A good viewpoint to take in this majestic landscape is found by heading up the path which ascends behind the visitor centre. A relatively short, but steep, climb to around 100 metres in elevation will reveal a beautiful view of the monument and down the loch. But what I suggest the most is just grabbing a camera and taking a mindless stroll around the Edinburgh center. I guarantee you will find something unique and interesting. Whether it’s quaint historic buildings or fascinating street scenes, the city will find a way to surprise you.

Visit on a calm day for symmetrical reflections. Focus on interesting foregrounds and grasses, and look towards the wooded island that stands just offshore. I should also mention that the roads in Scotland are quite narrow, especially in the countryside. I’m a decent driver but did hit the curb in Scotland on a couple of occasions. One of these encounters even ended with a flat tire. New is a relative term of course, given that this part of town was actually built in the 18th century. It was to here that the rich of Edinburgh moved, leaving the poor to the cramped and unsanitary conditions of the original medieval town centre. Glen Brittle, on the southern side of the island, features the River Brittle and several tributaries that form waterfalls and the Fairy Pools.I thought this was a wonderful spot to capture the majesty of the Scottish wilderness alongside the winding road of the North Coast 500. Near the carpark is a shoreline beach area with foreground boulders and lead-in lines. There are a few lone trees and an old castle ruin on an island in the centre of the loch, which work well if included in longer telephoto images. If you could stay for a little longer, consider adding a night or two in the Glencoe area and a couple of nights in Aberdeen to see the northern part. That would result in a well-rounded itinerary that covers the most notable landmarks. Final Thoughts The path from the car parking to the viewpoint takes 1 hour 15 minutes. Anyway, the views you will get once you arrive at the top will make your efforts rewarded.

This street was said to have inspired Diagon Alley in Harry Potter (read all about finding Harry Potter in Edinburgh here), and it is certainly a magical place for photography. The colourful shop fronts curve away down the street with cobbled stones underfoot and Edinburgh’s high old stone-built buildings towering above. This massive cave, which is a combination sea and freshwater cave, is carved out of limestone and features a waterfall inside the cave. Which is pretty neat. There’s also a hole over the main cave entrance through which the light enters, and if you happen to time it just right like we did, you can get a funky beam of light effect. Which naturally I had to stand in for a Star Trek transporter effect.This is an easy stop just off the Royal Mile and certainly one to include. It does get busy though, so it can be challenging to shoot it without people, and almost impossible to photograph it without cars. You can reduce the number of people by doing a long exposure with a tripod and neutral density filter. You could also try coming in very early in the morning if you’re an early-bird! 7. The Vennel Steps Despite the misinformation about the location, there is a great sign that just about everyone takes a photo of in John O’Groats, so you should do that. It is also a popular food and shopping stop. According to the actual restrictions, you can travel to Scotland only with guidance that supports the route map. You can find more information at this link. Besides, having a car allows for truly exploring and visiting places that would otherwise be difficult or time-consuming to reach. So if you’re planning a photography trip, I highly recommend considering a rental. Typical road in Scotland Highlands Those lovely long days meant we got plenty of daylight for exploring, but it did make getting up early for sunrise a challenge.

There are so many amazing photography locations in Scotland that one could write a book about them and not include everything. Needless to say, trying to cram everything in one blog post would not only be impossible but also somewhat absurd. Shutter speed – Obviously depends on the situation but as a general rule, to get a sharp image of an otter, I try and get 1/1600th second to freeze everything. Always be prepared for action: one moment they can be laying around doing nothing, and the next second shaking or play fighting. If you aren’t prepared, then you might just miss that shot. Otter cubs play fighting with their mother on the look out. Shetland, Scotland.Last, but not least, please don’t take this as the definitive list of photography locations on the North Coast 500! One of the wonders of driving this road is making your own discoveries, and you’re going to come across so many beautiful locations, from castles to mountains to waterfalls and lochs! I’d also recommend taking some time to explore the village of Rosemarkie, which has a lovely beach and interesting museum about Pictish standing stones.