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Find Your Scotland Photography Tours. Local knowledge that will add depth & meaning to your photos.

16/01/2025

How on earth is it FIVE years since we travelled up to Shetland for Up Helly Aa! 🔥

Taking the 14 hour ferry trip from Aberdeen up to Mainland, Shetland in January is not for the faint of heart. I will be straight with you, I was so ill. 🤢

Lets be honest, if someone tried to get this winter fire festival started in 2025 health and safety would absolutely not allow this.

There are 12 festivals across the islands that bring communities together in deepest, darkest winter. The largest, most well known is held on the last Tuesday of January in Lerwick. The final one is held in March. A way of waving goodbye to the darkness of winter and embracing the longer days and also as a celebration of their Nordic heritage

The day starts with a small parade where everyone gets a first look at the Yarl Squad and their long boat. They then read out their proclamation before visiting local schools and care homes, making sure everyone is involved in the day.

In the evening thousands of people line streets of Lerwick to see the torch procession that culminates in the replica long boat being set on fire in a childrens play park.

This was my second experience of Up Helly Aa and each time I leave a piece of my heart up there. The landscape, the history, the wildlife, it's all incredible. But the thing that strikes me more than anything is how passionate Shetlanders are about their wee piece of heaven in the North Sea.

I've only ever been in winter and it really left it's mark on me. Maybe it's time we made plans to see those long summer days?

Hands up who wants to visit Shetland? 🙋‍♀️

01/01/2025

Well I didn't have this on my 2025, 1st January bingo card!

The Aurora Borealis from our driveway at home at just before 18:00 this evening.

Considering it was pouring with rain and blowing a hooley out this morning, I didn't imagine it would be ending with me stood in the dark in my comfies, my swimming change robe on and walking boots with no socks on! 🤣

How to make an entrance. 🥰

05/11/2024

I've had this wee wander on my list for quite some time. Today, with a pal I finally got to explore this part of the glen.

Glen Lyon was home to legendary hero Fionn Mac Cumhaill and his 9000 warriors.

Fionn's rock (also known as Praying hands of Mary). Legend has it that the stone was split in two by an arrow fired by Fingal, or Fiona mac Cumhaill.

If you're thinking this name rings a bell, you'd (probably) be right in making the same connection with Fingal's cave and the Giant's Causeway on the north coast of Northern Ireland.

A peaceful, atmospheric walk, just shy of 5km. Bonnie views with a soundtrack of bellowing red deer and the calls of ravens.

I can't tell you just how stunning days like this are. A brilliant start to the week.

04/11/2024

Easy like Sunday morning.

It took me 2 hours to walk just 5km yesterday morning. Stopping to look for wee beasties, to listen to skylark song and to watch deer grazing.

We then planted out 5 wee silver birch saplings that I've had in pots for a couple of years now. Excited to see some lovely big fat worms within the compost too.

30/10/2024

There's something that draws me to the rowan trees each year. With its cluster of scarlet berries catching that soft autumnal sunlight or sparkling in the early morning dew.

In Scottish folklore it is believed to ward off witches. Almost every house, cottage and castle would have a rowan tree close by to protect their homes and cattle against enchantments. In return for its protection it was forbidden to cut one down in case of bad luck.

Even today, remnants of these superstitions linger in rural communities, where the rowan tree continues to be revered as a symbol of protection and good fortune.

The protective power comes from the berries as it was thought red was the best colour for fighting witchcraft and evil.

Used medicinally, various parts of the rowan were used to treat a wide range of ailments, from fevers and digestive issues to rheumatism and toothache.

Whilst the berries serve as a crucial food source for blackbirds, waxwings and thrushes, the flowers attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies.

The Rowan tree stands as a testament to the enduring connection between humanity and the natural world. In this fast paced world of technology and change it's good to see the rowan tree still remains a strong symbol of protection and prosperity.

11/10/2024

The Mirrie Dancers were filling the skies above Scotland last night. The word "mirr" means to shimmer in Shetland dialect.

We ventured out into the dark and allowed our eyes to adjust. The whole sky was alive. We saw the vibrant red ribbon that reached down from the sky toward the fields in front of us. The first time we've ever seen any colour without the help of our camera phones. Just magical.

It turns out we witnessed a rare natural phenomena last night. STEVE - Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement - is unpredictable and only lasts for a short time.

05/10/2024

Happy "we moved to Scotland" day for us. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

What a wild ride it's been, so far.

We've travelled up as far as Shetland (twice), south down to Dumfries and Galloway and covered quite a lot in-between too.

I worked for VisitScotland for a glorious 4 seasons. Travelling all over Scotland providing tourist information at events and attractions all through the summer. What a job!

VisitScotland also invited me to become one of their online ambassadors. I loved being able to offer advice to people who were in the planning stages of their Scottish road trips.

For the past four summers I have enjoyed working as a Visitor Ranger in Perth and Kinross. Talking with campers and helping to look after our beautiful countryside. I absolutely love this job.

