Woodland Photography Scotland

Woodland photography heaven in the Highlands

If you’re into woodland photography, grab a cuppa and settle in, because I’m going to tell you about one of my all-time favourite spots: the woodlands around Invergarry in the Scottish Highlands. Over the years I’ve visited countless forests, but this place keeps drawing me back. The combination of light, trees, terrain and that Highland atmosphere? It’s pure magic.

In this blog post I’ll walk you through:

• Why the Invergarry woodlands are so incredible for photography
• What you’ll find on-site (terrain, trees, light, atmosphere)
• My top tips for making the most of woodland photography here
• Some considerations for seasons, gear, timing and composition
• A final word on why it’s worth carving time out for

In this video, I explore a truly enchanting woodland, a place I’ve wanted to photograph at this time of year for over eight years!

Why this place is special

You may know the village of Invergarry (Gaelic: Inbhir Garadh) as a stop-off in the Great Glen, where the River Garry flows into Loch Oich. (Wikipedia) But what many people don’t realise is how much wonderful woodland habitat sits around it, particularly in areas like the Glengarry Forest, Ardochy Forest and along stretches of the River Garry. For a photographer, that setting is gold.

Here are a few of the things I love about it:

• Variety of trees & ground cover – Birch, oak, Scots pine, native woodland remnants. For example, Forest & Land Scotland states that the Glengarry site “explore[s] the riverbank trail among oak, birch and Caledonian pine.” (Forestry and Land Scotland) Trees like these give a rich texture of trunks, canopy and light-flicker.
• Great light & mood – Because the Highlands often deliver changing weather, you get opportunities for mist, shafts of light through trees, reflections, contrast between dark woodland and bright patches. That’s the kind of light I look for.
• Accessibility + quietude – While being remote enough to feel wild and atmospheric, Invergarry is accessible. The woodland trails are not always heavily crowded, which means you can take your time, set up a tripod, explore.
• Landscape context – You aren’t just in a flat forest. You have the river, loch, slopes, terrain. That adds dimension to your compositions.
• Conservation & woodland character – There’s genuine woodland character here: for example, the forest management plan for Glengarry covers 13,462 ha of land including Glengarry, Craig Liath and Ardochy forests. That means you’re stepping into a living, breathing ecosystem, not just commercial plantation.
• Wildlife & atmosphere – While photographing trees, you may also spot red squirrels, birds, deer or feel ambient forest sounds. One walk in Glengarry includes a riverbank trail where you “may even see pine marten in the peaceful forest.” (Forestry and Land Scotland) For me, that kind of environment enhances the image—not just the visual but the emotional memory.

When I walk into these woods I get a real sense of place. The textures of moss, the shafts of late-day light, the stillness of a stand of pines just after rain, it all comes together for powerful imagery.

What you’ll find there: terrain, trails and tree-types

Understanding the place helps you plan your shoot. Let’s run through what you’re likely to find at Invergarry woodlands.

Trails & terrain

• The Glengarry site is “just over 2 km west of Invergarry along the south shore of Loch Garry.”
• The “Allt na Cailliche Trail” is a 3 mile/4.8 km walk following a stream to a waterfall and through remnants of Caledonian pinewood. (Forestry and Land Scotland)
• There’s a shorter “Ciste Dubh Trail” 2.0 km (1¼ miles) loop beside cascades of the River Garry. (Forestry and Land Scotland)
• Terrain wise: Some sections are firm gravel, others earthy with exposed tree roots; expect muddy patches especially after rain. Good footwear and care required.

Tree types & woodland character

• Oak, birch and Scots (Caledonian) pine stand out in the descriptions. (Forestry and Land Scotland)
• The woodland floor will often have moss, ferns, leaf litter—the kind of texture that adds beautifully in close-ups.
• The topography varies: slopes, riverbanks, loch shores. All of which offer framing opportunities (e.g., tree leaning over water, roots on banks, reflections).

Light & seasonal factors

• Being in a glen, the light changes fast—morning/evening light sweeps across forest slopes and interacts with canopy.
• In autumn you’ll get golden light through colourful leaves; early spring you may catch new growth, delicate light.
• Rain + overcast days also have their charm: diffused light, saturated colours, moody atmosphere.
• Access times: If you visit very early or late you’ll benefit from quieter trails and potentially magical light shafts.

Other interesting features

• The woodland is intimately tied to the river and the loch environment: the interplay between water and trees is essential.
• Also note the historical & community dimension: the management plan mentions the “Glengarry Community Woodland” owning and managing community woodland near Invergarry.
• The soils and geology vary in the area: “Soils are highly variable… dominated by very poor nutrition” in the broader Glengarry-Craig Liath area. That variety of ground condition means interesting micro-habitats, subtle changes in vegetation & colour.

My Woodland Photography Tips for Invergarry

Here are the actionable tips I use when I’m out with camera and tripod in these woods. Apply them and you’ll maximise your chances of strong images.

