"From the Wild to the Wall"
Venue Details
We pick our venues very carefully to meet our high standards yet not be so exclusive as to push the costs through the roof. For our venues to succeed they need to be near some site or source of photographic interest, be this wildlife, landscape or inner city. Time is very tight on the intensive weekend courses and it would be a shame to lose too much of it, if any, to excessive travel during the course. None the less, it is a strict part of the ethos of From the Wild to the Wall that the photographic part is as key to the outcome as the digital editing and hence we wish to treat this as a complete process. We endeavour to provide a number of venues up and down the UK in order to make them more available to the different regions and photographic societies. We also run the bulk of our courses outside of the main holiday season, not only because it is cheaper, but also because this tend it interfere less with the holiday plans of the participants. However, certain venues are strictly dictated by the nature and site of the photographic opportunity and/or by the season.
We strive to ensure that our venues provide:
- An appropriate range of photographic opportunities to meet the aims of the course that are near to hand;
- A diverse range of other photographic opportunities should the need arise, such circumstances may include the unpredictable weather, site closures or even, as we found out when booking to see the wild orchids, that the seasons can and do shift from year to year.
- Economic, yet comfortable, accommodation with good food, a bar and room to socialise.
- A purpose built lecture/demonstration room.
Venues
We are pleased to recommend a number of venues in the UK and abroad that have worked well for us in the past. However, we are always keen to seek out new venues, be they in the UK or abroad, that can offer something uniquely different or special. If you know of somewhere and would like to recommend it to us for a future course, please Contact us. We are also able to come to you and run courses, workshops or even personal tuition, either at your own home or at clubhouse or meeting room. See Tailor Made For You for more details.
Bass Rock, Dunbar, Scotland
is the closest sea bird sanctuary to mainland Scotland and was the first to be studied by ornithologists during the 19th century, when they gave the Gannet the scientific name Sula Bassana, (Morusbassanus) incorporating the name of this rocky stack. This is the largest 'single rock' colony of northern gannets in the world (the largest colony at St Kilda is scattered over three sea stacks). The Bass Rock has been described by Sir David Attenborough as 'one of the 12 wildlife wonders of the world'.
Our visit will be subject to the prevailing weather conditions and tides, but these permitting, we should enjoy a full 4 hours on the rock amongst the Gannet colony in the company of the experienced warden.
On the boat journey it may also be possible to witness the "chumming"; the feeding of the birds from the boat which, if you are lucky, will offer the opportunity to photograph the birds in flight and their unique diving display as they compete for the scraps of fish with the local Gulls.
Our accommodation for the course is The Rocks, Dunbar, Scotland, which is very conveniently located for access to the Bass Rock boat trip out of either Dunbar or North Berwick. Take a look at the Location Gallery on their website for a good idea of the photographic potential of the venue.
Portland Bill, Weymouth
is one of our favourites, not only because of the high standard of accommodation and cuisine but because there are a wealth of photographic opportunities here. No matter what the weather, there will be something worthwhile and challenging to photograph. At the southern tip of Portland Bill is the dramatic heritage coastline and the magnificent lighthouse. Chesil Beach is a pebble beach 18 miles long and offers endless opportunities for beachcombing for your photographs, be they macro close-ups or windswept panoramas. On the harbour side, sports photographers can usually find wind surfers or sail boarders bracing the strong winds. The region has some interesting architecture as well as a number of RSPB wildlife reserves.
Our accommodation for the course is The Heights, Portland Bill, Weymouth, which is very conveniently located and looks after us well. Take a look at the Local Area Galleries on their website for a good idea of the photographic potential of the venue.
Castleton, Derbyshire
is set in the heart of Edale and the Hope Valley. These limestone hills are the home to numerous species of British Wild Flowers. See: Flowers of the Limestone Dales of the Derbyshire Peak District. Whilst the perfect week to see a specific flower is unpredictable, there is always something wonderful to see and photograph in this area, no matter what the season. From our accommodation, you can take the choice to explore the surrounding dales on foot, to catch the magnificent sunrises and mellow sunsets, or drive a short distance to the limestone valleys for easy walks down the old railway tracks.
