A Highland Winter Journey

A Highland Winter Journey

The Scottish Highlands in winter are not for the faint-hearted. When Paula and I set out from Glen Coe with our Mavic Pro 4 drones packed securely in our bags, we knew the weather would be as much a part of the story as the landscape itself. En route to Inverness for a five-day wildlife photography workshop with the renowned Karen Miller (https://www.karenmillerphotography.co.uk), what followed was a journey through some of Scotland's most dramatic terrain, where ancient mountains meet changeable skies, and every turn in the road reveals another breathtaking vista.

Glen Coe: Where Mountains Tell Stories

Glen Coe greeted us with its characteristic moodiness. The valley, steeped in history and legend, wore a fresh dusting of snow that highlighted every crevice and corrie. The Mavic Pro 4 proved its worth immediately—launching the drone revealed perspectives impossible from the ground. The Three Sisters stood sentinel as clouds rolled through the glen, their slopes alternating between shadow and brief bursts of golden light.

The changeable weather became a companion rather than an obstacle. One moment, snow flurries would obscure the peaks; the next, brilliant sunshine would break through, illuminating the moorland in warm tones against the stark white of snow-covered summits.

North to Fort William

The route north towards Fort William wound through increasingly wintry conditions. Ice warnings meant several highland roads were closed, but the available routes offered their own rewards. The drone captured sweeping valley views where a single ribbon of tarmac carved through the white landscape, flanked by mountains that seemed to rise straight from the earth.

Near Fort William, we found a dramatic glen where steep-sided mountains created a natural corridor. The contrast was striking—golden moorland grasses poking through patches of snow, dark rock faces streaked with ice, and above it all, a moody sky that threatened more weather to come. The Mavic Pro 4's stability in wind was crucial here, allowing us to capture the scale and grandeur of these highland passes.

Along the Coast

Along the coast near Fort William, we made an unexpected discovery: a weathered shipwreck on the shore, with the snow-capped peak of Ben Nevis rising dramatically across the water. Switching between drone and camera, we captured this scene from multiple perspectives—the rust and decay of human endeavor against the timeless grandeur of nature, with Britain's highest mountain as the backdrop.

Eilean Donan Castle: An Iconic Highland Jewel

No journey through the western Highlands would be complete without a visit to Eilean Donan Castle. This iconic fortress, sitting at the confluence of three sea lochs, looked particularly magical draped in winter snow. Paula and I spent time photographing from multiple angles—both with the drone and ground-level camera work. The ancient stone bridge connecting the castle to the shore, the snow-laden trees framing the scene, and the moody grey skies created the quintessential Scottish Highland atmosphere. The castle's reflection in the still waters, with snow-capped mountains rising in the background, provided some of our favorite shots of the journey.

The Push to Inverness

Continuing towards Inverness, the landscape opened up slightly, though no less magnificent. The snow coverage varied wildly—some peaks were completely white, others showed bare rock faces where the wind had scoured them clean. Small patches of forest provided dark green punctuation marks against the winter palette.

The drone revealed patterns invisible from ground level: the way valleys interconnect, how ancient glaciers carved these landscapes, and the meandering paths of highland burns now frozen at their edges. Each flight offered a new perspective on this wild, unforgiving, yet utterly beautiful terrain.

We stopped to photograph scenes of snow falling heavily, coating bare trees in pristine white—intimate moments that balanced the grand vistas captured by the drones. These quieter images, taken with our cameras, told a different story of the Highland winter.

Return Through the Highlands

After completing our wildlife workshop with Karen Miller (more on that adventure in our next blog post!), the journey back took us deeper into the highlands, where winter had truly taken hold. The roads that remained open wound through increasingly remote terrain. Each vista seemed to outdo the last: dramatic pinnacles rising from snow-dusted moorland, vast sweeping glens where you could see for miles, and always, those changeable skies adding drama to every frame.

The Isle of Skye: A Worthy Finale

The Isle of Skye provided a fitting conclusion to the journey. Even in winter, or perhaps especially in winter, Skye reveals its raw beauty. The famous peaks wore their snow with pride, creating stark contrasts against the moody skies.

The Old Man of Storr

The Old Man of Storr—that distinctive rock pinnacle rising from the Trotternish Ridge—was our first major stop on Skye. The drone footage revealed the full drama of this geological wonder, with the massive plateau behind it completely blanketed in snow. From the ground, we captured the layered composition of moorland, the sentinel rock formation, and the table-top mountain beyond—a scene that has drawn photographers for generations, yet never looks quite the same twice.

The Quiraing

The Quiraing and surrounding landscapes showed why Skye is beloved by landscape photographers. The dramatic rock formations, dusted with snow, created otherworldly scenes. Green grass pushed through the snow in sheltered spots, while exposed ridges showed bare rock and ice. The drone allowed us to capture the full drama of these landscapes—the way knife-edge ridges drop away to valleys below, how the land folds and rises in complex patterns formed over millions of years.

Both Paula and I flew our drones here, comparing perspectives and helping each other spot the best compositions. Having two sets of eyes and two drones meant we could capture more of this remarkable landscape while maintaining safety in the challenging winter conditions.

Reflections on a Winter Highland Journey

This journey through the Scottish Highlands in winter reminded us why this landscape draws photographers and travelers from around the world. Yes, the conditions were challenging. Yes, many roads were impassable. But the available routes offered riches beyond measure.

The Mavic Pro 4 proved to be the perfect tool for capturing these big highland vistas. Its ability to handle the often fierce winds, combined with excellent image quality, meant we could capture perspectives that truly conveyed the scale and majesty of this landscape. Complementing the drone work with traditional camera photography allowed us to tell a more complete story—from the sweeping aerials to intimate details of snow-laden branches and frost-kissed grasses.

Winter in the Highlands demands respect, preparation, and flexibility. But for those willing to embrace the changeable weather and work with the conditions rather than against them, the rewards are unforgettable. Each burst of light through the clouds, every snow-dusted peak, and all those empty roads winding through vast landscapes—these are the moments that make the journey worthwhile.

The Scottish Highlands in winter are not gentle, but they are magnificent. And with the right equipment, good company, and a willingness to adapt, they offer some of the most dramatic landscape photography opportunities you'll find anywhere in the world.

Stay tuned for Part 2: Our wildlife photography adventures with Karen Miller in the Highlands—where we encountered some of Scotland's most iconic creatures in their winter habitat.