Slowdown and photograph Scotland’s relaxing coastline

5-day all-inclusive mindful photography retreat on The Moray Coast

27th September - 1st October 2026

£1485

(£375 deposit required upon booking)

Book Your Place

Space to breathe, connect and create

Join Kim for an all inclusive 5-day spring Coastal Photography Retreat on the beautiful Moray Coast. Born and raised in the area, Kim combines her local knowledge with her mindful approach to create a relaxing photographic experience.

A person wearing a dark blue jacket taking a photo with a camera on Cullen pier, with a row of lobster traps stacked along the stone wall in the foreground during mindful photography workshop
Waves breaking on the ocean shore with a bird flying overhead and a distant land in the background.

Be inspired by the sights and sounds of the sea

Retreat Details

Dates: 27th September - 1st October 2026

Investment: £1485 (Deposit £375)

Duration: 5 days/4 nights

Small group size

Fitness level: Easy - Moderate

This retreat incorporates a mix of guided photography exercises and space to explore your photographic interests, offering a balance between solo time and group connection. Kim has carefully chosen locations to allow the opportunity to explore the coastal gems that North East Scotland has to offer, including long sandy beaches, rocky coves, traditional seaside villages and picturesque harbours.

As well as photographing the coastal beauty, mindfulness practices, journaling and rest will be weaved into the retreat to deepen creativity and self exploration.

When we are not on location, you can enjoy your own private en-suite room at the Royal Oak Hotel in Cullen. This traditional family-run hotel offers comfort and privacy. Delicious cooked meals will be prepared by the hotel each day to keep you fuelled and hydrated throughout your stay. The hotel is positioned right beside Cullen Beach, allowing the freedom to breathe and enjoy the sea air whenever you need to.

Book Your Place

Retreat Includes

4 nights bed and breakfast at the Royal Oak Hotel in Cullen

Lunch, Dinner and Refreshments

On location mindful photography sessions

Welcome presentation

Private group taxi between locations

Experienced local photography guide

Retreat resources including notebook and pen

Welcome goody bag

Post-retreat group image sharing Zoom session

New friends, connections and memories

Not Included

Travel to and from retreat

Any food or drink out with meal times

Alcoholic Drinks

Insurance - including travel, camera and health insurance

“I’m so grateful for the truly wonderful days in Scotland. The retreat was a beautiful blend of stunning nature, mindful presence, and warm community. Kim is a gifted teacher in mindful photography – I loved the way she guided us with grounding mindfulness exercises and creative photography prompts. We explored textures, patterns, and movement through our lenses, and I completely fell in love with the landscape.

What made the retreat even more special was the care and thoughtfulness in every detail: the welcoming hotel, delicious food, the surprise gift on arrival, and even the kind and helpful taxi driver. It was all so well planned and perfectly executed. Thank you, Kim – I appreciate it deeply.”

— Eli Brager, April 2025 Retreat Guest

A woman sitting on a concrete pier near the water, holding a camera. Fishing nets and boxes are lined up along the pier, with a white lighthouse in the background. Cullen Harbour. Moray Coastal trail. Photographer

Deepen your Observational Skills

Guided Photography Sessions

A sunset sky with dark clouds and flying birds, illuminated by the golden light of the setting sun.

Sky and Light Workshop - Monday 28th September

  • Feel a sense of guidance and inspiration as you witness and create with the vast coastal skies

  • Mindfully observe the light and how it interacts with the coast

  • Explore the relationship between the sky and sea

  • Observe the clouds as they move and change

  • Witness how the light and sky shift throughout the day, bringing new ideas and photographic opportunities your way

A beach scene with ocean waves, a bird flying overhead, and a distant tree-lined coastline under a cloudy sky.

Sea and Movement Workshop - Tuesday 29th September

  • Tune into the sense of flow and rhythm by curiously observing how the sea and birds move along the coast

  • Experience how your body moves and feels in nature

  • Explore movement in the landscape, whether freezing motion in images or experimenting with creative photography techniques such as Intentional Camera Movement (ICM).

  • Breath and move in unison with the waves

Close-up of barnacles growing on a rocky surface.

Rocks, Sand and Textures - Wednesday 30th September

  • Feel grounded and held by the timeless rocky shores

  • Witness and create with the patterns and textures of the coast

  • Use the sense of touch to connect with your subjects

  • Observe the creatures that call the rocky shores home

  • Photograph coastal features up close (macro photography)

  • Witness how the shifting tides erode and shift the landscape

Self-Guided Photography Sessions

Sunrise on Cullen Beach (Optional)

Each morning before breakfast, you are invited to go for a walk along the beach by the hotel to enjoy the dawn of a new day. This is a self-directed session, allowing you to ground yourself and enjoy some quiet time before the group outings begin. Create images that speak to you as you watch the sunrise. You may wish to find a quiet spot to sit and observe the sea or close your eyes and tune into the coastal sounds. Take your notebook and write down your intentions for the day or reflect on what you are witnessing.

Dusk Walk

After dinner, we will go for a walk along the shore at dusk. This is a great opportunity for us to reflect on the day and witness the transition between day and night. While this session will be mostly self-directed, Kim will be on hand to share an exercise with you or a thought to ponder while you're creating. 

