Isle of Rùm Expedition

26th - 30th May 2026

What to expect?

This is a landscape photography workshop unlike any other.

Discover one of Scotland’s most unique locations - the spectacular Isle of Rùm.

The island is renowned for its remote and rugged mountainous terrain, as well as the diverse wildlife that grace its shores and landscapes. This immersive photography workshop offers the perfect blend of adventure, learning and opportunity for artistic expression - an unforgettable and transformative journey into the heart of Rùm.

Unfrequented by photographers, you shall experience rare opportunities to capture truly unique imagery of some of the finest mountain and coastal scenery that there is anywhere in the country - at sunrise, sunset and everything in between.

You shall be led and taught by two highly experienced mountaineers and photographers: Benjamin Barendrecht and Ross Davidson (Qualified Mountain Leader). During the trip, we shall aim to camp up high on at least two nights in the majestic Rùm Cuillin, visiting mountains such as Askival and Ainshval. Together, we shall create lasting memories and images to treasure.

The trip is suitable for enthusiastic outdoor photographers, whether you are a beginner- or advanced-level.

5 days and 4 nights camping in total.

Key Information

Date: 26th - 30th May 2025

Duration: 5 days hiking, 4 nights wild camping

Accommodation: Tents

Starting at: Mallaig Ferry Terminal

Physicality: Challenging

Group Size: 5 clients maximum

Pricing: £550 (£250 deposit)

Terms and Conditions

Isle of Rùm | Expedition Workshop

from £250.00

Itinerary

The itinerary for this trip will remain flexible to adapt to the prevailing weather conditions and the suitability to the group. However, you may expect to visit and photograph vistas from, and en route to mountain summits such as: Askival, Ainshval and Hallival.

We will aim to camp in the hills for at least two of the four nights, aiming to be in prime locations for sunsets and sunrises, although this will remain flexible to allow the workshop leaders to select suitable photography locations. However, we will likely be camping below the mountain summits for logistical reasons (e.g. having ample space for multiple tents!)

We shall spend the final night of the trip camping low down on the delightful Isle of Eigg, with its beautiful beaches and captivating view back across the Sound of Rùm to the Island of Rùm itself - a perfect and fitting conclusion to the trip.

What you will learn

Technical Photography Skills

Tailored specifically to you, whether you are a beginner or advanced. Ben and Ross shall always be available to provide you with hands-on and practical coaching with all of the technical aspects of image creation, including: exposure, composition, focus and much more.

Expressive Photography Skills:

We will teach you how to identify interesting elements within the landscape that will combine to create compelling and evocative imagery, that tells the story of both the landscape and our personal experience within it.

Mountaineering & Adventure Skills:

If desired, we can teach you how to be independent in the mountain environment, to allow you to plan your own photography expeditions in the future. Including: mountain navigation and expedition planning; personal safety and risk management; campcraft; and rope work

Fitness and Experience

Hill-walking:

It is not essential for you to have prior hill-walking and backpacking experience, although we do advise it. You need to be capable of hiking with a 15-25kg backpack with at least 10km and 800 metres of ascent - and then repeating this again over the following few days. We shall pace the group appropriately so that all members feel comfortable and confident.

Backpacking experience:

A mandatory and advisory kit list shall be sent to you well in advance of the workshop to allow you to prepare for the trip.

Photography Experience:

Photographers of all abilities are welcome, from beginners through to advanced.

Equipment

An exhaustive kit list PDF shall be sent to you well in advance of the commencement of the workshop. In a nutshell, you will require:

Camera Equipment: we recommend a DSLR or mirrorless camera with lenses covering the focal lengths between 14-300mm, although we also welcome those using simpler camera systems/camera phones. A lightweight tripod will also be useful.

Clothing: appropriate mountain-suitable activewear, including a layering system consisting of: baselayers. mid layers, waterproofs and insulation layers. Comfortable hiking boots and a large backpack (60L minimum) are also important

Camping: a sturdy tent, warm roll mat and sleeping bag are all necessary.

