Isle of Harris Landscape Photography Creative Retreat

18 - 22 September 2026

with Murray Livingston and Ben Maze

Total 4 nights/5 days, 18 - 22 September 2026 | £2500pp

Join Murray Livingston and Ben Maze on a landscape photography retreat to the Isle of Harris to experience the island’s white sand beaches, dunes, and mountains while developing your photographic skills and artistic vision. Please see below for extensive galleries of the types of locations and scenes you can expect to encounter. This creative retreat is open to photographers of all levels.

Autumn on the Isle of Harris displays the Outer Hebrides in all its glory; dramatic weather sweeps through the islands and provides endless photographic opportunities at all times of day. This landscape photography retreat will visit some of our favourite locations on Harris including Seilebost beach, Rosamol, Scarasta Mor, Luskentyre beach, North Harris, and Hushinish to name a few.

What can you expect from this retreat?

The retreat itself is designed to give you the space to practice your creativity, experiment, make mistakes, and learn. Day one will begin with a short walk along the beach to situate ourselves before delving in to the practice of photography, composition, image critiques, and more. Throughout the course of the workshop, we will be focused on the art of photography & developing personal expression through your creative process. 

These creative retreats are designed with the understanding that each photographer must find their own path. They are intended to open a conservation and encourage self-reflection. Ben and myself will be on hand at all times for 1-1 tuition as well as group education. We will aim to help you make your own intimate connections with nature.

For bespoke enquiries with Murray all year round, please contact me directly. Use the contact form below to start your journey!

Key Information

Dates: 18 - 22 September 2026

Duration: 4 Nights / 5 Days

Accommodation: Hotel

Physicality: 1/5 Easy

Group Size: 6 Clients (5 places remaining)

Price: £2500 (£500 Deposit)

Isle of Harris Landscape Photography Workshop 2026
from £500.00

  • The perfect length of stay to get your bearings on new locations, as well as get creative. This also allows us plenty of time to revisit locations under different conditions, tides, and swells!

  • The intimate setting allows for lots of 1-on-1 time as well as group tutoring.

  • We will explore the beautiful coast and shorelines of Harris, as well as its dramatic northern mountains.

  • Classic Scottish Hotel in the heart of Tarbert, a fantastic base from which to explore the isles of Harris and Lewis. Shared occupancy (same gender). Single occupancy by request at additional cost.

Start your journey today!

Have questions about the retreat or bespoke trips? Reach out below.

machair book-38.jpg
Close-up of smooth, wet, dark gray rocks with water flowing over and around them, creating a serene natural scene.
machair book-30.jpg
Sandy beach with tall beach grass in the foreground, a body of water and distant hills under a cloudy sky.
Black and white landscape photo of a shoreline with a calm body of water, distant rolling hills, and partly cloudy sky.
Black and white photograph of a rocky coastline with a circular tide pool in the foreground, rough ocean waves in the middle ground, and distant mountains under a dramatic cloudy sky in the background.
Snow-covered mountains over a dark ocean and a sandy beach with scattered sea foam
A black and white photo of a vast, flat landscape with layered textures, likely a salt flat or desert, under a cloudy sky.
Snow-covered mountains across a body of water seen from a sandy shoreline with small streams flowing into the water, under a cloudy sky.
Close-up of sand dunes with rippled patterns and sparse grass on a beach.
Black and white photograph of a body of water with waves, and a snow-covered landmass in the distance under a cloudy, stormy sky.
Close-up of sand with small ripples and a visible footprint on the left side of the image.
Black and white photo of a landscape with water and rolling hills in the distance under a cloudy sky.
Beach sand with scattered seashells and their shadows.
Patterns in sand forming what resemble tree branches or roots.
A black and white photograph of a beach with gentle waves in the foreground and snow-covered mountains in the background, under a cloudy sky.
A whirlpool formed by ocean water swirling on a sandy beach with mountains and cloudy sky in the background.
Black and white photograph of a dark, cloudy sky over a body of water with distant landforms on the horizon.
Snow-covered mountain slope with patches of exposed rock, illuminated by sunlight.
Close-up photograph of a textured surface resembling a snow-covered honeycomb pattern, with dark indentations and patches of snow scattered throughout.
A serene beach scene during sunset with gentle waves lapping at the sandy shore and a hillside in the distance under a sky with pink and purple clouds.
Close-up of bubbles in a dark liquid, creating a textured pattern of variously sized transparent bubbles against a black background.
Black and white photograph of a desert landscape with a small water pool in the foreground, rocky terrain surrounding it, and mountains in the background under a cloudy sky.
Black and white landscape photo of snow-covered mountains in the distance, calm water in the foreground, and a sandy beach at the bottom.
Abstract black and white photograph of a mountain landscape with blurred horizontal lines resembling a reflection on water.
Close-up of textured sand dunes in black and white with wind-blown patterns.

