The Cairngorms & Angus/Aberdeenshire Coast

You'll fly into Edinburgh to arrive by the 2nd. This night is on your own, but we'll help with accommodations. Our coach picks us up the next morning (July 3rd) and our journey begins as we head toward Royal Deeside.

The Cairngorms — Royal Deeside

We base ourselves in Ballater for the first 5 nights, one of the most beautiful small towns in Scotland. It sits at a bend in the River Dee, ringed by the ancient hills of the Cairngorm plateau, with independent shops and a river walk, and an unhurried pace.

The Cairngorms are the highest, wildest plateau in the British Isles. We'll spend days exploring this landscape: the high ground of Glenshee, the deer-filled pinewoods of Glen Tanar, and stunning Loch Muick, a deep glacial loch hidden at the end of a single-track glen road.

We'll visit Crathie Kirk, the small granite church where the Royal family worship when in residence at Balmoral, and walk the riverside grounds of the estate. And Braemar — the village at the head of the glen, older and wilder feeling than Ballater, makes a perfect afternoon, with the ruined castle on the hill above. You'll also have space to wander and we'll come together for music at night. 

The Angus & Aberdeenshire Coast

Next we travel east to the coast for 4 nights

We base ourselves in Stonehaven, a working harbour town with one of the great surprises of Scottish photography just two miles south: Dunnottar Castle, a medieval ruin on a clifftop above the North Sea that looks like something from a dream. Along the coast we'll visit fishing villages like Gourdon, Johnshaven, and St Cyrus, with its volcanic cliffs and beach recently named one of the UK's finest. And we'll spend a day in Aberdeen, where the granite city architecture shimmers in the right light, and where hidden inside the harbour is Footdee, a perfectly preserved 19th-century fishing village of painted cottages. 

A Special Evening 

We drive to Montrose, Raven's Scotland home base, for a late afternoon walk through the historic High Street, stopping to meet the shopkeepers, artists, and friends who make this town what it is. As the light falls golden over Montrose Basin, home to over 100,000 birds, we sit down to a catered dinner at Raven and Steve's townhouse on Bridge Street, a short stroll from the city centre. 

After dinner, we'll enjoy a private concert. 

Some of the Photograph Opportunities

Highland moorland and ancient Caledonian pinewoods · Glacial lochs in dramatic mountain settings · Salmon rivers and Royal Deeside farmland · Working harbours with active fishing fleets · Sea stacks and clifftop castle ruins · Golden beaches framed by volcanic cliffs · 19th-century fishing villages unchanged for generations · Granite city architecture and hidden urban gems · Tidal estuary wildlife at golden hour 

Did you know?

Our tours are different than most. We follow a model of Regenerative Tourism, meaning we strive to leave a place better than we found it. Tours are carefully curated to support Scottish communities and be mindful of areas that are overtouristed. You will be seeing Scotland with local guides and friends who show up to share music and stories. You will not be seeing this enchanting land through a coach window with quick stops. We take our time and a portion of every tour goes back to conservation efforts in the areas we visit. Thanks for supporting small businesses and community efforts around Scotland!