Price - What’s included?

Price and Payment:

Total price (per participant): £550.
Deposit amount: £250 (required upon booking).
Balance deadline: Final payment must be made at least one month before the workshop start date.

Included:

Qualified Mountain Leader to guide you on the expedition.
Uninterrupted, personalised photography tuition to ensure you achieve the best photographic results.
Ferry transportation - one less thing for you to worry about.
High end camping equipment, if required (small rental fee applies).

Excluded:

Transportation to the starting point: Mallaig Ferry Terminal. However, Ben and I may be able to support with a lift if necessary. Please enquire if required.
Travel and personal health and belongings insurance.
Camera equipment.
Expedition food and drinks - this should be included in your personal kit.

Example Images

Why Choose Us?

Benjamin Barendrecht

Ben is a freelance mountain photographer, filmmaker and ambassador for OM System (Olympus) and Mountaineering Scotland since 2022.

Ben’s love for the mountains started from a young age whilst travelling the world. Exploring the wonderful geology of the mountains is something that spoke to him. Translating the stories and feeling of the landscape within a single photograph that expresses the emotion the complex world.

Ben has spent over 10 years hiking in various mountain regions in the world, from Norway, the Alps, Scotland and many other places in the world. Ben’s passion for the mountains is all about finding a deeper connection and understanding of the geology.

Accolades:

Ambassador OM System / Olympus 2022 - Present

Ambassador Mountaineering Scotland 2022 - Present

Front Cover - OM System Camera Launch 2025

Publications: Outdoor Photography Magazine, Mountaineering Scotland Magazine, The Great Outdoors Magazine, BBC Scotland.

Ross Davidson

Ross is a Qualified Mountain Leader and semi-professional mountain photographer. An experienced teacher of seven years - Ross has achieved qualified teacher status (QTS) with a Post-Graduate Certificate in Education.

Ross specialises in capturing the mountainous regions of the UK, specifically the Scottish Highlands and Lake District National Park. His aim is to create unique and expressive imagery that is representative of the remarkable beauty of the landscape that surrounds us.

Ross has hiked extensively in Scotland, developing a deep affinity with the mountain landscape and aims to portray that through his work.

Accolades:

Mountains Category Winner - Natural Landscape Awards 2025.

Top 10 (1%) Combined Portfolio - Natural Landscape Awards 2025.

Front Cover - Volume 5, Natural Landscape Awards 2025 Commemorative Fine Art Book.

Highly Commended Portfolio - Scottish Landscape Photographer of the Year 2024.

Front Cover - best-selling novel, Unconformity by John McLellan 2024.

Ben & Ross’ Portfolios

Benjamin Barendrecht - Kintail
Ross Davidson - Assynt 2025
Benjamin Barendrecht - Mamores
Ross Davidson - Mamores
Benjamin Barendrecht - Assynt
Ross Davidson - Torridon

