Ideas for great photos to take west coast of Scotland

iant79 said:
If you're going to Skye, be sure to have a look at the Old Man of Storr - it's spectacular and you'll get some great photo oppportunities.
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Thanks I will be going to Skye and plan to spend about 3 days there. I will add this to my 'places to visit' list. :)

Harmless` said:
The seals on the boat trip at Dunvegan castle are worth a visit as you can get really close to them. And the Applecross road is briiliant to drive on, I didn't get out of the car for the fun I was having. Ahh just read you're using a campervan, so prob not so relevent, but you got to love the sign that says its not for learners or inexperianced drivers, red rag to a bull!!
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Thanks, I will still bear this in mind. My campervan is not a huge RV, rather a SWB transit van conversion with the very basics regards motor technology, it may not go very fast, but it gets me about and is very comfortable (as long as there are no very low bridges to go under I should be ok).

Sounds like the kind of place I should consider making a trip in the Subaru some day though :D

grum said:
Can I use this as an excuse to post a few pics? :)
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Please feel free to post as many pics as you want to this thread, the more the better for inspirational ideas for me to visit. You have some amazing shots there, thanks for sharing them. I will add Lewis and Harris to the list, as I would especially like to visit the rocks in your 3rd pic - do you know what the place is called?

jerry12953 said:
Never heard of motorhome service points, not in the UK anyway.....

If you mean charging camera batteries, couldn't you use car chargers that run off the cig lighter?

Personally, I wouldn't plan your overnight stops too carefully. Just cruise around till you find somewhere you like!
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Motorhome service points was something my colleague mentioned (they do a lot of camping) and apparently it is something that one can get through Caravan and Camping.

I'm not sure how I would charge camera batteries with charger in the van as I don't have a 12V converter for it. Will make some enquiries though.

I don't want to make confirmed bookings for overnight stops if I can avoid it, but I will be travelling with my 5 year old son, so may need some places along the way for the odd shower :lol:

I am pretty much going with the idea to enjoy every moment and take in the stunning scenery. If there is a spot I :love: then that is where I will sleep the night, especially if I think I might get a great sunrise/sunset shot.

Thanks all for your contribution to this thread, they are all inspiring and if you think of anything else please let me know ....... and it would be great to see more pics you may have to add to the inspiration.

Cheers

Dawn :)
 
jerry12953 said:
Re : car chargers, you can either buy an INVERTER and then use that to power your normal charger (They aren't very expensive.) or I think you can buy chargers which have the inverter included and plug straight into a 12v socket.
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Thanks for the info, I will check it out. Would hate to go all the way there and not be able to charge my camera battery (which will probs need charging daily :lol:)

D :)
 
The stones in the pic are Callanish standing stones on Lewis. There's an iron age broch a few miles away which is pretty amazing too.
 
grum said:
The stones in the pic are Callanish standing stones on Lewis. There's an iron age broch a few miles away which is pretty amazing too.
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Great stuff, thanks for that, I will pin it to the map. Will also google the iron age broch for more details.

Cheers

D :)
 
I've just been thinking of another thing....... :thinking:

I only have an 18-55 kit lens (and won't have money to buy any fancy lenses befor the trip as all my funds will be towards the holiday). However, I do plan on buying some macro extention tubes before I go (this being a suggestion from a number of people), but is there anywhere I may be able to hire lenses from? In particular lenses that folk might think might be beneficial to my taking photos on the jollies? That way I can also have a play and decide what I may want to add to my collection in the future.

I have a Sigma 70-300 lens (given to my by the ex) but I keep getting an 01 - communication error from it. It takes a photo, but in order to bypass that and get another pic I have to switch the camera off and on again. Do you think it may be worth me taking it in somewhere (where ?) to have it looked at. The chips all line up and match the connection on the body (but maybe it needs rechipping or something). I'm not very clued up when it comes to this sort of thing.

A friend suggested I tape over the contacts and use it in manual mode, but to be honest I don't really want to be faffing about, and also don't want to miss out on a perfect photo oportunity because I am limited to makeshift equipment.