Our accommodation for the course is Losehill Hall, Castleton, Derbyshire, which previous participants agreed was superb. Set in 27 acres of beautiful parkland, in the heart of the Peak District National Park, Losehill Hall offers a relaxing and tranquil setting for our courses. It has professional facilities, friendly service and delicious home-cooked food, underpinned by a strong ethos and commitment to environmentally sustainable management. All rooms are en-suite and three of the twin rooms are fully accessible.
Formby, Merseyside
offers a large area of beach, sand dunes and the pine woods, which is part of the National Trust owned nature reserve, with one of Britain's last thriving colonies of Red Squirrels. Formby point and the reserve's, Red squirrels can frequently be seen in the pine trees and the shoreline attracts waders such as Oystercatchers and Sanderlings. As well as the beautiful beach there are miles of walks across the sand dunes and through the woods. Formby is one of several sites in Britain were the red squirrel can still be found although it is now being threatened by the grey squirrel.
Our accommodation may vary to suit the group size and duration of stay, ranging from comfortable small hotels, out of season, to guest houses or rented self-catering accommodation for small groups and long stays.
Bamburgh, Northumberland
is a coastline of many pleasures. It possesses the fine castles of Dunstanburgh, Bamburgh and Lindisfarne which, no matter what the season, make fantastic backdrops to the eastern sunrises and glowing sunsets. In the summers months, the Farne Islands host an unparalleled spectacle of breeding British birdlife, from the ever comical Puffins to the sleek lines of the Shags and Razorbills. Whilst a long lens can be useful here, it may often be unnecessary, the proximity of the birds being such that an average zoom can return excellent shots. As ever, the weather can be unpredictable and crossings to the Farne Islands subject to the tides and availability.
Our accommodation may vary to suit the group size and duration of stay, ranging from comfortable small hotels, out of season, to guest houses or rented self-catering accommodation for small groups and long stays.
Donna Nook, Lincolnshire
on the north-eastern coast of Lincolnshire is a seal watchers' paradise. It boasts one of the largest and most accessible breeding colonies of Grey Seals in the UK. An encounter with a seal at Donna Nook is almost guaranteed because this is effectively a seal maternity hospital. The Donna Nook reserve consists of dunes, slacks and inter-tidal areas. For much of the year the seals are at sea or hauled out on distant sandbanks, but during the winter they come to breed near the dunes at Donna Nook. The seals are present on the beach between mid-November to mid-December and, when the tide is out, this is a great opportunity get get up close to them.
Our accommodation may vary to suit the group size and duration of stay, ranging from comfortable small hotels, out of season, to guest houses or rented self-catering accommodation for small groups and long stays.
Bradgate Park, Leicestershire
is famous for its herds of fallow and red deer and in the early autumn the males are so caught up in the annual rut that this is a great opportunity to get close and photograph these magnificent animals. It is a season of changes with cold, misty mornings and the ferns and brackens of the summer long turned to brown, but interspersed with the striking colours of the heathers. Bradgate Park has over 830 acres of grass, bracken, rocky outcrops, majestic old trees and a meandering brook to discover and enough photographic opportunities to suit every taste, not to mention people watching, out for a Sunday stroll.
Our accommodation for the course is The Fieldhead Hotel, Leicestershire, which is conveniently close to Bradgate Park for the opportunity of a dawn encounter with the deer. Originally a farmhouse dating back to 1672, the Fieldhead is situated on the edge of Charnwood Forest, just 7 miles from Leicester city centre and one mile from Junction 22 off the M1. It has a good selection of rooms for us to use, a cosy bar and restaurant serving a variety of delicious meals, with 28 bedrooms, all en-suite, and 13 of them on the ground floor.
Kuhmo, Finland
has been specially selected because of its excellent facilities and outstanding potential. Close to the Russian border and just inside the Arctic circle, the region offers unique opportunities for watching Brown Bears, Wolves & Wolverines, Elk, Flying Squirrel and a host of bird species throughout the year. We choose to visit in the arctic spring and autumn to gain the most from the light and avoid the midges.
