Words, thoughts, and an invitation from Neale James, presenter/producer of The Photowalk Podcast. Pictures from Neale James and Lynn Fraser.

“The Friday Photowalk, for me, has always felt like more than solely a podcast. It has become a community of people connected by curiosity, creativity and a shared belief that photography goes far beyond collecting pictures. It's about paying attention, looking closer, finding stories, and spending time with people and places.

Each year, we gather in the Scottish Highlands, making our way to the Black Isle, just north of Inverness. Surrounded by big skies, ancient forests, sweeping coastlines and landscapes that seem to encourage you to slow down, this corner of Scotland becomes our home for a week.

We stay together on a working soft-fruit farm, close to some of the most beautiful scenery and famous locations on these shores. From quiet coastal paths and Highland glens to wondrous lochs, we'll spend our days walking, photographing and sharing experiences with fellow photographers who understand the simple pleasure of carrying a camera through the world.

One of the retreat's most distinctive experiences returns in 2027: polymer photogravure. Starting with one of your own photographs, you'll create a printing plate and then produce a hand-pulled photogravure print. Rich in detail and texture, the finished print offers a completely different way of experiencing an image, and an opportunity to engage with one of photography's most rewarding, original, craft processes.

This retreat is about community. Walking together, eating together, exchanging ideas, talking about photography, life and everything in between, returning home with new photographs, new skills and new friendships, along with memories of time spent in one of the most beautiful parts of the world.”

THE BOOKING FORM IS AT THE FOOT OF THIS PAGE

ARRIVAL SUNDAY 5th SEPTEMBER

We invite photowalkers to arrive from 2pm, giving everyone time to settle in and prepare for the week ahead. Later, we'll head out for our first walk together, a chance to get to know one another and begin exploring the area. We'll then gather for a welcome meal as we look ahead to the creative days to come.

SEPTEMBER 6th, DAY 1: THE BEAUTY OF LOCH MAREE FROM SHORELINE AND RIDGELINE ASCENT

For those who fancy stretching their legs a little further, there is the opportunity to climb the hillside overlooking Loch Maree. The path rises steadily from the lochside, rewarding walkers with ever-expanding views across the water, its wooded islands and the mountains beyond. As height is gained, the landscape seems to unfold in every direction, offering countless opportunities for photography, reflection and simply taking in one of Scotland's most remarkable settings. The pace is entirely your own, with plenty to discover whether you make it to the top or simply enjoy the journey upwards.

SEPTEMBER 7th and 8th, DAY 2/3: POLYMER PHOTOGRAVURE

SEPTEMBER 9TH, DAY 4: CASTLES, MOUNTAIN AND COAST

Thursday takes us west, into some of the most striking and distinctive landscapes in the Highlands. This is a day of mountains, lochs, ruined castles and wide Atlantic horizons.

Our journey begins around Loch Assynt, a place of history and landscape as one. Here, the ruined walls of Ardvreck Castle sit on the loch shore beneath the dramatic peaks beyond, while scattered islands dotted with trees create shapes and compositions that have drawn photographers for generations.

We'll continue to Loch Druim Suardalain, where the unmistakable silhouettes of Suilven and Canisp rise from the landscape. These ancient mountains have become symbols of the north-west Highlands, and from there we'll make our way towards the coast, where the turquoise waters and white sands of Achmelvich and Clachtoll often surprise first-time visitors. On a bright day, they can feel almost tropical. Under cloud or mist, they become something altogether different, yet no less beautiful.

If time and conditions allow, we'll also visit Stoer Lighthouse, standing proudly above the Atlantic. It is a place of big skies, sea air and distant horizons, where land meets ocean, and the feeling of being on the edge of Scotland becomes wonderfully real.

SEPTEMBER 10TH, DAY 5: WOODLANDS AND HIGHLAND VIEWS IN AVIMORE

Craigellachie National Nature Reserve sits on the edge of Aviemore, yet within a few minutes of stepping onto its woodland paths, it feels a world away. Pine, birch and juniper cling to the hillside, while the trails weave through one of the largest remaining areas of native woodland in Strathspey.

As we travel higher, views begin to open across the Spey Valley towards the Cairngorm Mountains beyond. The reserve is rich in wildlife and changing light, making it a wonderful place to slow down with a camera and explore the details as well as the wider landscape. Whether you're drawn to woodland scenes, intimate nature studies or sweeping Highland vistas, Craigellachie offers a little of everything.

DEPARTURES SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 11th

YOUR RETREAT GUIDES

NEALE JAMES

The presenter and architect behind The Photowalk Podcast, Neale started his professional career as a broadcaster in the Canary Islands based in Lanzarote at an English and German language radio station, returning to the UK to train and present within BBC regional radio, before joining the national network, Radio 1, to host a wide series of music shows and documentaries, including television.

Upon leaving the BBC, Neale continued to present programmes in the commercial radio industry, including co-directing a radio and television training school. In 2004, he switched to a full-time occupation as a social reportage and commercial photographer, initially based in a studio in Berkshire, UK. In 2019, Neale returned to audio, launching his podcasting interests.

In June 2020, Neale launched Photography Daily/The Photowalk, a programme that celebrates the ‘why’ of photography.

LYNN FRASER

Lynn is a photographer and writer based in the Scottish Highlands, drawn to moments of quiet connection and the subtle rhythms of daily life. Her camera has taken her through India, Mongolia, Ethiopia, South Sudan and further afield, where she documents the everyday with curiosity and care — from side streets and markets to festivals and solitary spaces.

She publishes My Journey with a Camera on Substack, where photographs are paired with thoughtful essays, short stories, and reflections. The result is a slow, immersive reading experience that brings attention to the overlooked and the beautifully ordinary.

Lynn’s images have appeared in international exhibitions with the Atlas of Humanity project, showing in Paris, Milan, and London. In 2025, she was named Amateur Photographer of the Year 2024 by Amateur Photographer magazine.

information about this retreat

Our base for this retreat is The Barn at Black Isle Berries, Tore, near Inverness, Scotland IV6 7SB. We’ll be staying on a working soft fruit farm with access to its own shop selling home-grown and local produce.

The cost per place is £2,150. This includes a private bedroom, all workshops, transport to all activities, plus continental breakfast and evening meals. The deposit is £300.

Bring the camera/kit you regularly enjoy using. A laptop or similar kit for editing is useful for our evenings discussing work. A tripod is handy for long-exposure photography opportunities.

We’ll be spending time outside and in, plus we’ll be travelling to some remote areas where the wind can be brisker. September is not overly wintry, but, it being Scotland, it’s best to still bring scarves, a thick jacket, sturdy photowalking shoes or boots. Bring rainproof options too, as we’re not allowing rain to stop play.

The accommodation is wheelchair-friendly, with one ground-floor bedroom (with a wet room). All facilities are on one floor level. Transportation would need a level of planning and negotiation.