Any suggestions would be great.

Ta

Dawn :)
 
Dawn,

http://www.lensesforhire.co.uk/ are a great place for hiring lenses. I'm sure they have something suitable. A replacement for the 70-300 would be a good idea (it sounds like yours does need re-chipping). 18-55 will be very short when you see a Golden Eagle.
 
hollis_f said:
Dawn,

http://www.lensesforhire.co.uk/ are a great place for hiring lenses. I'm sure they have something suitable. A replacement for the 70-300 would be a good idea (it sounds like yours does need re-chipping). 18-55 will be very short when you see a Golden Eagle.
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Hiya Frank,

Thanks for the link, I have had a look. Now I need to decided what lenses will be best for me taking photos on my trip. From what I can gather from all the replies here, there is quite a lot of wildlife, i.e., sea-life and birds so I would need something suitable to photograph these. I also aim to take loads of landscape and seascape shots.

I am going to buy some macro extension tubes, so that should work well with my 18-55 (I think) and I also find the kit lens works well for portrait photos.

I will make some enquiries about how much it would cost, and whether it would be work having the 70-300 lens rechipped.

Thanks for you advice.

Cheers

Dawn :)
 
We generally wild camp in Scotland and only visit camp sites when we need to use their facilities to empty anything and fill up with water......that`s maybe once a week !! The scenery is amazing as well as the wildlife, so you`ll have plenty to photograph, although this time of year it will be busy, which is why we go early spring and late autumn. Our last trip ,leaving mid April we noticed just how many motorhomes were about compared to us leaving mid March. There are no such things as motorhome "points" where you can charge your batteries, but you should have "on board" 12volt facilities to do that, either direct from your leisure battery or through an inverter....or cigarette plug? Worth checking that out before you go....but you should have an amazing time if you`ve not been there before.
Enjoy :thumbs:

Geoff
 
spiritsfree said:
We generally wild camp in Scotland and only visit camp sites when we need to use their facilities to empty anything and fill up with water......that`s maybe once a week !! The scenery is amazing as well as the wildlife, so you`ll have plenty to photograph, although this time of year it will be busy, which is why we go early spring and late autumn. Our last trip ,leaving mid April we noticed just how many motorhomes were about compared to us leaving mid March. There are no such things as motorhome "points" where you can charge your batteries, but you should have "on board" 12volt facilities to do that, either direct from your leisure battery or through an inverter....or cigarette plug? Worth checking that out before you go....but you should have an amazing time if you`ve not been there before.
Enjoy :thumbs:

Geoff
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Hi Geoff

Thanks for the info. I have a leisure battery in the van, which I think charges as the van is running, but will have it checked before I go as I noticed on my last trip the battery wasn't charging (maybe the battery is a bit tired and I may need to get a new one before I go).

I also have electric hook-up in the van, and I mainly charge my battery that way. I will have a look at what connection I can get for the charger so that I can link it to the ciggy plug.

I am thinking I may use 2 or 3 campsites along the way, as you said, to mainly use the facilities there and top up on water etc.

Fortunately the van is small enough to manouver about. I managed quite well on the single track roads on Arran and Mull on a previous visit. I don't know how the big RV motorhomes coped :lol:

I plan to leave w/c 16th August, so might have to contend with some traffic, especially as it will be school holidays. But I am hopeful that it won't be too hectic.

Cheers

Dawn :)
 
drodd said:
Hi Geoff

Thanks for the info. I have a leisure battery in the van, which I think charges as the van is running, but will have it checked before I go as I noticed on my last trip the battery wasn't charging (maybe the battery is a bit tired and I may need to get a new one before I go).

I also have electric hook-up in the van, and I mainly charge my battery that way. I will have a look at what connection I can get for the charger so that I can link it to the ciggy plug.

I am thinking I may use 2 or 3 campsites along the way, as you said, to mainly use the facilities there and top up on water etc.