Just under two years ago I decided to put my knowledge of Perthshire and Scotland to good use. Find Your Scotland was born. A way of helping visitors find their own version of Scotland. Encourage people to steer clear of honey traps (busy places) and take away holiday photos with a difference.

Here's to the next 9 years 🥂

27/09/2024

I promise you this is Scotland in September.

We've had a shocker of a summer and it seems Scotland, she got a 2nd wind.

Hoorah.. Great timing for our trip to Wester Ross.

23/09/2024

Out of office is ON.

Time to switch off and explore Wester Ross.

We're staying in the cute village of Lochcarron. Surrounded by dramatic hills and rugged coastline it's a perfect base for exploring some of the North Coast 500.

The popular driving route means many people are missing some really bonnie places.

For years now we've preferred to base ourselves in one place and really get to know the area. Slowing down, admiring the views, talking with the locals and settling right in.

We're looking forward to discovering places to eat, walks with all the views, playing golf and obviously getting in a cold water swim (or two).

06/09/2024

Autumn loading... 🍂

7am this morning. The air was damp and a wee bit chilly but this field of sunflowers stopped me in my tracks.

Pausing to watch the sun rise and break through the haar, taking long slow breaths and letting my shoulders relax.

A perfect way to start the day. More mornings like this please.

Perthshire is well known for it's autumnal beauty but this was something else.

24/08/2024

A moody sky with dramatic clouds, fleeting glimpses of the sunshine and the Perthshire hills slathered in purple heather. I kept expecting Jamie Fraser to wander across the landscape.

This isn't everyone's idea of summer but just look how bonnie the hills are. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

01/08/2024

Perthshire is also known as Big Tree Country. Home to some very famous trees. But did you know it's also home to the largest area of ancient Caledonian forest?

Nestled along the south shore of loch Rannoch in highland Perthshire it is classed as a Special Area of Conservation. This provides protection to the many plants and creatures that call it home.

There are some magnificent Granny Pines mixed in with the deciduous oaks, some of which are 250-300 years old.

Mosses and lichens adorn the branches, rocks and forest floor proving just how clean and pure the air quality is. Whilst in the summer blaeberrys and heather are in abundance.

Walking through the woods the silence can be deafening but the sense of history is overwhelming here. Clan battles, Redcoat marches and foresters and lumberjacks during the 2nd World War.

Local legend has it that the last wolf of Scotland was killed here by a local lady using a spurtle (a wooden implement for stirring porridge). And whilst I doubt this tale is true I quite like it.

If you're visiting the area (or on one of our tours) be sure to check it out. You never know you might even see a cheeky wee red squirrel. 🐿️

16/07/2024

Let's talk about visiting Scotland in the winter months.

I know, I know it's July but bear with me.

I've seen various FB groups recently where people are asking if they should visit Scotland during the colder winter months.

My answer, in short: hell yes! Why wouldn't you?

Before moving to Scotland, I had only ever visited in the colder months (usually January or March), and yet I still managed to leave a piece of my heart here every single time. 💙

Yes, the daylight hours are shorter.
Yes, some places are closed but many aren't.

There are still plenty of wildlife experiences to be had. Atmospheric, moody glens to be explored. Stone circles to be in awe of. Coffee shops to people watch. Live music to tap your toes to. Real fires to thaw out by and whisky to sip.

We still provide tours during the winter. Perthshire is an amazing winter playground. So if I've convinced you to visit, let me show you around.

16/06/2024

Check out my Perth and Kinross Big 5 things to do over on the blog. I say big 5 but it's actually five things within five things. There's no way I could choose just five from this incredible playground.

https://findyourscotland.co.uk/travel/perth-kinross-big-5-things-to-do/

08/04/2024

What time of year is best to visit Scotland? 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

What a question! Depending on who you ask, you will get many different answers and reasons of why Edinburgh in August is the best time. Or why Harris is stunning in spring and Skye should be avoided in July! It’s all personal preference or being limited to school holidays maybe?

Before we moved to Perthshire, I had been up to Scotland on holiday many times; once at the end of May to Fort William and all the other times were in March when we stayed on the Isle of Mull. To say we had been lucky with the weather, I think is an understatement. Our Fort William trip was my first ever time in Scotland and we managed to get a clear view from the top of Ben Nevis, which on average has a clear view from the summit, one out of ten days!

However, since moving to Scotland we have travelled to Shetland in January. Besides the shorter daylight hours, the weather was relatively kind to us. We enjoyed plenty of walks and watched for otters. Dude has played golf in the middle of March on a links course in Harris. Now that was an experience. The wind was not too strong but the sound of crashing waves close by followed us all around the course. A glamping trip in July to Braemar was filled with sunshine, walks and horsefly bites.

The truth is you cannot count on the weather being good, even in the summer.

There is nothing we can do about the weather, except be prepared for it with the right clothing and where necessary, sun cream! As the saying goes “there is no such thing as bad weather” and I totally agree with this. We have to embrace it all. Remember that Scotland is beautiful, lush and green because of the rain. There are no watering faeries that appear whilst we sleep. The rain and mist makes glens and lochs very atmospheric in the autumn and with changing colours of the trees it is rather special. It also fuels some of the most spectacular waterfalls. Of course, if you’re lucky you may even get a rainbow. That’s gotta be worth a smile?

