Photographing the Highlands

The shot everyone wants. Arrive at the small pull-off on the A82 at least 40 minutes before sunrise. In autumn (September-October), the sun rises behind you and hits the mountain face with golden light. A telephoto (70-200mm) compresses the mountain against the sky. A wide angle captures the river in the foreground. This spot gets crowded in peak autumn — there might be 20 tripods set up before dawn.

The most dramatic landscape on Skye. The full circuit gives you endlessly changing compositions — the escarpment edge, the sea beyond, the rock pinnacles in the foreground. Best in morning light when shadows define the landslip topography. If it's raining or the cloud is down, wait an hour. Skye weather changes fast. A wide-angle lens (16-35mm) is essential here.

Scotland's most photographed castle for a reason. The classic shot is from the stone bridge approach. The advanced shot is from the far shore where you can catch the castle with the Kintail mountains behind. In winter, snow on the peaks adds another dimension. Get there before dawn in summer or you'll be sharing the bridge with 50 people.

A vast, featureless peat bog that looks like the surface of another planet. On a frosty winter morning, the lochans (small lakes) freeze and steam rises in the cold air. In summer it's less photogenic — brown and green and midge-infested. The best shots are from the roadside pull-offs on the A82. Don't walk onto the moor without waterproof boots and a map — it's easy to get lost.

The 160-foot rock pinnacle is the subject, but the view back toward the mainland is equally good. The classic composition: the Storr in the foreground, the Sound of Raasay and the mainland mountains behind. The hike up takes 45 minutes in the dark — bring a headtorch. In clear conditions at sunrise, the light hits the pinnacle from the side and creates dramatic shadows.

The most westerly point of Skye. The lighthouse is the obvious subject, but the cliffs and the view west across the Atlantic are the real show. The footpath from the car park takes 30 minutes to reach the lighthouse — leave yourself time to walk out before sunset. The road in is single track and slow. Allow 45 minutes from Dunvegan. The car park fills at sunset in summer.

The Skyfall road. Buachaille Etive Mor from behind, river pools in the foreground, fall colours along the banks in October. The 12-mile road has dozens of pull-offs — the best compositions are where the river widens into deep pools reflecting the mountain. The "wee white house" (Lagangarbh Hut) near the road's start is a classic foreground element.

When conditions are right — no wind, still water, good light — Kilchurn reflects perfectly in Loch Awe. The best shot is from the A819 lay-by, not from the castle itself. A telephoto (100-400mm) pulls the castle and its mountain backdrop together. Go in autumn when the surrounding trees turn gold, or winter when snow dusts the peaks.