Fortunately the van is small enough to manouver about. I managed quite well on the single track roads on Arran and Mull on a previous visit. I don't know how the big RV motorhomes coped :lol:

I plan to leave w/c 16th August, so might have to contend with some traffic, especially as it will be school holidays. But I am hopeful that it won't be too hectic.

Cheers

Dawn :)
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Then you`re going to be fine Dawn....and should have a few 12 volt plugs "on board" which you can use while on the move...but check if the leasure battery isn`t charging as that can ruin the whole journey....or make it less enjoyable. The single track roads are fine as the pace of life is different up there, as you know,....and mine`s 24ft long !!:thumbs:

Have a fantastic trip and show us the photos on return....any motorhome advice you need then just ask:thumbs:...or send me a pm

Geoff :)
 
spiritsfree said:
Then you`re going to be fine Dawn....and should have a few 12 volt plugs "on board" which you can use while on the move...but check if the leasure battery isn`t charging as that can ruin the whole journey....or make it less enjoyable. The single track roads are fine as the pace of life is different up there, as you know,....and mine`s 24ft long !!:thumbs:

Have a fantastic trip and show us the photos on return....any motorhome advice you need then just ask:thumbs:...or send me a pm

Geoff :)
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I have about 8 x 12V plugs onboard and 3 x 240V outlets for when connected to electric hook-up, so plenty of spark there :lol:

I'm going to have the wiring to the leisure battery checked, just to make sure there isn't a loose connection, and also have the battery tested.

Fortunately it should still be light till after 9pm at night, so won't need to use the lights too much, and I also have 2 x camplights (the wind-up type that also solar charge).

The only other reasons I need power would be for the water pump to the sink and charging appliances, i.e, camera, netbook and dvd player. Mobile phone and satnav can charge while I drive.

Thanks, I may just take you up on the offer to PM you with any other motorhome queries.

I am so excited about this trip as it is something I promised to do when I did my last trip in 2008. I bought the van on the 5th July 2008 and set off on 7th July so didn't really know much about the van. This time it should be great because I will be better prepared and have gained some experience driving it and learning what it has onboard.

I'm going to post a photo of my van (called Jasper) so that people have an idea of what my home-from-home looks like. Also if they have any advice on what I can do to make it a safe and enjoyable journey.

Cheers

Dawn :)
 
Then all will be fine Dawn...at the same time that you have someone look at your 12 volt wiring get them to test the leisure battery, and that`s it !!

Plenty of power as you travel as it will recharge the leisure....or should do !!

Pm if you need anything...and have fun:thumbs:

Geoff:)
 
Hi,

Thought I would add a photo of my campervan (Jasper), so you have an idea of my home-from-home and mode of travel for the holiday :D

4779749256_5cf58f9f4b_b.jpg


It may not be the best photo as it was taken with a mobile phone.

You can see that it is not the largest of motorhomes, but it is just right for me and my son.

D :)
 
If your going up past the Old Man of Storr in Skye, might also be worth a short walk down to Bearreraig Bay which gives you a good view of the cliffs and also there are suppose to be a lot of Jurrasic fosils there if you were interested. There's a wee hydro electric scheme there.
 
CraigyBoy86 said:
If your going up past the Old Man of Storr in Skye, might also be worth a short walk down to Bearreraig Bay which gives you a good view of the cliffs and also there are suppose to be a lot of Jurrasic fosils there if you were interested. There's a wee hydro electric scheme there.
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Thanks Craig

Wow that sounds quite exciting, my son (who is 5 years old and dinosaur mad) would love to go looking for fosils.

May also check out the hydro electric scheme.

Cheers

D :)
 
drodd said:
Hi,

Thought I would add a photo of my campervan (Jasper), so you have an idea of my home-from-home and mode of travel for the holiday :D

4779749256_5cf58f9f4b_b.jpg


It may not be the best photo as it was taken with a mobile phone.

You can see that it is not the largest of motorhomes, but it is just right for me and my son.

D :)
Click to expand...

Looks great Dawn :thumbs::)
 
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