South of France and Camargue
May 15 – 24, 2024
1 Spot Left
Cliffs teem with birds during breeding season
July 12 – 19, 2025
The most northerly extent of Britain, the Shetland Islands, are an archipelago of over 100 islands sitting so far north that the sun barely dips below the horizon in the summer—known locally as the ‘simmer dim.’ Dramatic and wild landscapes abound; Shetland is truly a place of extremes. With some of the largest seabird colonies in the world, Shetland is a wildlife photographer’s heaven.
We have timed this trip to coincide with the height of the breeding season, and Shetland’s cliffs will be teeming with the cries and calls of gannets, puffin, guillemots, skua, and much more. Plenty of time will be spent around these colonies; this isn’t a trip where we rush from location to location, emphasizing studying your feathered subjects and trying to build a broad portfolio of images of a few species. We have also organized two special private boat charters to Noss National Nature Reserve to witness a gannet feeding frenzy—a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle. This trip suits photographers of all abilities, but you should be comfortable hiking with wildlife photography equipment for a couple of miles at a time to make the most of each location.
Your Pros
Harry Martin
Location
United Kingdom
Tuition
$7,995
Dates
July 12 – 19, 2025
Availability
Open for Registration
Limited to 8 Guests
Itinerary
About the wildlife: This workshop offers significant opportunities for photographing wildlife, and while we do our best to maximize our wildlife encounters—based on past experiences, local knowledge, and the current conditions—we need to impress upon you that the wildlife really is wild and that we don’t control it.
This itinerary is subject to change due to weather, local conditions, and other factors.
July 12, 2025: Arrive today in Glasgow, and check in to our hotel. We’ll have an introductory dinner and prepare for the trip ahead.
July 13, 2025: Today, we fly to Sumburgh airport, check in to the hotel and have dinner. If the weather is suitable, we can make a short excursion to Sumburgh Lighthouse to photograph puffins and other seabirds.
July 14, 2025: On our first full day in Shetland, we’ll kick things off in style by heading to Noss National Nature Reserve—a small island near Lerwick filled with seabirds. It has accessible colonies of both puffins and gannets, our two main targets for the week, with puffins encountered first, and the best spots for gannets being at the top of the cliffs. It is a great opportunity to start to get your eye in on capturing these species, as well as others such as guillemot and skua. This will be an all-day excursion with a walk of 2 miles each way. Around 100m in ascent near the end of the hike grants us best access to the birds.
July 15, 2025: We’ll be up early for a special sunrise boat charter out to Noss, the island we saw yesterday, to photograph a gannet feeding frenzy. This is one of the best natural spectacles you’ll ever see, with hundreds of birds diving around our boat. Be prepared to fill your memory cards as we see gannets, skua, seals and more. After returning to the hotel for a late breakfast, we’ll check out and move accommodation to the north mainland of Shetland. En route, we’ll take time to search for other species, such as divers (loons) and breeding passerines, before settling into our new accommodation.
July 16, 2025: Another early rise for a second go at capturing gannets on our sunrise boat charter. Believe us when we say having a second go makes all the difference. Today we’ll visit the epic cliffs of Eshaness in the far north-west of the mainland, a dramatic cliff-top viewpoint ideal for long exposure landscapes and photographing fulmar. We’ll also keep our eyes peeled for red- throated divers and keep our ears to the local grapevine for any sightings of the regular orca pods.
July 17, 2025: Today we’ll rise early to travel to the most northerly island in Shetland, Unst, requiring two ferry journeys. All day will be spent at Hermaness National Nature Reserve, a dramatic cliff-top haven for thousands of seabirds. This is undoubtedly one of the best places in the UK and the world to watch and photograph gannets and puffins. As you stand on the cliffs, nothing lies between you and the Arctic to the north. You’ll also be able to photograph great skuas as they scour the cliffs for easy pickings. Expect to walk 5-6 miles across relatively easy terrain.
July 18, 2025: Today is our final opportunity to capture any missing targets or re-shoot locations as we make our way from the north mainland back down to Sumburgh for our final night. Birds such as arctic terns, golden plover, snipe, oystercatcher, and black guillemot may not have the celebrity status of the puffins but are beautiful subjects in their own right.
July 19, 2025: After breakfast and checkout, we fly to Glasgow, where you can get your return flight home any time after 7:00 PM, or if you wish, we can help arrange one of the airport hotels for your departure the next day.
Fitness
Moderate: Walks of a few miles daily with your gear. Some of the shooting locations are on cliffs, so not recommended those with vertigo or severe fear of heights.
Flights
Arrive Glasgow Airport (GLA), Glasgow, Scotland before 3:00 PM on July 12, 2025. Flights out can be made after 7:00 PM on July 19, 2025. Air travel delays are common. Please arrive early, possibly even the day prior, so you don’t miss any of the workshop.
What to Bring
Please see our page How To Prepare For Your Workshop. We will send you a detailed information document 90 days before your workshop. This document will include specifics of where and when to meet, gear and clothing recommendations, and more.
What’s Included
- Double occupancy lodging. Single available for $900 supplement.
- All meals, soft drinks, and snacks during the workshop.
- All permits and park fees.
- Internal flights during the workshop.
- All transportation during the workshop.
- Tips for crew, drivers, and local guides.
- Photographic guiding and instruction from 2 pros.
- Image reviews and post-processing instruction.
- Adventure, fun, inspiration, and a great time!
Not Included
- Travel to and from Glasgow, Scotland.
- Unscheduled airport transfers.
- Passport and visa fees (if applicable).
- Any meals or accommodations before or after the workshop dates.
- Items of a personal nature.
- Alcoholic Beverages.
- Medical Evacuation Insurance (required).
- Travel Medical and Trip Cancellation Insurance (optional, but recommended).
- Anything else specifically not listed as included.
- Single rooming available for $900 supplement.
Payment Terms
- Your deposit of $3,995 will hold your space in this workshop.
- The balance is due not later than April 1, 2025.
- All of our standard Terms and Conditions apply.
- Need special payment arrangements? No problem, just ask us.
Testimonials
“This was my fourth trip with Muench Workshops and my second to Scotland. The workshop to the Isle of Lewis & Harris was simply wonderful! Eishken Estate, our home on the island was charming and gave us a glimpse of a bygone age. The food was excellent! But most importantly the photographic opportunities were outstanding as were David, Marcus, and Harry. ”
“Talor is a mastermind at being not just an outstanding photographer and editor, but an exceptional person whose charm, enthusiasm, warmth, and candor have made her highly admired by everyone who is around her. ”
