I must say that Scotland has to be one of my favorite travel destinations so far. If you are a true nature freak like I am and into travel photography, then this country will surely not disappoint you.
Puffins on the Isle of May
My trip began in Edinburgh where I spent a couple days to unwind before my long journey through the countryside. Edinburgh has got to be one of my favorite capitals in Europe. It has a lot of charm, a very relaxed vibe and some beautiful sights to discover. It was a great intro to what would be a fun and exciting journey. I headed north along the coast with a stop over at Isle of May to explore the island and photograph the puffins that reside there. Though puffins are found throughout the country, this area has a high concentration of the birds and are quite approachable. Every summer, thousands of Atlantic puffins come to this island to build their nests and along countless other sea birds on this tiny island.
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The Scottish coast, filled with castles and beautiful rock formations
I continued north through the peaceful countryside passing by highland cows, deer, and sheep…lots of sheep. Many people travel straight to the famous highlands, but the coast of Scotland has a lot to offer and should not be skipped. Not too far from Edinburgh, the ruins of the medieval castle of Dunnottar stand strong on the edge of a cliff. Surrounded by beautiful cliffs, clear waters and cute villages like Crovie, it’s a nice escape into the countryside. The beaches this far up north are nice as well. Wide stretches of fine white sand, combined with turquiose waters and not a person in sight. This part of Scotland is quite remote and you might not see a person for quite some time. If you’re lucky, you might even spot seals on the rocks. All the way up north, at the most north eastern point of Scotland, make sure to stop by the Duncansby Head sea stacks. These stacks rise sharply out of the Atlantic ocean with the tallest one measuring almost 60 meters tall!
Scotland’s most beautiful island: the Isle of Skye
I headed off to my most anticipated region of Scotland…the Isle of Skye. As everyone knows, photos don’t do some places justice which was definitely the case with Isle of Skye. This place was spectacular. Part of my plan was to visit ‘The Storr’ and catch the sunrise from the top of the mountain. I hiked one hour up steep terrain right after sunset to photograph The Storr at dusk, probably my favorite time to photograph. After a few shots and a temperature drop, it was back down the mountain to get some rest and do it all over again the next morning at 4 am, right before sunrise. I reached the top again and waited for the sun to rise. The sky was clear and the sunlight pierced through creating a magical experience.
Medieval castles of Scotland in the highlands
Besides the spectacular mountainous terrain found in the highlands, and the breath-taking views on Isle of Skye, Scotland had some of the most impressive castles I had seen in Europe. They came in all shapes and sizes…some sitting in the middle of a small island, others perched on the edge of cliffs, such as the Eilean Donan Castle, one of my favorite castles of all times. The highlands are also booming with wildlife, and it’s not uncommon the encounter deer and of course the Scottish highland cows when exploring this wild part of Scotland.
