5-day all inclusive mindful photography retreat on Scotland’s relaxing coastline

FULLY BOOKED

Sunday 27th April - Thursday 1st May 2025

Moray Coast - Scotland

£1485 (Deposit £375)

Join Kim for an all inclusive 5-day Coastal Mindful Photography Retreat on the beautiful Moray Coast. Born and raised in the area, Kim combines her local expertise with her mindful photography approach to create a relaxing immersive photography retreat for you to enjoy.

Be inspired by the sights and sounds of the sea

Retreat Details

Dates: 27th April - 1st May 2025

Duration: 5 days/4 nights

Small group size

Fitness level: Easy - Moderate

This retreat incorporates a mix of guided photography exercises and space to explore your photographic interests, offering a balance between solo time and group connection. Kim has carefully chosen locations to allow the opportunity to explore the coastal gems that North East Scotland has to offer, including long sandy beaches, rocky coves, traditional seaside villages and picturesque harbours.

As well as photographing the coastal beauty, mindfulness practices, journaling and rest will be weaved into the retreat to deepen creativity and self exploration.

When we are not on location, you can enjoy your own private en-suite room at the Royal Oak Hotel in Cullen. This traditional family-run hotel offers comfort and privacy. Delicious cooked meals will be prepared by the hotel each day to keep you fuelled and hydrated throughout your stay. The hotel is positioned right beside Cullen Beach, allowing the freedom to breathe and enjoy the sea air whenever you need to.

FULLY BOOKED

Retreat Includes

4 nights bed and breakfast at the Royal Oak Hotel in Cullen

Lunch, Dinner and Refreshments

On location mindful photography sessions

Welcome presentation

Private group taxi between locations

Experienced local photography guide

Retreat resources including notebook, pen and exercise sheets

Welcome goody bag

Post-retreat group image sharing Zoom session

New friends, connections and memories

Not Included

Travel to and from retreat

Any food or drink out with meal times

Alcoholic Drinks

Insurance - including travel, camera and health insurance

Deepen your Observational Skills

Guided Photography Sessions

Sunlight sparkling on ocean waves reaching sandy shore with ripple effects.

Light and Shadows Workshop - Monday 28th April

  • Mindfully observe the light and how it interacts with the coast

  • Learn how to photograph reflections by witnessing the interaction between light and water

  • Use shadows and highlights to enhance your images

  • Experiment with colour to add emotion to your images

  • Explore the relationship between the sky and sea

  • Learn how to create captivating images, even on dull days

Seascape with ocean waves and a bird flying, forest in the background.

Movement Workshop - Tuesday 29th April

  • Photograph movement in the landscape

  • Enhance your observational skills by curiously observing how subjects move

  • Learn creative photography techniques such as Intentional Camera Movement (ICM) and Multiple Exposure

  • Reflect on how your body moves and feels in nature

  • Breath in unison with the waves

Close-up of barnacles attached to a rock surface, showing their textured shells and compact formation.

Textures and Patterns Workshop - Wednesday 30th April

  • Explore the patterns and textures of the coast

  • Learn compositional techniques to enhance your images, such as diagonals, leading lines and symmetry.

  • Use the sense of touch to connect with your subjects

  • Observe how light enhances texture and pattern

  • Photograph coastal features up close (macro photography)

  • Feel the sand on your feet

Self-Guided Photography Sessions

Rocky beach with large rock formation and blue sky. Cullen Beach in Scotland. The Three Kings rock formation

Morning Meditation Beach Walks (Optional)

Each morning before breakfast, you are invited for a walk along the beach to immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of the new day. This is a great opportunity to allow stillness and reflection before the day begins. You may wish to find a quiet spot to sit and observe the sea or close your eyes and tune into the coastal sounds. This time is also a good opportunity to journal. You may wish to write down your intentions for the day ahead or note down your thoughts and ideas on paper. While this time is not centred around photography, you are welcome to take your camera with you and create images.

Sunset over a beach with reflecting water and rippled sand. Roseisle Beach in Moray, Scotland

On Location Evening Sessions

Each evening, we will head out for sunset. During this time, you can explore what you’d personally like to photograph. You may wish to weave what you learnt during the guided sessions into your practice or use the time for your own exploration and reflection. Kim will be on hand to answer any questions you may have and offer guidance if needed.

Breathing Space

Accommodation and Meals - Royal Oak Hotel Cullen

Logo for Royal Oak Cullen featuring stylized acorns and oak leaf.

The Royal Oak is a traditional family-run hotel located only a stone’s throw from the beautiful sandy beaches of Cullen Bay. It is nestled in between the famous viaduct and the historic fishing village of Seatown. The retreat includes 4 nights bed and breakfast and a tasty dining experience in the hotel restaurant. Everyone will enjoy their own private en-suite room, with a warm drink, shortbread and goodie bag to greet them on arrival.

The hotel comes with free parking and WiFi.

Weather permitting lunch will be enjoyed on location each day. The hotel will provide us with a healthy packed lunch to take out with us so we can enjoy eating while immersed in the coastal scenery.

