Duration & Dates
7 days (6 nights)
2nd to 8th November 25
1st to 7th March 26
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If you are a group of 2 or more, please contact us for bespoke dates and itineraries.
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Included
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Full Board Accommodation
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Single occupancy rooms as standard
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Vehicle and guide
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Transfer from Inverness airport or railway station​
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Price
£2,199
Members price £2,149
Deposit £400
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Anyone can join as a member for just £25 a year
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Group Size
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3 people per holiday per 1 guide​​
Not Included
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Initial transport to lodge or airport/train station
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Alcoholic drinks
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Camera equipment
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Travel insurance
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Description
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Orkney & the Scottish Far North: A Photography Journey Through Time and Wild Beauty
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Few places in Europe stir the imagination like the Orkney Isles and the Scottish far north. Steeped in history and wild, elemental landscapes, these remote regions offer a powerful sense of place. This immersive photography holiday invites a small group of passionate photographers to explore, create, and connect with both land and story.
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Your base for the week is Forsinard Lodge, nestled in the heart of the Flow Country—a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Europe’s last great wild spaces. From here, we’ll venture into the surrounding highlands and peatlands before heading north across the sea to Orkney, a land where time lies layered beneath the surface.
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Day 1: Arrival and Welcome
Guests arrive at Forsinard Lodge for a relaxed evening and introduction to the week ahead.
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Days 2–4: Orkney Adventure
We begin with an early ferry crossing over the Pentland Firth to Stromness. For the next three days, we’ll explore Orkney’s landscapes and secrets with the guidance of legendary local expert Kinlay Francis of Orkney Uncovered. Our itinerary balances iconic sites like 7,000-year-old Skara Brae with lesser-known gems offering unique photographic opportunities.
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Day 2: Western Mainland—windswept cliffs, churning seas, and evocative Neolithic ruins provide powerful visual inspiration. Our photography guide will be on hand to offer practical advice and creative support throughout.
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Day 3: Hoy Island—remote and raw, with dramatic scenery and locations such as Rackwick Bay. We return via ferry to Kirkwall for an evening of shooting around its historic harbour and streets.
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Day 4: Eastern Mainland—featuring St Magnus Cathedral, WWII relics, and poignant landscapes shaped by more recent history. We return to Forsinard Lodge in the evening.
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Days 5–6: Exploring the Scottish Far North
Our final two days will be spent photographing the rugged coastlines, abandoned crofts, hidden coves, and quiet lochans of the far north. This is a time to deepen skills, experiment with new techniques, and find personal inspiration in the untamed landscape.
On the final evening, we’ll gather at Forsinard Lodge for a celebratory dinner and a relaxed image-sharing session—an opportunity to reflect on the week, exchange ideas, and enjoy each other’s work before departing the next morning.
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Day 7 Departure Day & Farewell
Breakfast and farewells before guests begin their onward journeys.
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Holiday Highlights
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Dramatic and historical landscapes of the Orkneys and the Scottish far north
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Expert Orkney guidance from Kinlay at ‘Orkney uncovered’
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5 amazing days of mentored creative photography
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Fully inclusive comfortable, en-suite accommodation
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Expert photography guidance and tuition
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Very small group size for maximum individual attention
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Un-discovered and unique locations
Creative Adventurers Welcome
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At Wild Arena, we seek guests who are eager to embrace the creative journey of photography, rather than those merely looking to replicate specific images from a checklist. Our tours are designed for those who want to delve deeper into the art of storytelling through their photos, capturing the unique essence of the Highland landscapes, its people, and the ever-changing weather. We are committed to teaching a wide range of techniques and providing the support and encouragement needed to push the boundaries of your comfort zone. Whether you’re a seasoned photographer or a passionate beginner, our goal is to help you unlock new levels of creativity and create beautiful, original images that reflect the true spirit of the Highlands. Join us if you’re ready to be inspired, to learn, and to explore the limitless possibilities of your photographic potential.
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Pre and Post-Tour Engagement
Before your holiday begins, we will arrange a Zoom call to address any questions you may have about the upcoming week. This call will also be an opportunity for you to meet your fellow guests, and you'll be invited to join a personalised WhatsApp group. On our last evening together, we encourage guests to share their favourite images from the week, fostering camaraderie and collective learning among the group. Even after you return home, you can stay connected with us and your fellow participants through WhatsApp and Facebook, continuing to engage and share your photography journey.
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What to Expect
We aim to welcome everyone as a friend and help develop their personal photography on an individual level. Small groups and all-inclusive accommodation ensure guests can relax and fully immerse themselves in their hobby.
Learning Outcomes
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Throughout the week, you'll receive guidance on a range of photographic techniques, including:
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Compositional principles and creative approaches to photography.
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Controlling movement with shutter speeds, both fast and slow.
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Capturing creative close-ups with depth-of-field control and compositions
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In-camera effects such as multiple exposures and intentional camera movement.
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Use of filters to enhance and manipulate images.
All-Inclusive Experience
Stay at Forsinard Lodge, our comfortable base in the north of Scotland, where you’ll enjoy full board accommodation. The lodge provides a perfect retreat after a day of exploration, with facilities to review your photos, and engage in creative discussions with fellow photographers.