Winter gives us a white wonderland of snow capped mountains that easily rival any landscapes across Scandinavia and if you manage to get a bit of blue sky with that too, you’re on to a winner!

Spring is full of hope, new life and the days start to draw out giving us more day light. I love the fresh feel of the spring months, the air is still crisp, snowdrops and daffodils appear along our driveways and public parks too. We still need to wrap up and look out for April showers but it is a lovely time of year.

As the summer arrives and we get used to the longer days, there are highland games, harbour and book festivals that fill the calendar (it’s not all about the Fringe!). BUT, on the west coast (mainly) there are midges. Tiny, annoying little blighters that bite, they come en masse and there is no escaping them. This, for me, is enough to put me off going west or into the highlands at this time of year.

In short, there are pros and cons for each month and each season but all I ask is that you don’t write one off because it might be cold or it gets dark earlier, in favour for following the crowds in peak season for more daylight and cramming more in.

So, the answer to the question “when is the best time to visit Scotland” from me would be “whenever you like. It’s always pretty, breathtaking, atmospheric and welcoming.

16/03/2024

Finding our own version of Scotland.

Jamie and I have taken time off this past couple of weeks to have our own adventures. We LOVE Scotland.

We prefer to use one place as a base and then explore within an hour drive radius. To really get under the skin of a location. For this trip, we revisited Fort William.

From here we drove out to Oban. The coastal drive from Fort William is stunning. It was nice for us to wander around Oban and discover that there's more to it than the ferry to Mull (our usual reason for going to Oban). A pull up to Mcaigs tower for clear views of Kerrera, Lismore and Mull. There's chocolate and whisky to be enjoyed as well as castle ruins and white sandy beaches not far from the town centre.

Glen Nevis and Steall Falls walk and dip. This is one of our most favourite walks. It's not for the faint of heart. From the bottom carpark the well made path hugs the clear waters of the rivers edge. As the rocky trail gets you clambering over rocks, remember to pay attention and not get sidetracked by the views down the glen. Steall Falls is the 2nd highest, single drop waterfall in the UK. It is spectacular. We extended our walk by following the route that goes out to Corrour. I found a beautiful pool for a quick dip too. We walked just over 14.4km and even managed to spot a golden eagle.

A new highlight for us was getting to know some of Ardnamurchan too. The weather was forecast to pour with rain but it was amazingly clear and not a breath of wind. We saw so many deer, seals, herons, diving birds and a woodpecker. The landscape feels raw and rugged. We drove out to Ardnamurchan lighthouse, the mostly westerly point on mainland UK. The views across to Eigg, Rum and Coll were insane. We were lucky enough to have the entire place to ourselves as the tourist season is not yet in full swing. What a day.

Of course we had the obligatory stops in Glen Coe which NEVER fails to put a lump in my throat.

So, now we're well rested, full of inspiration and ready for the season ahead.

Whilst our photography tours are primarily based in Perthshire we are always willing to head off piste if that's something you'd like.

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https://findyourscotland.co.uk/

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I've had this wee wander on my list for quite some time. Today, with a pal I finally got to explore this part of the glen. Glen Lyon was home to legendary hero Fionn Mac Cumhaill and his 9000 warriors. Fionn's rock (also known as Praying hands of Mary). Legend has it that the stone was split in two by an arrow fired by Fingal, or Fiona mac Cumhaill. If you're thinking this name rings a bell, you'd (probably) be right in making the same connection with Fingal's cave and the Giant's Causeway on the north coast of Northern Ireland. A peaceful, atmospheric walk, just shy of 5km. Bonnie views with a soundtrack of bellowing red deer and the calls of ravens. I can't tell you just how stunning days like this are. A brilliant start to the week. #FindYourScotland #LoveScotland #VisitScotland

Take a minute to enjoy the sights and sounds of Spring in my garden here in Scotland. Look out for the wee cute bumblebee taking a nap in the flower. 🐝🥰 #FindYourScotland #LoveScotland #Scotland #WeAreNature

We are really lucky to have 5 different red squirrels that visit our feeder at home. Just a few feet from the front door. They all have their own personalities and ways of feeding. These two like to sit on the nobbly bits of the tree whilst nibbling the nuts. One of the others comes down the tree, takes a nut and then hangs around like superman before taking another. All the cuteness. 🥰

Let me help you get through Monday with some mindfulness. #FindYourScotland #Mindfulness #MindfulMoments #Scotland

I really love early morning walks in winter. When sunrise isn't until nearly 9am and the light is soft. This woodland walk, not far from the city centre of Perth, provides amazing views of the river Tay and on a clear day you can see hills in the Cairngorms. Kinnoull Hill is also full of wildlife - red squirrels, deer, woodpeckers and is one of my favourite places to photograph lichens, mosses and slime moulds. With good trails to follow you can make your walk as long or as short as you wish, discovering some of the quieter corners of the hill. #FindYourScotland #Perthshire #VisitScotland