3 kings rock formation on Cullen beach, Moray Coast Scotland
Sunset over the ocean with a partly cloudy sky and reflections on the wet sand along the shoreline. Moray Coast
A seascape with ocean waves crashing on the shore against a backdrop of mountains and cloudy sky.

Breathing Space

Accommodation and Meals - Royal Oak Hotel Cullen

Logo for Royal Oak Cullen featuring a stylized oak leaf and acorn with text.

The Royal Oak is a traditional family-run hotel located only a stone’s throw from the beautiful sandy beaches of Cullen Bay. It is nestled in between the famous viaduct and the historic fishing village of Seatown. The retreat includes 4 nights bed and breakfast and a tasty dining experience in the hotel restaurant. Everyone will enjoy their own private en-suite room, with a warm drink, shortbread and goodie bag to greet them on arrival.

The hotel comes with free parking and WiFi.

Weather permitting lunch will be enjoyed on location each day. The hotel will provide us with a healthy packed lunch to take out with us so we can enjoy eating while immersed in the coastal scenery.

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A bowl of creamy potato soup garnished with parsley, next to a slice of multigrain bread on a white napkin.
Empty restaurant dining area with wooden tables and chairs, green-striped wallpaper, framed artwork, and ceiling lights.

“Along the shifting light and sea of the Moray Coast, we arrived as strangers and left as a connected, supportive group. With Kim’s calm, thoughtful guidance, we slowed down, tuned in, and discovered not just the beauty of the landscape, but a deeper connection to nature, to one another, and to ourselves.

The retreat offered a balanced mix of mindful and photographic practices, creating space for creativity, reflection, and personal exploration. Kim’s steady presence, combined with the energy of the group and the ever-changing coastal landscape, nurtured a sense of stillness and insight. Her deep knowledge helped us see the world, and our place within it, with renewed clarity.

I highly recommend this retreat to anyone seeking to deepen their creative practice, reconnect with the natural world, and experience a greater sense of peace and presence.”

Teresa, USA - April 2025 Retreat Guest

Two women with backpacks standing on a sandy beach near the water, looking out at the ocean on a partly cloudy day. Hopeman Beach. Moray. Scotland

Itinerary

A sandy beach with rippled sand, a small pool of water, and a large rock in the middle, under a cloudy sky.

Sunday 27th September

3pm - Hotel check-in and settle

4pm - Beach walk and grounding

6pm - Welcome dinner

7.30pm - Welcome presentation

Sunset over the ocean with clouds, rocks in the water, and a few seagulls flying.

Monday 28th September

7am - Sunrise on Cullen Beach (Self-directed)

8.30am - Breakfast

10am - On location sky and light workshop

4pm - Afternoon break

6pm - Dinner

7.30pm - Dusk Walk and rest

Abstract blue and gray blurred streaks and shapes.

Tuesday 29th September

7am - Sunrise on Cullen Beach (Self-directed)

8.30am - Breakfast

12pm - On location sea and movement workshop

4pm - Afternoon break

6pm - Dinner

7.30pm - Dusk Walk and rest

Three smooth gray stones resting on a layered sandstone surface.

Wednesday 30th September

7am - Sunrise on Cullen Beach (Self-directed)

8.30am - Breakfast

10am - On location textures workshop

4pm - Afternoon break

6pm - Dinner

7.30pm - Dusk Walk and rest

Close-up of a blue boat hull with a white stripe, and two light blue ropes secured to the boat, reflected in the calm water.

Thursday 1st October

7am - On Location

9am - Breakfast

10am - 12pm - Round-up and Farewells

A pebble beach with a series of wooden posts and a signpost near the water's edge, with waves and a cloudy sky in the background. Findhorn Beach landscape photography

Post Retreat Image Sharing

2 weeks after the retreat, we will arrange a date and time to meet online via Zoom as a group to catch up and share our images.

Potential Night Time Bonus - Seeing the northern lights at night may be possible. This cannot be planned or predicted, but the day length opens up the possibility of seeing them if they are. Cullen Beach is a great spot to watch them. If they are active, you are welcome to go out and photograph them after dark.

Sunset over the ocean with waves and distant landforms

What to take with you

Camera or smartphone (all cameras welcome)

Any accessories you wish to use, including tripod and filters

Batteries, chargers and memory devices to store images

Laptop or tablet to edit images (if you wish to)

Warm and waterproof outdoor clothing to suit the changeable Scottish weather

Sturdy footwear to accommodate outdoor weather (walking boots recommended)

Sturdy backpack to carry equipment, extra clothes, and lunch

Flask and water bottle

A curious mind and willingness to learn

Older man with gray hair, wearing a black cap, white t-shirt, and black backpack, walking through tall, dry grass in an open field under a cloudy sky.

Investment £1485

A non-refundable deposit of £375 is required to reserve your place.

The remaining balance is due 6 weeks before the retreat commences.

Please ensure you read the full booking terms before booking.

Book Now

By booking this retreat, you will be supporting small local businesses.

If you have any questions, please email me directly. I will respond as soon as I am able: info@kimgrantphotography.co.uk