Personalised Guidance and Small Groups
Our tours are designed for small groups, ensuring personalised attention and a relaxed atmosphere. Our experienced guides will support you in developing your photography on an individual level, helping you unlock the hidden stories in your surroundings.
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Join Us for a Creative Journey
Our goal is to provide a week of relaxation, creative stimulation, and the joy of photography. We welcome you as friends, offering an environment where you can grow your skills, find inspiration, and create beautiful, meaningful images.
Itinerary
Arrival and Welcome Dinner (D)
Arrival at Forsinard Lodge, nestled in the wild landscape of northern Scotland.Group gathering for a welcome dinner and an introduction to the week ahead.
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(B,L,D) After an early breakfast, we will set out to catch the first morning ferry to Orkney main island. The ferry trip will take us across the Pentland firth and round the rugged coast of the island of Hoy. Upon arrival we will be meet by Kinlay of Orkney Uncovered, our expert Orkney guide. We will then spend the day exploring both iconic and undiscovered locations on the west of main island, including Skara Brae and the Brough of Birsay. The evening will be spent in Stromness where we will stay in comfortable, this is a perfect location for some late light/evening street photography. Overnight in Kirkwall
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(B,L,D) After an earlier start (with perhaps a packed breakfast) we will catch the early ferry to the island of Hoy. Kinlay will help us get the best from this large and dramatic island, including a stop at Rackwick bay. We will then catch the later afternoon ferry back to main island and head for an evening shoot and overnight stop in Kirkwall.
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(B,L,D) After breakfast, we will visit St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall. Then we will head out with Kinlay to more great locations around the eastern side of main island. This will include the Churchill barriers and other iconic locations. We will then head back to catch the last ferry to return to the mainland. The evening will be spent back at Forsinard lodge for a later dinner and a chance to review our Orkney islands visit.
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(B,L,D) After breakfast, we will set out again with a packed lunch for some fabulous locations along the wild north coast of Scotland. This should provide some opportunities for a variety of pictures and the chance to consolidate some new techniques and ideas. The evening will once again be back at Forsinard lodge for dinner and conversation.
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(B,L,D) After breakfast we will have our final day of photography and a chance to make sure we have covered the subjects that everyone wanted to see. We are likely to head into the wild and undiscovered central north, with abandoned crofts, rivers, lochs and hills as great photographic opportunities. The final evening back at the Lodge will give the group a chance to share their pictures from the week and relaxed after a packed 5 days of shooting!
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Departure (B)
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Final breakfast at the lodge.
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Round-up of the week’s experiences and a final review before guests depart at 10 am.
This flexible itinerary ensures that we can adapt to the best photographic opportunities each day, providing a comprehensive and rewarding experience for all participants.
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Meals included are as shown – B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner
Venue Description: Forsinard Lodge and Orkney Main Land
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Our base for this trip is the beautifully situated Forsinard Lodge in northern Scotland. Originally built in 1870 by the Duke of Sutherland as a hunting and fishing lodge at the head of Strath Halladale, the lodge boasts a rich history. The river here was highly regarded for salmon fishing, and the surrounding area was known for its exceptionally large Red Deer stags. Forsinard Lodge has spent most of its life as part of a much wider estate, but it now serves as the perfect base for Wild Arena’s photography tours in this stunning and relatively undiscovered part of the Highlands.
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Forsinard and the Flow Country
The lodge is nestled in the heart of the Flow Country, one of Europe’s most important natural landscapes. The Flow Country is an extensive area of blanket bog and wetlands, stretching across Caithness and Sutherland. This unique environment supports a remarkable variety of wildlife, including rare bird species, mammals, and plants. It is one of the largest and most intact areas of blanket bog in the world, and its conservation is crucial for both biodiversity and carbon storage.
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Sutherland's Natural Beauty
Sutherland, the wider region encompassing Forsinard, is known for its dramatic landscapes, which include rugged coastlines, sweeping moorlands, and serene lochs. The area is sparsely populated, offering a sense of wildness and tranquillity that is increasingly rare. From the rolling hills to the intricate river systems, Sutherland provides an endless array of photographic opportunities, making it an ideal location for capturing the essence of the Scottish Highlands.
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Orkney
The main Orkney Islands offer a truly unique blend of dramatic landscapes, ancient history, and atmospheric light—making them a dream destination for photographers seeking depth and variety in their work.
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From the sweeping cliffs of Yesnaby and the turbulent seas of the Atlantic coast to the gentle bays and fertile farmland of the eastern side, Orkney’s main island (Mainland) is a landscape shaped by wind, water, and time. Photographers can expect an ever-changing canvas of moody skies, luminous golden hours, and striking geological formations.
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Beyond the natural drama, Orkney is rich in human history, layered with visual stories that span thousands of years. Neolithic sites such as Skara Brae offer compelling contrasts of stone and setting—timeless subjects bathed in soft northern light.
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Orkney’s coastal villages like Stromness and Kirkwall offer further inspiration, with weathered harbours, narrow flagstone streets, and working boats that capture a sense of daily life in a remote island setting. War relics and rusted remnants from the World Wars add another layer of photographic interest, particularly around Scapa Flow and the Churchill Barriers.
