I love coastal light and quiet lanes as much as anyone who lives for the camera’s next good frame. When I’m based near Durness I’m often plotting far-off escapes, but some of my favourite days come from short drives and salty air — which is why I’m excited to share a personal guide to...
Sep 29, 2026
• by Élise Dupont
Latest News from Hillside Durness Co
I love starting a day on the water in the far north — dawn light, glassy sea, and the quiet company of seals slipping between the kelp beds. One of my favourite early-morning outings is a short sea-kayak from Balnakeil across to Enamel Bay to photograph grey seals and the coastline’s dramatic light. Below I’ll walk you through the launch points, tide considerations, kit I always pack,...
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The first time I tried a cliff-to-beach panorama at Camel Haugh I realized there’s a sweet spot between ambition and chaos: I wanted the whole sweep — towering cliffs, the curl of the beach, the sweep of the bay — in a single frame, but my phone’s default panorama kept warping the horizon and disjointing the foreground rocks. After a few failed stitches and a much-improved attempt, I’ve...
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I know the draw of a lone sea stack at first light—the way the water steals the colours from the sky and the cliffs hold their breath. One of my favourite quiet sunrise sessions near Durness is at the Croick sea stack (local crofting name: "Croick" rather than the Croick near Inverness), a dramatic slab of rock standing off a sweep of shingle and grassy cliffs. Below I’ll tell you exactly...
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I’ve lost count of the times I’ve set out for Sango Sands only to find the little stone causeway under a ribbon of sea. Tides here are surprisingly fast; a causeway that looks passable at low tide can be flooded again before you’ve had a chance to explore the north end properly. If you meet a flooded causeway, don’t panic — there are several safe, scenic alternatives that still let you...
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When I first set out to explorer larchipel arctique avec une carte, I expected crisp white maps, neat contour lines and predictable navigation. Instead I discovered that a Svalbard map is a living document: it tells you where polar bears roam, where sea ice retreats, which glaciers are retreating fastest, and which settlements are connected only by boat or snowmobile. Mapping the archipelago is...
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I still remember my first multi-day route: that nervous excitement at the trailhead, my pack slightly too heavy, and the relief of finding a perfect campsite with a view. If you’re reading this, you’re probably thinking about trying your premiers itinéraires GR pour débutants — long-distance footpaths that are both iconic and approachable. I’ve walked many coastal and highland routes...
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I spent three nights camping on Balnakeil beach last spring to find out which lightweight bivvy shelter actually works for an overnight shore camp. I wanted something minimal and fast to pitch between tides and driving wind, but still roomy enough for a sleeping mat, a bit of kit, and a camera I could grab in the night if the aurora flared. Over several trips I tested three popular lightweight...
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I’m partial to days that feel wild and unplanned but are actually carefully stitched together—especially when that day means leaving the car behind. If you want a zero‑car day between Sango Sands and Balnakeil (both jewels on the far north coast), you can absolutely do it with a smart mix of local buses, a short taxi hop, and a few leg‑stretching walks. Below I lay out how I plan those...
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I’ve spent more than a few chilly dawns perched on clifftops in Sutherland watching otters work their way through rock pools and seaweed beds below. Photographing them from above—ideally from a discreet clifftop hide—lets you capture intimate behaviours and dramatic seascapes without disturbing these curious animals. Below I share what I’ve learned: the best vantage points, when to go,...
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I still remember the first time I wandered through the narrow lanes around the old ramparts and thought: this is how Corsica begins to tell you its story. If you want to visiter le cœur historique de Porto-Vecchio, you’re in for a delightful mix of salty air, stone alleys, and surprises at every turn. In this guide I walk you through what to see and do, how to move around, and the small...
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