternoon light worked its magic here, turning the scene into what seemed like a painting and shimmering water offered alluring reflections.

The Isle of Skye proved to be a photographic playground. Its landscapes ranged from the surreal to the sublime. We experienced shot locations as close as behind our hotel over Uig Harbor, to the beautiful countryside of Sligachan Falls and Alltdearg House. We also ventured into the mist along the coast to Neist Point to capture a glimpse of the Lighthouse, that only appeared for a few, brief seconds, before being swallowed up by the dense, coastal fog.

And then there is The Quiraing, with its jagged cliffs and surreal green slopes, The scene looks like a set from a fantasy epic. We had several visits here, and each circumstance presented amazing light, between inclement weather, of course! It was a waiting game, with incredible payoffs. Our first visit had us right in the middle of a squall, with winds threatening to blow our tripods over, but as the storm moved across the valley, pure magic unfolded before us. Light shafts, Cloud bursts, and dramatic clouds made up this almost surreal scene.

The next morning, we arrived before dawn, armed with optimism, and we were rewarded with a sunrise that painted the landscape in shades of pink and gold, before the color disappeared, with the sun blocked by the dense clouds. Meanwhile, Loch Fada, with the iconic Old Man of Storr in the background, served as a lesson in patience as we waited for the clouds to cooperate. Thankfully, the result was worth it—as a golden light that felt like a gift from the photography gods, blanketed the scene.

Our sunset location at Elgol, once again came through, with dramatic light as a squall swept over the mountains across from the turbulent sea. A breathtaking scene, that seemed to change by the second.

We also had a visit to Skye's main town, Portree. It provided a delightful contrast to the rugged wilderness. The harbor, lined with pastel-colored buildings, was as charming as it was photogenic. It was a nice break to capture cheerful human elements, in this wild nation.

Scotland’s landscapes and castles, from the mist-shrouded peaks of Glencoe and Skye to the whimsical charm of the many castles, offered a perfect blend of drama and humor—just like Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Whether we were chasing sunsets and dramatic light, dodging rain, or humming the film’s theme song at questionable volumes, there never seemed a dull moment on our adventure through this wild and gorgeous country.  Many thanks to the guests who made this such a wonderful success, and I truly am looking forward to the next Fall adventure in this most amazing land!