Meet the Team

  • Murray Livingston

    Landscape Photographer & Workshop Leader

  • Benjamin Maze

    Landscape Photographer & Workshop Leader

Itinerary & Agenda

The itinerary for the trip will be relatively fluid to work with the fast changing conditions of the Outer Hebrides. We will be out during all times of the day to make the most of weather and the tides. We aim to teach creativity in all conditions, rain or shine! 

Each day will follow the following rough format:

  • 6:00am - 8:30am Morning Photography

  • 8:30am - 9:30am Breakfast

  • 9:30am - 12:30pm Rest Period/Morning Activities

  • 12:30pm - 1:30pm Lunch

  • 2:00pm - 4:00pm Afternoon Critique/Computer sessions

  • 5:00pm - 6:00pm Dinner

  • 6:00pm - 8:30pm Evening Photography

Download a detailed sample itinerary here.

Tuition

Ben and myself will be on hand at all times for 1-on-1 and group tuition. In addition to this, we will be performing a series of short creative exercises both to stimulate the group and to introduce the participants to the area.

An emphasis will be placed on (self-)critique: what is your creative process? Why is your creative process the way it is? How does your process influence the final result? Why are you using your chosen medium? What ideas is your work alluding to and how could your process capture those ideas? How can your creative process better tell the story of this place?

This retreat is the perfect place to experiment as an artist. Be prepared to make bad photos, learn from your mistakes, and ultimately grow to be a better photographer!

Accommodation

Excellent hotel accommodation is provided in Tarbert, right at the heart of the Isle of Harris. This provides us easy access to all ends of the island. The accommodation includes breakfast; lunches and dinners are not included in the price of the retreat, however, we will be booked for dinner at the hotel restaurant each evening. Rooms are shared occupancy (same gender) by default. Single occupancy is available by request at additional cost.

Fitness and Experience

Most of the locations we will be visiting are only a very short walk from the road, although we may explore some lower slopes of the hills in North Harris should favourable conditions present themselves. These outings are also very close to the roadside and easily accessible.

Equipment

Please bring with all your standard photographic equipment. This should include:

  • Camera and lenses (wide + normal + telephoto, ideally covering up to 24-200mm)

  • Tripod & ND Filters (essential for long exposures on the beaches)

  • Lens cloths (to wipe off sea spray!)

  • Outdoor clothing including rain jackets, warm jackets, beanies, gloves, good socks and shoes. Be prepared for winter conditions.

  • I would highly encourage you to bring wellies.

A person setting up camera equipment on a sandy beach with waves and a cloudy sky
Person in a blue jacket and a green knit hat takes a photo with a camera at a sandy beach with grass and ocean waves under a cloudy sky.
A sunset over a sea loch with mountains in the distance and a partly cloudy sky
Person taking a photo with a camera during sunset at the beach, wearing a knit hat and backpack.
People taking photos of the Northern Lights over a beach at night.
Person standing on the beach during sunset, taking a photo, with a backpack and wearing a beanie.
Snow-covered beach with a sandy shoreline and calm ocean, mountains in the background under cloudy sky.
Snow-covered beach with grass dunes, a few people walking near the shoreline, and a mountain in the distance under a cloudy sky.
A person standing alone on a snowy beach, looking out at the calm ocean and distant snow-covered mountains under a cloudy sky.

Further Details

This retreat is open to all. Fitness required is a basic level.

Ben and Murray are both highly experienced walkers and will guide the group with safety always in mind to ensure our overall enjoyment in the outdoors. Inclement weather is always a risk in Scotland. Please bring appropriate waterproof clothing and footwear — Wellies are encouraged! Your safety will always be a priority and we will adjust the trip according to conditions. In addition to your camera gear, I can provide a list of suggested items to bring.

The following are not included in the price:

  • Airfares or additional travel requirements (ferries from the mainland, if travelling by vehicle)

  • Any necessary visas or other travel requirements (please check via your government website)

  • Travel Insurance (required)

  • Additional food & drink (extra snacks & alcoholic beverages for instance)

  • Gratuities or personal spending

Flights to the UK and Stornoway, are frequent with many providers all over the world; we will be providing an airport transfer to & from Stornoway Airport. A £500 non-refundable deposit is necessary to book your place, with full payment due 12 weeks prior to the start date. Please refer to my standard booking terms and conditions. 

Have a question? Reach out via the form below!

Ben and I are excited to host a creative retreat exploring Scotland’s most beautiful coastline and beaches! Prepare to enhance your skills, expand your vision, and capture memories that will last a lifetime.

Isle of Harris Landscape Photography Workshop 2026
from £500.00