The best art & craft experiences to try along the North Coast 500!
The ever-changing light, inspirational landscape and way of life in the Scottish Highlands fuels creativity; it is no wonder that we have so many gifted artists and talented craftspeople dotted around the route, even in the most remote corners. You can view the paintings and buy the products, but the only way to properly experience the wealth of arts and crafts along the North Coast 500 is to fully immerse yourself in them!
Be inspired
Set your imagination alight in Eagle Rock’s studio space – perfect for painters with its open panoramic views of Applecross and beyond. Tucked in to a secluded cliff-top hollow, this modern Eco-Lodge is ideal for artists looking to be inspired.
Eagle Rock, Applecross
With breath-taking views over Assynt, Glencanisp Lodge is the perfect getaway to develop your creativity. Enjoy a stay in the loch fronted former sporting lodge, explore the beauty of Assynt, and access a studio within which to creatively express the inspiration that this magical place will evoke within you.
Learn a new craft
Although there are less than 300 locals in 62,000 hectares of the Applecross Peninsula, they have a vibrant and creative community of artists, musicians, artisans and craftspeople. Eagle Rock have partnered up with some of the local craftspeople in the area to bring you a bespoke and tailored arts and crafts retreat, with workshops in rural crafts to learn natural plant dying, spinning, weaving, basket weaving, hand-printing and even dry stone walling!
Enjoy the incredible surroundings of Mac and Wild at Falls of Shin and immerse yourself in one of their workshops. Learn Scottish woodcarving traditions in the forest and follow in the footsteps of the ancient Highlanders by replicating a 2000 year old Highlands cup of your own, or learn the basics of working with willow to weave a willow platter for fruit or freshly baked bread.
Willow Basket Making (c) Paolo Gallo/Adobe Stock
Wee Artists
Do you have any budding young artists who love adventure and exploring? Liquid Footprints has the perfect experience to combine both art and canoeing. Join the canoe instructor and head out on the water to explore the shoreline for natural materials. Once enough have been collected, return to the launch site where your Wee Arty Explorers can create their art explosion. Liquid Footprints will provide aprons so the kids can get as messy as they like, and have facilities to dry the canvas so you can take them home to treasure at the end of the day.
Get the camera ready!
The North Highlands offer some of the most spectacular locations in Scotland to photograph, with the light ever changing throughout the day and seasons. Capture the Northern Lights on a clear night in winter, or rise early for a stunning pink sunrise over the coastal waters.
Looking for some landscape photography instruction during your North Coast 500 visit? Join Karen Thornburn Photography for one of her single day landscape photography workshops. Karen covers various locations around the route, including the Black Isle (near Inverness), the west coast, Torridon region and Assynt area; offering individual and small group tuition in the field, with the aim of inspiring beginners and intermediate photographers to master their camera settings and improve their compositions.
Get active and combine photography and walking on a luxury wilderness holiday with Liquid Footprints and Smoo Lodge. Spend your day exploring some of the best coastal and mountain scenery in the remote North-West Highlands. You’ll be led by an experience local mountain guide and photographer who will be happy to help you improve your shots. Then recharge overnight in an 18th Century Highland Sporting Lodge with exclusive use of its superb luxury accommodation, satisfying your appetite with delicious dishes fusing Asian-influenced cuisine with the best fresh local ingredients. Find out more and book at www.mycreativecompass.co.uk.
Photo courtesy of My Creative Compass
