Where to take the best photos in Scotland!

Scotland is a beautiful country. Everywhere you turn, there’s a memory in the making, a scene worth photographing. Scotland is an amazing place to take photos, and Caithness offers so many opportunities. Whatever level your photography skills are at, Scotland will serve up picture-perfect moments, one after the other. Let’s take a closer look at some real gems in Caithness.

Castle Sinclair Girnigoe

3 miles north of Wick, on the East Coast, the Castle Sinclair Girnigoe is one of the earliest seats of Clan Sinclair. The castle is right on the coast and includes the ruins of two castles. There is the 15th century Castle Girnigoe itself, and the 17th century Castle Sinclair.

The castles are stunning, they add a sense of the dramatic to the coast. With tall walls and crumbling brick, they make for fabulously dramatic photos. These are currently preserved by the Clan Sinclair Trust, which also carries out archaeological research around the castle grounds.

It’s a stunning sight and should be on everyone’s bucket list. If you’re visiting the Highlands, then you need to make sure you plan a trip to Castle Sinclair Girnigoe. It’s a 12-minute drive from Wick, making it an easy journey for those staying at Mackays.

Duncansby Head

Duncansby Head is in the north-eastern tip of the Scottish mainland. It extends past John O’Groats by a mile or so. And since it is not commercially recognised like John O’Groats, the area is much more tourist-free than John O’Groats is! This means more space for exploring and more chances to take stunning photos of Scotland. You’d be hard-pressed to take a photograph of Duncansby Head or the Stacks of Duncansby without it being absolutely spot on.

From Wick, Duncansby Head and the Stacks are only a 30-minute drive. And if you do fancy it while you’re there, you can visit O’Groats and get some must-have tourist photos of the sign.

Old Pulteney Distillery

Old Pulteney produces hand-crafted single malt whiskies that are stored and aged next to the sea. The distillery was founded way back in 1826 by James Henderson and has become a part of Wick through the years. For a long time, due to its location, the distillery was only accessible by sea. Barley was brought in, and whisky was shipped out. Now, road access has much improved, and the distillery puts out around 900,000 litres of single malt scotch whisky each year.

You can visit the distillery and photograph all sorts of wonderful workings inside. And you can learn about the journey that single malt goes through. From its water source at Loch Hempriggs all the way to the glass.

The distillery is in Wick, so it is easy enough for those visiting Mackays to find. You can take plenty of photos inside and outside one of the most famous distilleries on Scotland. Of course, you can sample the goods, and take home a liquid souvenir!

North Coast 500 Alpacas

Beauty is everywhere in Scotland. But what makes that beauty even better? Alpacas of course! At North Coast 500 Alpacas, you can take photos of the beautiful Scottish countryside as well as meet some absolutely adorable alpacas. It’s an experience like no other, and whilst it might not be traditional Scottish photography, it will definitely get people’s attention. And help you make some memories to treasure forever. Imagine taking some selfies and then heading out for a walk with the amazing creatures!

Over by Corbiegoe, North Coast 500 Alpacas is only a 9-minute drive from Wick, so it’s perfect for a morning trip out or an afternoon with the family.

Wildlife and local residents

Of course, there is wildlife aplenty here in the Highlands. So if you’re looking to create photos worthy of National Geographic, look no further! A trip through Dunnet or Rumster Forest will guarantee lots of sightings of birds of prey, deer, and osprey. Head to the coast and you may spot puffins, whales and dolphins.

And, of course, there is the animal that is synonymous with the Highlands – the Highland Cow. This gentle giant is incredibly photogenic with its shaggy coat and huge horns. And as long as you don’t attempt to approach them, you don’t need to worry about the sharp points on the ends of those horns!

How to get to Wick

Plane, train or automobile – the choice is yours!

If you want to fly to Wick, you would need to fly into Aberdeen and then hop on a short flight to Wick John O’Groats airport. Aberdeen International Airport has arrivals from all over the world.

If a train is more your thing, you can get here via Inverness. The train takes about four and a half hours to get to Wick – possibly the most relaxing way to get here. The train leaves Inverness and heads through some truly stunning Scottish countryside, where there are definitely plenty of photo opportunities for you!

But if you want to travel at your own pace, stopping whenever you feel like it, then the car is your best option. Do I hear you say Road Trip? From Inverness, you’ll travel the magnificent North Coast route. It takes around 2 and a half hours if you don’t stop. But we know you won’t be able to resist stopping along the way to snap some beautiful photos of Scotland!

And when you have all the photos you want for the day, you can head back to your wonderful luxury room or holiday home here at Mackays. Check out our special offers and book your picture-perfect holiday now!