This is a tour that has been long awaited and we are thrilled to invite you to join Jonathan Byrd to explore Scotland with a creative eye! Will there be music, history, culture and camaraderie too? Why yes, there will be all the things. 

This is an active tour. There are hikes that may have you scrambling up a steep hill or over rocks. Much of it will be mild, but there are less than a handful of walks that will be more strenuous.

July 3rd, Day 1: Fly into Edinburgh. We will gather early evening for a meet and greet and ease into our journey.

July 4th, Day 2:  This will be a day of exploration and urban hikes with destinations such as Calton Hill, Arthur's Seat, Salisbury Crags and Dean Village.

July 5th, Day 3: Coach picks us up to head to Dunkeld, a picturesque village in the heart of Scotland with an abundance of Nature within short distance.

July 6th, Day 4: We will explore the Birks of Aberfeldy and the Hermitage today with woodlands, streams and waterfalls and enjoy a private concert in the evening.

July 7th, Day 5: We'll spend the day in Dunkeld and Birnam, where we will visit the Cathedral and ruins along the river, Birnam wood (famous from Shakespeare's Macbeth), and see some of the inspirations for Beatrix Potter, who wrote the Tales of Peter Rabbit here. In the evening, we'll gather round a fire down by the river and invite some of our musician friends for a casual session.

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Next stop: Glencoe, often called the most scenic and wild landscape in Scotland. During our stay, we will visit the Lost Valley, a remote hike where some scrambling is required, but the dramatic landscape is worth the effort. We will also visit Stalker Castle, a stunning photo favorite, and iconic stops such as Rannoch Moor, Buachaille Etive Mor, Loch Etive, Lochan na h-Achlaise as well as hidden destinations that we don't name online to protect the areas.

July 8th, Day 6: Off to Glencoe, where we will  settle in to our hotel and have a wander. Later, after a short, scenic coach ride with some photo stops, we will enjoy a private concert at the hotel.

July 9th, Day 7: We will visit some of the iconic settings today and hike to a more remote area of ethereal beauty.

July 10th, Day 8: This will be a day off the beaten path to hidden swimming holes, breathtaking vistas and natural beauty unseen by tourists

July 11th, Day 9: We'll take a drive to Castle Stalker and onward to a remote and magical setting that we dare not name online, out of respect to the locals.

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Note: while in Glencoe, we will have an afternoon of classroom style editing instruction by Jonathan

July 12th, Day 10: Return to overnight in Edinburgh with some scenic stops along the way. This evening, we will gather for a group dinner and sharing.

July 13th, Day 11: Flights back home or your continued journey

 

Total price per person: $3,900

Single supplement rate: $900 (We are limited to two single rooms) Contact us for availability.

Deposit of $900 per person holds your space.

2nd payment of $1500 per person is due 6 months before departure.

The remaining balance of $1500 per person is due 90 days before departure.
NOTE: If you would like to pay in full, there is a $200 discount so your total would be $3,700. Email me for a payment link.

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Included in tour price:

10 nights accommodations at 4 star eco-friendly hotels when available

4 group dinners

breakfast each day

site entrance fees

ground transportation

Photography tips and instruction

Editing session of your photos

Private concerts

Gratuities for venues and group dinners

Note: due to the varying arrival and departure times, we will not provide airport shuttle. Taxis, uber or lyft are available and we can help you as needed.

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Not included:

Photography Equipment (see list below)

Meals and extras not mentioned above

Airfare to Scotland

Taxi to and from airport

Travel Insurance

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Camera and Equipment

 

So, what do you need? 

 

1. You need a camera that’s only a camera — mirrorless or DSLR, full frame or crop sensor, point-and-shoot or interchangeable lens camera. I can point you to some great, inexpensive options if you’re looking, and technology is changing so fast that the used camera market is incredible right now. Any questions you have, please email me whether or not you want to go on this tour. I love helping people get into photography, and it’s easier and cheaper than you think. 

 

1. You need to be familiar with some sort of editing process, whether you crop and filter on a phone app or go crazy with Photoshop. I’ll go over editing basics on the tour, as well as how to set yourself up for success before you even snap the photo. You can download a great free version of Adobe Lightroom for iPhone and Android; it’s user-friendly, professional, and there are great tutorials online. You don’t need any specific program. All photo editors work on similar principles. Use whatever you enjoy!

 

1. You need some way to share your photos with the group. There’s no better way to grow! Some cameras have bluetooth and wifi for sending pics to a device. With some, you’ll need to transfer them with a wired connection or an SD card. We’ll look at photos as a group and talk about what makes them work, how they could be better, and how editing might bring them to life. 

 

1. You may want to bring a tripod for more possibilities. ND filters help with long exposures, if that’s your thing. If there’s a gear-related technique you’d like to learn more about, this is a great chance to explore that. (I didn’t even take a tripod on my last trip, and I had one lens. Keep it simple! It’s better sometimes to learn one thing  more deeply.) 

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Please see FAQs for details.