Cozy bedroom with a neatly made bed, plaid cushions, and folded towels. A small bedside table with a red lamp is on each side. Three framed pictures adorn the light green wall, and a window with curtains allows natural light.
A bowl of creamy Cullen skink soup topped with parsley, served on a napkin with a slice of whole grain bread on the side.
A dining room with wooden tables and chairs, green walls, framed artwork, and pendant lights. Royal Oak Hotel Cullen

Itinerary

A sandy beach with shallow water, ripples, a solitary rock, and a cloudy sky. Landscape photography. Scotland Coastal Image

Sunday 27th April

3pm - Hotel check-in and settle

4pm - Welcome presentation and sharing

6pm - Welcome dinner

7.30pm - Evening beach walk and photography

Close-up of a boat's blue hull with white stripe, reflection in water, and two green ropes.

Monday 28th April

7am - Morning meditative beach walk (optional)

8am - Breakfast

10 am - On location light and shadows workshop

2/3pm - Afternoon break/image editing

5.30pm- Dinner

7pm - Evening on location

Abstract blue gradient design with smooth, blurred shapes. ICM Photography. Intentional Camera Movement

Tuesday 29th April

7am - Morning meditative beach walk (optional)

8am - Breakfast

10 am - On location movement workshop

2/3pm - Afternoon break/image editing

5.30pm - Dinner

7pm - Evening on location

Weathered wooden planks with smooth river stones.

Wednesday 30th April

7am - Morning meditative beach walk (optional)

8am - Breakfast

10am - On location patterns and texture workshop

2/3pm - Afternoon break/image editing

5.30pm - Dinner

7pm - Evening on location

Sunset over the ocean with birds flying and a rocky shoreline.

Thursday 1st May

7am - Morning cliff reflection walk (optional)

8.30am - Breakfast

10 am to Midday - Round up and farewells

Pebble beach with wooden groynes extending into the sea, waves washing ashore, and an overcast sky in the background. Findhorn Beach in Moary Scotland.

Post Retreat Image Sharing

2 weeks after the retreat, we will arrange a date and time to meet online via Zoom as a group to catch up and share our images.

Please note - As this is a retreat, to ensure adequate sleep, we will aim to be back at the hotel by 10pm each evening. While this may mean we miss some of the sunset, we will still have the opportunity to photograph most of the golden hour.

What to take with you

Camera or smartphone (all cameras welcome)

Any accessories you wish to use, including tripod and filters

Batteries, chargers and memory devices to store images

Laptop or tablet to edit images (if you wish to)

Warm and waterproof outdoor clothing to suit the changeable Scottish weather

Sturdy footwear to accommodate outdoor weather (walking boots recommended)

Sturdy backpack to carry equipment, extra clothes, and lunch

Flask and water bottle

A curious mind and willingness to learn

A man taking a photo on a beach with a woman posing and smiling, with a tripod nearby. The ocean and cloudy sky are in the background. Landscape Photography Workshops with Kim Grant

Possible Locations

As a local, Kim knows all the best spots and will carefully choose the locations each day to reflect the weather and opportunities available. Throughout the retreat, you will explore a diverse range of coastal gems, including beaches, coves, estuaries, harbours, and picturesque seaside villages. Each location will offer its unique charm and photographic opportunities. Whether you want to photograph vast seascapes, coastal wildlife, patterns in the sand or get creative with long exposures or ICM, there will be plenty of opportunities to do so. While Kim cannot guarantee what locations we will visit, some possible locations can be seen listed below.

Sea arch rock formation in ocean with cloudy sky at sunset. Bow Fiddle Rock, Moray, Scotland at sunrise. Landscape photography. Seascape Photography

Bow Fiddle Rock

A small coastal village with traditional whitewashed buildings and slate roofs situated on a green hillside. A hotel is visible, with several homes clustered together. The landscape is illuminated by warm sunlight. Pennan Aberdeenshire

Pennan

Small fishing harbour with moored boats, a stone pier, a clear blue sky, a calm sea, a lighthouse in the background. Cullen Harbour in Moray, Scotland

Cullen

Sunset over a pier with calm water and grassy foreground. Burghead pier landscape photograph in Moray Scotland. Seascape photography.

Burghead

Beach at sunset with two people walking, distant mountains, and cloudy sky reflecting sunlight on water. The Moray Coast, Scotland.

Lossiemouth

Sandy beach with wooden posts and a signpost, with two people walking in the distance by the ocean. Finhdorn Beach in Scotland.

Findhorn

Three gray pebbles on a textured sandstone surface.

Hopeman

Coastal village scene with colorful houses, a small harbor, a fishing boat, and lobster traps. The blue sky and calm water enhance the picturesque setting. Findochty in Scotland.

Findochty

A non-refundable deposit of £375 will be required to reserve your place.

The remaining amount is due 6 weeks before the retreat commences.

Please ensure you read the full booking terms before booking.

By booking this retreat, you will be supporting small local businesses.