Join wildlife photographer Kevin Morgans in the Cairngorms National Park at the height of winter to enjoy and make the most of the magical photography opportunities at this time of year for wildlife and landscapes.
The Scottish Highlands in winter are both dramatic and inspiring and provide incredible opportunities for wildlife photography. This trip has been created for anyone who feels inspired to photograph wildlife in the Cairngorms during the winter months, with the chance of snow. We will use a range of purpose-built photography hides to get close to wary wildlife and explore the area on foot to find and photograph other animals.
The sessions in the photography hides allow us to photograph red squirrels and woodland birds in stunning locations. We spend a full day in a purpose-built hide that is situated in an area of ancient Caledonian pine forest. We also visit an area of Caledonian pine forest where we photograph red deer. On foot, we explore the dramatic landscape of the Cairngorms looking for mountain hare, ptarmigan and snow bunting. There will be an element of flexibility to this itinerary depending on weather and individual preferences.
The rich landscape provides the perfect backdrop for our stay in the Cairngorms, as well as the chance to practice and refine photography techniques while seeking out some of the other wildlife that lives here, like red squirrels and birds. Our expert guide, Kevin Morgans, will cover a range of photography techniques as well as the image editing process.
This trip is a wonderful chance to immersive ourselves in a landscape that is returning to a wilder state while learning about and connecting with the wildlife that lives here.
Typical Itinerary
Day1: Meet in Cairngorms National Park
Meet the rest of the group at our accommodation in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park, or alternatively, we can arrange a pick-up from Inverness. After meeting Kevin and settling into our accommodation which overlooks Loch Alvie, there's time to explore the grounds as an introduction to the area. Riverine woodland, pine forest, flood meadows and the broad gravel bed of the Feshie are all waiting to be explored directly from the lodge.
It is likely that most of the photographic opportunities that appear will be woodland birds including crested tit and woodpecker that frequent the characterful lichen-laden trees.
Accommodation: The Rowan Tree, 7-nights
Day2: Mountain Hare Photography Session
After a good rest and a hearty breakfast, we take a drive through the Cairngorms to a location where there is a good population of mountain hares.
During the winter months, mountain hares are resplendent in their white winter coats. The approach to the site where we aim to photograph mountain hares is on foot. It is possible to find and photograph mountain hares a short distance from the roadside, on lower ground, within a 20-minute walk.
We aim to spend all day on the hillside allowing us to maximise the time we have to photograph these iconic animals in their environment. Kevin will guide us to the best locations to photograph mountain hares and provide expert tuition throughout the day.
In the evening, after a well-earned dinner, we have time to go through images and image processing with Kevin again being on hand to provide expert tuition.
Days3-4: Red Squirrel & Red Deer Photography Sessions
For the next couple of days, we split the group, with half visiting a purpose-built red squirrel hide that is in a stunning forest location and hoping for plenty of activity from these busy icons of the Scottish wilderness. The other half of the group will photograph red deer on a nearby estate where the deer come down from the hillside to be fed by the estate’s rangers in a woodland environment. These two locations are stunning in any condition, but become magical in snowy conditions.
For the group photographing the red deer, there will also be the opportunity to photograph woodland birds in the grounds of the hotel once again. These groups will alternate for the following day. After dinner, there will once again be the opportunity to go through images and image processing.
Day5: Photography sessions in the Cairngorms National Park & surrounding area
In the morning, we drive the short distance to an area of Caledonian pine forest where we photograph crested tits. With no hides (the crested tits are used to the presence of humans) we are free to move around in the open making the best use of the light.
With the variety of old gnarled pine trees with lichen-covered branches and younger pine trees with lush green pine needles, this area offers many different opportunities to photograph this pine forest specialist.
In the afternoon, we look for snow buntings at a location where they can be found at a low altitude during the winter months. After dinner, there will once again be the opportunity to go through images and image processing.
Days6-7: Further photographic sessions
For these two days of the itinerary, we aim to work with the conditions to target our preferred photographic preferences. If the conditions are right, and for those that want to walk up into the Northern Corries, we may go in search of ptarmigan which will be in their white winter plumage. We can also return to the location where we photographed mountain hares.
Another option is to spend more time exploring the local area, looking for wildlife. If you would prefer an easier day, you can stay at the hotel for the day and spend time photographing the wildlife in the grounds of the hotel. If necessary we can again split the group to allow us to accommodate your preferred photographic targets.
Day8: Departure
This morning after breakfast, it is sadly time to depart. If you have arranged a transfer back to Inverness, Kevin will drop any group members off, otherwise, you are free to make your own journey home.
Please note: Please be aware that the exact itinerary may change depending on weather, the behaviour of the local wildlife and individual preferences. Wildlife can be unpredictable and some species are wary of people, so patience in the hides is important. We are often in hides for several hours at a time.
Key info
Duration and price excluding international flights: 8 daysfrom £2,295 pp
Kevin is a multi-award-winning wildlife photographer, tour leader, and photographic guide and has seen his work published across the globe.
His work with Atlantic puffins recently won the prestigious portfolio prize in Bird Photographer Of The Year, along with a category win in Golden Turtle & multiple awarded images in MontPhoto, Environmental Photographer Of The Year, Natures Best & Nature Image Awards to name a few.
Kevin has a passion for photographing UK wildlife, but his journey has seen him travel further afield across Europe, Canada, and the polar regions in search of wildlife. He is an experienced guide who has been running 1-1 and group workshops for many years, using this experience to pass on his knowledge of the natural world and how best to capture it.
More than double the size of the Lake District, Cairngorms National Park is the largest protected area in the United Kingdom. The Cairngorms covers a substantial swathe of the Scottish Highlands, encompassing a range of habitats and a home to a wide array of wildlife including the captivating red squirrel.
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Where: The Scottish Highlands
Ideal for viewing: red squirrel, Scottish wildcat, golden eagle, pine marten, crested tit