Andrew R | 1-2-1 Tuition | April 2025
“From the off, Ross made me feel relaxed and at ease. Once we got to the location Ross put me at was as I chose my first compositions. With minimal fuss he talked about how I might improve them and it was small, simple points that made a world of difference. On to our main location to set up for sunset, again I chose my compositions and we discussed them. During the golden hour, Ross was always on hand with tips to maximise the moment and it paid dividends with stunning images. The day was everything I had hoped for, expert tuition, amazing scenery and fantastic company. I hope to book again next year! Thank you Ross for your knowledge, company and patience on the hills.”
Gary U | Mountain Photography Workshop | May 2025
“Ben was incredible to work with and genuinely helped me fall in love with photography again. He not only guided me with the right camera settings but, more importantly, showed me how visual storytelling and thoughtful composition create a deeper connection with the landscape. Throughout the entire weekend, he was inspirational—always available with advice, encouragement, and insights that brought out the best in my work.
Ben’s teaching style is patient, engaging, and filled with a wealth of knowledge about both photography and the mountains of the Scottish Highlands itself. It was an honour and a pleasure to spend the weekend learning from him, and he has truly set me back on the path of my photography journey.”
Richard N | 1-2-1 Tuition | May 2025
“I recently had the pleasure of attending a 1-2-1 mountain photography workshop with Ross Davidson in the Lake District, and I can’t recommend it highly enough. Ross combines his photographic talent with the clarity and patience of a skilled teacher.
What really stood out was is ability to tailor the day to my experience level and goals. Rather than simply telling me what to do, Ross encouraged me to think critically about composition, lighting and technique - making the learning both meaningful and memorable.
Ross’ rare combination of award-winning photography and professional teaching makes his workshops truly exceptional. I left the day feeling inspired, more confident and equipped with new skills I’ll carry forward.”
Matthew T | 1-2-1 Tuition | June 2025
“It was great to meet you Ben, thank you for a really enjoyable and informative workshop. My main focus was on story telling of the landscape. Prior to the workshop Ben made me study the weather chart and mountain map for the day to see how we can use that in our favour in the mountains this was very informative. I learned a lot from Ben as we talked through visual story telling and compositions. Ben didn’t just tell me what to photograph but inspired me to see more and gave constructive feedback during the day on the mountain.”
David M | Summer Summits in the Lakes | September 2025
“I joined Ross on a workshop in the Lake District in September 2025 and would thoroughly recommend it. Ross is extremely knowledgeable of both the local area and his craft - as well as being able to apply this to the workshop. I really appreciated his hands-on approach but also knowing when to step back and challenge me to put what I had learned into practice. I’ve come away from the workshop with a better understanding of how to compose compelling images in addition to a new awareness and set of skills I’ll be able to use in the future. Credit also to Ross and his mountain leader knowledge as we had to rearrange plans on safety grounds due to the weather. This was done with no trouble and the whole experience was expertly managed by Ross.”
Andrew M | 1-2-1 Tuition | October 2024
“I joined Ben on a multiple day workshops in Glen Coe in October 2024 and he thought me so much over the days. The best part of the workshop is too reconnect the meaning of the relationship between me and the landscape. Ben’s approach is very thoughtful and has a slow and patience based approach to photography and was really knowledgable about the mountains and we used that to create a visual story together. Thank you Ben for the incredible experience and fun company.”

Frequently Asked Questions

We shall be constantly monitoring the weather forecasts in the lead up to the workshop and during the workshop itself.
The workshop shall be postponed if there is seriously inclement weather forecast that would pose a risk to the health and safety of all in the group.
We will communicate this with you as soon as possible. However, accurate mountain weather forecasts are only available a few days - one week in advance. Unfortunately, we cannot be responsible for any travel or accommodation fees that you may lose in this event, so we recommend seeking appropriate insurance.
No problem. We are here to help photographers that are beginners or advanced-level. We will tailor the learning experience for your specific requirements and aspirations. Please note that we will aim to provide equal tuition time to all participants.
We are sailing to the Isle of Rùm from Mallaig Ferry Terminal, PH41 4QD.
Approximately 43 miles (1 hour drive) to the west of Fort William.
We are able to collect up to three participants from Fort William, or meet in Mallaig.
Refunds are only granted in the event that both Ben and Ross are unable to lead the workshop due to personal circumstances. We will communicate this with you as soon as possible, in this eventuality.
A non-refundable deposit is required upon booking. If a participant decides to cancel their booking prior to two months before commencement of the workshop, then the remaining fee shall be refunded.
This is to ensure that we have adequate time to fill the vacated participation place.
Short answer - yes. Even if you have little or no backpacking experience, you are still capable of participating in this trip and we are here to support you with the logistics of this. Please contact us if you have any hesitations or specific questions.