Starting out 2 - My first photography trip (ever)

The plan for the first trip was simple…

• Go to Scotland

• Take amazing pictures

• Make an award winning vlog on the first attempt

• Relax

• Recover

Now, I was new to photography but not that naive. I knew I wouldn’t get any amazing pictures, and I knew my vlog wouldn’t win any awards. I’d wanted simply to take pictures that I liked, and importantly wanted to enjoy the process.

I’ve never considered this a venture which will make me money, but one that I can find enjoyment in.

The little planning I’d done consisted of buying an NC500 guide book (which I’ve yet to read anymore than a couple of pages of), booking 5 campsites and buying some camera gear on eBay.

I’d also completed a 20 mile charity walk the day before and so was pretty knackered before I even set off (I was not in good shape!).

My trip was planned for 7 days, in late October 2023.

Day 1 - Getting there

was pretty basic. I left Oldham in the morning (9 ish) and drove to my first campsite, a couple of miles from Inverness.

As someone who’s done quite a bit of long distance driving before, this was pretty easy. Just under 400 miles door to door.

As I’d bought a GoPro to accompany me on the trip, I tried this out, trying to vlog myself as I travelled.

It’s safe to say the output of this is not being shared here!

I’d also discovered the GoPro I’d bought had a Timelapse feature, the output of which is far less embarrassing.

While I didn’t feel that tired, my legs were sore from walking 20 miles the day before and then spending 6 hours sat down in a 11 year old van.

I must have been tired though. I slept for nearly 12 hours that night.

Day 2 - Inverness to John O’Groats

I woke up in Inverness, with about 120 miles to John O’Groats. As I’d worked out that sunset wasn’t much after 5pm, so I wanted to be at the campsite and all setup by then, but that was my only real planning for the day.

I left Inverness quite late, nearly 11am (I really needed that sleep), giving myself about 6 hours of daylight to work with.

The weather was nice, for October. Not particularly bright most of the day, but pretty clear, with little wind.

As I had no idea what I was going with the camera, I put it in auto and starting pointing and clicking.

I’d seen quite a bit of YouTuber’s talking about photography, so I’d probably picked some stuff up, but I learn best by doing, so that’s what I did.

That night, after visiting the local brewery (supporting local business and all that), I put the pictures I’d taken that day onto my iPad (other tablet’s are available) and starting to look through them.

I must have taken a couple of hundred pictures that day.

A lot of them (most if I’m honest) were complete rubbish, but I’d enjoyed myself.

There was though a few that I quite liked and so I considered it a job well done.

I’d not thought about work once, I’d enjoyed myself and ended the day on a high.

Day 3 - John O’Groats to Sango Sands

Now right at the top of the main land, I had about 90 miles to cover in the day to move west to Sango Sands.

In the morning I drove into Thurso, headed to the front to get my first harbour pictures and do some shopping.

By lunch time I was feeling a little misled.

Having watched some videos about the NC500 I’d been promised spectacular views, small single track highland roads.

I’d not seen any of that though, just grey buildings and ‘normal’ roads.

Luckily though this was short lived as very quickly I found what I’d been after.

After a dark morning, the sun had come out too meaning and by mid afternoon I was in some of the best scenery I’d seen in the UK, and taking some good photos.

I spent the afternoon stopping at everything I could to take pictures, before heading to the campsite for about 5pm just in time to capture a Timelapse of the sunset from the campsite.

After a visit to the local pub to get some wifi, I looked through the pictures I’d taken.

Again, it’s no surprise that lots were no good, but I had a few that I was quite pleased with.

Day 4 - Sango Sands to Ullapool

The weather has started to turn, after a couple of pretty good days.

It was now getting quite windy.

The sky was quite dull and there were rain showers.

After a lazy start to lat the weather clear a little, I set off on the 110 miles to Ullapool.

You can do this a lot shorter, but if you like the more unique scenery, and the small roads, it’s best to take the longer more costal route as I did.

The roads proved to be good fun to drive on, even in an older van, although if you weren’t confident reversing between passing places, sometimes uphill, then I couldn’t recommend them.

Despite the weather beginning to turn, I had another great day, getting some of my favourite pictures from the whole trip.

I still had no real clue what I was doing with the camera, but I was enjoying myself.

Day 5 - Ullapool to Glenshiel

The weather had really turned by the fifth day.

It was mostly dry, but the wind had really picked up and a weather warning was now in effect for Wind.

After a short drive into the centre of Ullapool I stopped for some shopping, and now I had a phone signal, looked up the weather for the day and where I might go.

The weather forecast wasn’t much use as it basically said it was rubbish all day.

So, I decided to have a lazy morning (this was a holiday after all) and found somewhere nice to park up.

The weather didn’t really stop all day and while I managed to get a few pictures, nothing really stood out.

The weather continued overnight and I was gently rocked to sleep by the wind.

Day 6 - Home Time!

I’d had a great time, but it was time for home.

Now, the more observant will have noticed that I started out with having 7 days planned for this trip, yet I’m going home on day 6.

Simply, while I’d really enjoyed myself, the weather was rubbish and I’d realised that if I did stay for the final day, I’d be trapped in the van from mid afternoon, have to have an early night and get up early to come home.

I didn’t fancy that, so I came home a day early.

After about 400 miles, I got home late that evening, ready to have a day at home before going back to work.

My grand plans around vlogging the trip hadn’t happened.

After all it’s taken me over a year to get round to writing about it, let alone talk about it on camera!.

I’d had a great trip though and immediately starting thinking about the next one, and some new gear to play with.

Unfortunately it was a year before I got out again properly.

See some of the pictures from this trip here