Image background for OLD Torridon with Joe Cornish workshop

OLD Torridon with Joe Cornish

Key Information

Dates:

06 May - 11 May 2024

Duration:

5 days

Accomodation:

Tents and Hotel

Physicality:

Challenging

Group Size:

6 clients

Price:

£1600 (£600 Deposit)

What to Expect

Joe Cornish is rightly regarded as on of the UK’s most significant landscape photographers. His body of work spans decades and he has published a host of books, perhaps most famously ‘First Light’ and ‘Scotland’s Mountains’. He is best known for finely crafted and often complex compositions which, combined with an understated editing style, make his work readily identifiable.

Joe continues to be an inspiration of mine and I have now backpacked with him on a couple of occasions in Fisherfield, most recently last May, where we took a group camping in the mountains. This was an experience we both enjoyed enormously so we will be repeating the same rough plan in 2024, but slightly earlier to avoid the midges and in the towering mountain landscape of Torridon. The aim of this trip will be to visit some of the lesser known hills and glens of the wider Torridon area and if the weather allows we will hike to ground that is unfamiliar to both of us.

Torridon is one of the UK's most famous mountain areas. The 'Big Three' of Liathach, Beinn Eighe and Beinn Alligin draw most of the visitors and hikers, but the wider area offers enormous potentail both in terms of hiking and photography. To the south of Glen Torridon is a group of mountains every bit as wonderful as those to the north, whilst our on the Applecross peninsula there are extensive ridges of Torridonian sandstone which can only really be accessed (and photographed) but hikers. This trip is 5 days and 5 nights long with just 6 clients. We'll spend 4 nights camping in the mountains and the final evening in the comfort of the Kinlochewe Hotel to celebrate and look through our images!

Itinerary

We won't be providing a specific itinerary for this trip it will be adapted to suit the weather and the progress of the group. The intent is to spend the duration of the trip in Torridon, but depending on forecasts we might end up in Fisherfield, or if it looks like a terrible forecast, Assynt. However it is far more likely that we will meet in Kinlochewe and spend the significant majority of time in the mountains to the north and south of Glen Torridon, generally trying to avoid the three most popular hills (Liathach, Beinn Eighe and Beinn Alligin). It is likely that we will return to the vehicles once or twice during the trip, but we will ideally aim to spend a couple of nights out at a time. If the weather is particularly poor we may need to camp lower down in either a well sheltered location or a campsite.

Tuition

Joe and I will be on hand at all times. Although we hope to take our own images our priority will always be teaching. Usually I find a mix of abilities on my trips which works very well with advanced photographers able to shoot with total freedom and beginners getting the help they require. Whilst there is a lot to learn whilst actively taking photos, our time hiking will allow us to discuss many of the concepts that surround photography and it's these discussions that I personally now find the most beneficial. There will be just 6 clients and this should allow for plenty of 1-to-1 time.

Fitness And Experience

You do not need prior mountain experience for this trip however you must be mountain fit! This is not like Joe's other workshops! You will need to be able to carry a 20kg backpack up a 1000m mountain and then repeat it. However, we will be taking our time and your ability to complete the hike is largely reliant on a good attitude and as well as the necessary baseline fitness. Age is no particular barrier, as long as you can get up those mountains! 

Equipment

A complete PDF kitlist is provided well in advance so you can be confident you have everything you need. I can provide high-end lightweight camping equipment perfectly suited for the trip. This includes Terra Nova Quasar tents (shared), Terra Nova Southern Cross 1 tents (solo), Rab Neutrino 400 sleeping bags and NeoAir Xtherm sleeping mats. If however you would prefer to use your own sleeping kit, or bring your own tent then you are welcome to. Aside from camping equipment which is provided, you will need suitable outdoor clothing, walking boots a rucksack and a number of other items.

 

Meeting and Leaving

We will meet on Monday at Kinlochewe at 10am. I will be doing an early pickup (8.30am) for anyone that requires it from Inverness.  Those driving themselves might want to find accomodation the night before locally.

On Friday we walk out of the mountains and stay overnight at the Kinlochewe Hotel. The trip concludes on Saturday morning after breakfast at the hotel and I will drive anyone that requires a lift back to Inverness.

Additional Expenses

The trip does not include food, drink or personal insurance.

 

Price And Booking

This workshop is priced at approximately £1600 dependent on your room on the final night with a £600 deposit required to book your place. The remaining £1000 is due 2 months before the workshop starts.

Rooms allocated on a first come first serve basis so please drop me an email to confirm

£1600:  Room 1 Single room, Ensuite  |  Room 2, Single room, Ensuite  

£1630:  Room 4, Double room, Ensuite  |   Room 4, Double room, Ensuite  

£1650:  Room 5, King, Ensuite with Bath, Mountain View  |  Room 6, King, Ensuite with Bath, Mountain View

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