Seabirds & Castles Photography Tour

This tour takes you to four outstanding seabird islands off the east coast of Britain and the finest coastal castle landscapes to be found anywhere in England. The Northumberland coast is a photographic jewel; its wide vistas and moody, changeable cloud formations provide the backdrop to three evocative castles. The offshore islands of Northumberland and the nearby Firth of Forth have some of the best seabird colonies of the British Isles, with some 40,000 pairs of puffins, feisty arctic terns and the world’s largest nesting colony of northern gannets. The tour includes landings on Staple Island, Inner Farne, Bass Rock and the Isle of May, providing excellent opportunities to photograph a wonderful assemblage of nesting, courting and feeding seabirds at close range. We will also do boat-based photography of grey seals and diving gannets (“chumming”). On two evenings, we will photograph iconic castles, including Dunstanburgh and Bamburgh, making the best use of light and tides to capture atmospheric images. We will spend a day on the tidal island of Lindisfarne, photographing rare orchids, the castle perched on a rocky crag, fishing boats and fishing sheds made from upturned former boats.

This tour offers the most spectacular wildlife experiences and photography opportunities to be found in England and southern Scotland, together with landscape photography of evocative coastal scenery. Whilst our focus will primarily be on photographing seabirds and the area’s numerous castles, we will also enjoy other aspects of the coast and early summer wild flowers. Close views of seabirds such as puffins and arctic terns, together with walking amongst 150,000 nesting gannets on Bass Rock, are wildlife experiences that compare with any in the world. Specialist guiding in photographic techniques throughout will make this tour both productive and memorable.

Itinerary (adjustments to sequencing may be made if necessitated by weather conditions, tides and boat schedules, for example Bass Rock landing may be morning rather than evening):

Day 1: Pick-up at Newcastle Railway Station at 1pm if required. Arrive at Bamburgh at 2pm. Introductory presentation on locations and photography techniques. Evening photography of Bamburgh Castle.
Day 2: Depart hotel for North Berwick for private chartered boat trip to photograph diving gannets (chumming). Return to North Berwick for main meal. Evening private chartered boat trip to land on Bass Rock for photography of world’s largest nesting northern gannet colony in evening light.
Day 3: Seabird photography on the Farne Islands (10am to 4pm) including landings on Staple Island and Inner Farne. Seabird species include puffins, arctic terns, guillemots and shags as well as grey seals by boat. Evening review of group’s images and how to process them.
Day 4: Depart hotel for North Berwick. Isle of May landing trip for puffins, arctic terns, kittiwakes and many other sea birds. Return to hotel for evening meal. Evening photography of Dunstanburgh Castle.
Day 5: Early morning house martin photography (chicks in nest and adults in flight) or coastal landscape photography. Return to hotel for breakfast. Full day on Lindisfarne (11am to 6pm, to coincide with tidal crossing times) including photography of Lindisfarne castle, harbour and orchids.
Day 6: Depart hotel at 10am for coastal photography of unusual sculptures at Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, outfall pipe at Cambois and St Mary’s Island. Tour ends at Whitley Bay around 3pm (if you have your own vehicle) or around 4pm at Newcastle railway station.

Note: Landings on Staple Island, Inner Farne, Isle of May and Bass Rock are subject to weather and sea conditions, as determined by the boat captains, and visiting arrangements out in place by the islands’ owners. While landings are expected, they cannot be completely guaranteed. If boat trips are cancelled we will endeavour to re-schedule them within the tour programme. If this is not possible alternative activities will be substituted (such as photography of Hadrian’s Wall) and a refund will be made of the cost of the cancelled boat trip.

Group size: Maximum of 6 participants.

Recommended Photographic Equipment: Digital single lens reflex camera, telephoto lens (minimum 300mm focal length for seabird photography), Standard and wide angle zoom lenses for coastal landscapes, macro lens for dune flowers, tripod (essential), monopod (optional), beanbag, remote cable release, waterproof camera cover, skylight, neutral density and polarising filter. Hiking boots and/or wellington boots, hat (essential), kneeling pad (optional)

Dates: This tour will not run in 2023 due to bird flu. Contact me to register interest for 2024.
Six day tour. to be advised.

Included: Accommodation in twin rooms at the superbly located Hotel Victoria in Bamburgh for five nights, breakfasts, travel from Newcastle, boat trips to Farne Islands, Isle of May, Bass Rock and gannet chumming, landing fees, photographic guiding.

Meet at lunchtime on Day 1, depart mid-afternoon on day 6.

Not included: Travel to Newcastle, lunches, evening meals (will be taken at the hotel or elsewhere to fit photography schedules, at cost), drinks.

Feedback on previous Seabirds and Castles Tours led by Robert Harvey:

"I was so pleased I came on the trip and I learned a great deal from you of course but also from our nice and dedicated group! Thank you so much for all your hard work and guidance Robert. These things require so much thought effort and planning everything was thought through. I think we were very lucky and privileged to have such an experienced guide. The tour was very well organised... There was also time to learn a great deal. I also think that considerable effort was made to ensure that every member of the group got help and advice. It was great to have a guide who knew a lot about photography but also about what we were photographing." JC, London

"I can’t thank you enough for my time in Northumberland and East Lothian ... the tour was good value, especially given all the pre-tour planning that would have been necessary." IH, Berkshire

"Bass Rock, the gannet chumming and the Isle of May were wonderful opportunities and I really enjoyed them." JS, Cambridgeshire

"It was a very well put together schedule, with a variety of different photographic opportunities. Robert is a superlative tour leader; he is wonderfully knowledgeable about both photography and the natural world. He is also very patient." JS, Cambridgeshire

“A photographic holiday bases in Seahouses Northumberland. Mainly focused on trips to Inner Farne, Staples Islands and Lindisfarne for bird and plant photography, with landscapes of castles and harbours. Lead by an experienced photo guide who supplied many good process to improve upon my technique. The trip did meet expectations with a flexible itinerary to take account of some unseasonable weather. We were able to spend considerable time on all the islands to maximize photo opportunities. I would recommend the trip for those wanting to pursue a photographic vacation.” A.H. North Yorkshire

“It was great being part of a small group and our leader Robert Harvey gave us good guidance on camera settings which I found very helpful. A most enjoyable holiday with photos I am pleased with and happy to share.” G.P. West Sussex

“Seabirds on the Farne Islands. Overall very good. Trip leader Robert Harvey very helpful – good knowledge, very patient!” WC, Hampshire

“Good tour leader, friendly and knowledgeable and helpful. And the location – the Farne Islands.” JH, Cambridgeshire

“Excellent tour leader / photographer. Organisation provided many photo opportunities.” BG, Hampshire

“Farne Islands were a wildlife photography dream – amazing.” SD, Dorset