Please contact us for further details of this trip, either as an escorted group tour, with or without tuition, or to arrange the perfect holiday just for you.
Our accommodation for the course is WIldBrownBear, Huhmo, Finland, which has outstanding wildlife hides both in the forest and by the lakeside coupled with modern accommodation and excellent lecture & workshop facilities. Course at this venue are on a full board basis and run for a minimum of 1 week out of the UK. The courses, accomodation and flights can be arranged through WildwatchTours.com.
Isle of Mull, Scotland
offers something special in the UK wildlife calendar, as does much of Scotland. Toe get just a glimpse of what could be on offer see: Wildlife on Mull. Mull is becoming increasingly popular as a 'green' and 'wildlife' tourist destination, driving prices up and limiting availability. We endeavour to visit outside of the peak times, yet within the wildlife calendar, staying for between 4 days and 1 week.
Our accommodation may vary to suit the group size and duration of stay, ranging from comfortable small hotels, out of season, to guest houses or rented self-catering accommodation for small groups and long stays.
Please contact us for further details of this trip, either as an escorted group tour, with or without tuition, or to arrange the perfect holiday just for you.
Gigrin Farm, Rhayader, Wales
is one of a number of sites around the UK where it has become possible to get good views of wild Red Kites. Set amongst outstanding Welsh scenery, Gigrin Farm undertakes a daily feeding ritual. This last about 2 hours, until the last morcel has be cleaned up by the Buzzards and Crows. Aside from this there's a 1.5mile nature trail around the farm which links in the RSPB's Dyffryn reserve as well as a wetland area which attracts wild ducks, Herons, Gadwall and various Wagtails.
Our accommodation may vary to suit the group size and duration of stay, ranging from comfortable small hotels, out of season, to guest houses or rented self-catering accommodation for small groups and long stays.
Namibia's Photographic Treasures
offers a chance to partake of the usual Wild to the Wall combination of outstanding tuition with the unforgettable scenery and wildlife of Namibia. For the duration of the course we will base ourselves at just a few comfortable lodges or hotels in prime locations for scenic and wildlife photography. However, the aim of this course is to uncover some of the lesser visited sites, permitting us both the opportunity to get some different images from this beautiful land than the often seen desert dunes and more time to walk, thereby looking at the smaller detail and natural history. Based in the Erongo Mouintains we hope to visit the famous Phillip's Cave with its ancient cave drawings, the spectacular Bull's Party, the wonderful rock formations of Spitzkoppe and Bloedkoppe and the strange landscape and flora of Welwitschia. We will spend a couple of nights in Swakopmund for the wildlife around this area before heading back into the Namib Desert. For the second half we we pass south of the stony Namib and base ourselves in the heart of the sand dunes. From here, as well as the usual trips into Sossusvlei and Sesriem Canyon we might also visit the Naukluft Mountain range. For those interested, an optional sunrise balloon trip over the desert can be arranged.
Accommodation will be in small lodges or comfortable hotels,
dependant upon the group size and facilities required.
Please contact us for further details of
this trip, either as an escorted group tour, with or without tuition, or
to arrange the perfect holiday just for you.
Corfu in the Spring
plays host to one of the most spectacular displays of wild
flowers, which cover the ground like a carpet. Amongst the flowers
are over forty kinds of wild orchids, some of them rare. Bird
lovers and botanists alike make for the Korissia Lagoon, in the
south of Corfu. The lagoon is five kilometres long and one kilometre
at its widest point, providing a haven for a myriad of wildlife
including turtles, tortoises, lizards, waders, egrets and various
migratory birds. Sea daffodils and wild orchids blossom at the
water's edge.
For the landscape worker, the Corfu scenery is beautiful: rugged
coastline, beautiful beaches and thousands of olive trees. The
cliffs of the rocky headlands which flank Agios Georgios Bay provide
a wonderful setting and the views of the sweeping golden sands and
turquoise waters of the sea are worth everyone's time and effort top
photograph.
Accommodation will be in small, comfortable hotels,
dependant upon the group size and facilities required.
Please contact us for further details of
this trip, either as an escorted group tour, with or without tuition, or
to arrange the perfect holiday just for you.
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