A PERFECT GIFT!

Southwest Scotland Safari - Spring

Saturday 21st – Monday 23rd April 2018

Course leaders: Trai Anfield and Peter Haygarth

Minimum 4 people, maximum 6 in two groups

Featuring Chris Packham's World's Best Bird, and star of BBC Autumnwatch 2015 - sparrowhawk Mad Max (& Mrs Max!)

Exclusive use of the hides used on Autumnwatch to photograph and video these tremendous sparrowhawks.

What Chris says about Mad Max: "Best bird I've ever seen..." "Awesome..." "The greatest individual bird on planet earth..."

Watch Mad Max & Chris Packham's encounter on Autumnwatch at http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p037b652

PLUS

Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Their call is one of the defining sounds of Spring...but have you ever managed to get close enough to photograph one of these elusive birds in the wild? With a great photographic backdrop? And on a trip where cuckoo is just one of many highlights????

Join us in southwest Scotland for a glorious bank holiday weekend of prime Springtime wildlife photography and videography.

Galloway is one of the UK’s most underrated wildlife hotspots: a spectacular Scottish location that isn’t too remote, but offers stunning opportunities for authentic wildlife photography and film making.

Learn to photograph and/or make films of native British wildlife with award winning photographers and videographers Trai Anfield and Peter Haygarth
Exclusive use of professional hides network
Ideal environment and subjects for beginners
Excellent rare opportunities for photographers with more experience

Whatever your current level of photography, whether on DSLR, bridge or compact camera, we will help and advise on how to get the very best out of your gear, so you'll return home inspired and with images you'll be proud of.

Featured Species:

Cuckoo, sparrowhawk, kingfisher, dipper, badger, adder, red kite, buzzard, brown hare, great spotted woodpecker, nuthatch and many more woodland, marsh and moorland birds.

Plus:

Glorious native bluebell woods.

Landscape and macro photography opportunities

Night photography in a Dark Skies designated area…weather permitting!

STOP PRESS! We've just secured a rare pine marten evening shoot as an optional extra!

'I was surprised to discover such an abundance of 'hard to find' British wildlife in a small

and accessible area, with the hides specifically built with the photographer in mind'

Peter Haygarth, tour leader

More Details

South West Scotland’s Solway is a little visited, wildlife rich gem. We pack our itinerary with opportunities to photograph some of the UK’s most iconic species of Spring, including cuckoo just back from Africa, kingfisher and dipper feeding chicks, and adders warming themselves after hibernation...and there are always a few surprise guests! We book exclusive use of a network of bespoke professional hides to get you close to all of the region’s iconic Springtime species… these are the secret places that many top pros use to get those shots you see and think “wow – how did they get that?!”

Our recommended campsite has wildlife on tap too – roe deer, badger and brown hare frequent the site, plus red squirrel and a multitude of birds. At this time of year we will also be looking through the sites beautiful bluebell wood for ideal macro subjects. And with terrific opportunities for landscape and dark skies photography too, you’ll have the chance to learn a wealth of new techniques and never be short of subjects and inspiration!

Booking Information

Next date

Saturday 21st – Monday 23rd April 2018

Price £395 per person

Includes all hide fees, transfers to/from all locations, all photography and videography tuition and guidance on location and in critique sessions, individual feedback, great fun and company. All attendees are also invited to enter your favourite shot from the workshop into our competition!

If you require overnight accomodation during this workshopplease either add a wigwam stay to your basket, or see our Accomodation Guide below for hotel and B&B recommendations (though you will need to book directly with the owners for these).

Any

Questions?

Contact Us

Booking: please click on an image to add the item to your basket

Notes

As with all nature photography we can't guarantee that all species will turn up on cue, but the hides we use maximise our chances of seeing everything on our wish list for this workshop :)

Additional Information

The kingfisher hide is located along a tidal burn, so ground is boggy - please bring wellies and clothing appropriate for Spring in Scotland...plan for the worst and best - your guess as to what the weather will do is as good as ours :)
Please note that our hides are remote, so toilet facilities are not available. However we will do our best to provide toilet breaks on the changeovers between hides.
Hide days are lengthy, so please bring a packed lunch.

Accomodation Guide

A great range is of accomodation is available locally, to suit all budgets: camping, wigwam, B&B or hotel

We can recommend the following - please note prices are correct at time of writing:

Solway View Campsite

Really excellent eco friendly camping facilities in a beautiful location with lots of wildlife on tap.

Camping - stay in your own tent with up to 2 people for £12per night - book through campsite.
Glamping - stay in one of the super 'wigwams' with electricity, heating, kitchen and some even with ensuite facilities. Please note - we have reserved all 5 wigwams on site for this weekend, so please contact US directly for wigwam accommodation, not the campsite!

Wigwam with electricity, heating and kitchen from: double £19.50 pppn, single £32pppn

Wigwam with electricity, heating and kitchen plus en suite toilet from: double £22 pppn, single £37pppn

Or bring your campervan or caravan - prices available on request - book through campsite.

Bed & Breakfast

Anchorlee Guest House Kirkcudbright: doubles £35pppn, single occupancy £50 pppn - we have first hand reports that it's lovely, and the owners are very helpful with early breakfasts too!

Hotel

Selkirk Arms Hotel offers fine B&B accomodation as well as great food for the evenings.

Eating out

The food is excellent and staff lovely whenever we eat at the restaurant in the Selkirk Arms Hotel.

We will usually also head to the award-winning chipshop Polarbites on Kirkcudbright harbour at some stage of our stay!

Both places offer vegetarian options.

Busy in Spring?

Don't worry - our Southwest Scotland Safari, Autumn is a fantastic photographic adventure through autumn colours and iconic native species, including our three favourite autumn reds - the mighty red deer rut, red squirrel busily preparing for winter and red kites roosting in huge numbers. Plus kingfisher, badger, sparrowhawk, buzzard and many more autumn treats.

More details on our Southwest Scotland Safari - Autumn

Guest Gallery and Feedback

Don't just take our word that our safaris are brilliant - view our guests' photos and comments here!

Guest Gallery: SW Scotland Spring Safari 2016

(For image details please click when in centre position)

Guest Feedback: SW Scotland Spring Safari 2016

"I still cannot quite get over what we saw in such a short time and just how privileged we were, both to be in such wonderful situations and to have you (Trai) and Peter being so kind and helpful.

The results are astonishing (by my standards at least), way beyond anything I ever thought I would be able to capture.

Just a huge thank you to you both for creating the opportunity and for being so wonderful in delivering it.

I still find it difficult to believe that we were that close to kingfisher, cuckoo, sparrow hawk, adder, dipper, badger – not to mention all the other birds and animals – all in just one day AND getting some superb pictures (for me) of all of them.

A truly memorable weekend, with wonderful souvenirs to take away and remember it by - thank you ever so much!"

Andrew Davison, SW Scotland Safari, Spring 2016

"Thank you for another great Scotland safari with great company and plenty of wildlife.

I can see an improvement in my photography since the autumn workshop and have loved seeing the variety of birds, animals and reptiles on this trip.

I'm really chuffed with my photos and have imposed my slide show onto family and friends lol!

Many thanks again for a fabulous weekend."

Sarah Guy, SW Scotland Safari, Spring 2016

"Firstly, let me say I spent a wonderful weekend of photography and camaraderie last weekend, it was truly memorable and I will do it again...

You (Trai) and Peter gave me great tuition with some excellent tips giving me lots of inspiration, I can see you are both passionate and committed in what you do."