1. Scout and plan ahead

• Before setting off, check the weather. Woodland light can be spectacular after rain or on low light days because of contrast and mood.
• Use trail maps (e.g., the route card for Glengarry) to decide which trails you’ll explore. Perhaps plan a loop including the Allt na Cailliche and riverbank trail.
• Arrive early (sunrise if possible) or stay late (golden hour). Light coming through trees at low angles creates drama.
• Wear sturdy boots (some muddy patches, roots). A foam pad or kneeler can help for low-angle shots in the forest.

2. Gear & camera settings

• Lens choice: A wide-angle (16–35mm or 24–70mm) is great for capturing the big scale of trees and glen. A standard zoom (24–70mm) gives flexibility. A macro or short telephoto (70–200mm) is useful for textures, trunks, bark, close compositions.
• Tripod: Essential for low light in woods; you’ll want long exposures (1/4 s to several seconds) often. Also helpful for precise composition.
• Filters: A polariser helps reduce reflections on wet foliage and enhance leaf colours. A neutral density (ND) may help blur motion (e.g., leaves flicker, water on forest floor).
• Settings: Use lowest ISO possible (ISO 100 or 200) for image quality. Aperture around f/8–f/11 gives good depth of field for scenes. For close-ups of bark or fungi you might open up to f/4-f/5.6 for subject isolation.
• Focus: For wide scenes, focus around one-third into the scene for maximal depth. Focus-stacking is an option if you want extreme sharpness throughout.
• Protect equipment: Woods can be damp, branches overhead. Bring a lens cloth, rain cover, change of socks maybe.

3. Composition & creative ideas

• Look for leading lines: Tree trunks, fallen logs, paths, riverbanks. These guide the viewer’s eye.
• Frame with canopy or trunks: Use trees on either side to frame a scene deeper into the woods, adding depth.
• Include foreground interest: Mossy roots, fallen leaves, fungi, water pools. These anchor the scene.
• Look up and down: The forest canopy can be compelling (patterns of branches against light). Also down at forest floor texture.
• Capture light shafts: After rain or when low sun hits the forest floor, you’ll get shafted light. Position yourself so the light is behind or angled.
• Reflections: If you find a pool, wet leaves or a calm stream you may capture reflections of trees, adding symmetry.
• Go for mood, not just sharpness: I sometimes underexpose slightly to retain rich colours, then lift shadows in post. Woods can lose impact if over-flat.
• Vertical vs horizontal: Many woodland shots benefit from portrait orientation (tall trees). Don’t forget to switch from your usual horizontal mode.
• Use the weather: Mist, drizzle, overcast skies are all positives in woodland. They diffuse light and saturate colour.

4. Seasonal timing & what to expect

• Spring: Fresh green growth, delicate light, new leaves. Ideal for gentle, subtle forest imagery.
• Summer: Dense canopy, strong contrast, sun-flecks. Might be more challenging to get clean light—look for streams and open breaks.
• Autumn: My personal favourite. The colours change, the light dips earlier, the air gets crisper. The forest floor becomes rich with leaf-litter and colour.
• Winter: Bare branches, low sun, potentially snow. Very graphic scenes. But also challenging: shorter light, cold gear, muddy access.
• Timing wise: Arrive early for morning mist in a glen. Or aim for golden hour into evening when the sun touches the trees laterally.

5. Post-processing & final touches

• I often bring out the richness of the foliage by boosting vibrance and saturation slightly—without going overboard. For example, enhancing greens and autumn golds, but keeping natural.
• Shadows in woodlands can be very dark; I’ll lift shadow sliders to reveal detail without losing mood.
• I also sharpen trunks/textures selectively, and sometimes apply a subtle vignette for mood.
• Pay attention to cropping: ensure your horizons (if present) are level, and avoid chopping tree-tops awkwardly or cutting off roots in a way that distracts.
• Export for the web at high quality: for YouTube blog or site, 2000 px width is fine; if you plan print, export at higher resolution.

Sample walk & photographic highlights at Invergarry

Let’s imagine a walk I took recently (in my mind’s eye) through the woodlands of Invergarry, describing what you might find and what I would photograph. It might inspire you on your own visit.

I arrive at the car park near the A87, (GOOGLE PIN) – (What3Words) just west of the village, targeting the Glengarry forest section. It’s a morning with light mist drifting above the River Garry. The trail winds gently, roots and moss underfoot, birch and Scots pine appearing through the mist.

Early on I locate a tree leaning slightly over the riverbank, its roots exposed, moss-green. The mist softens the background, making the tree pop. I set up wide angle, low to the ground to emphasise roots, run a long exposure to smooth the river flow, use a polariser to reduce glare. The result: a clean, quiet scene where the tree and its reflection become the hero.

Further along I enter a section of Scots pine, tall and straight. Light filters through the canopy in shafts. I switch to portrait orientation, emphasising verticality, trunks repeating into the distance. I adjust exposure to preserve detail in the shadow shafts. I walk until I find a fern-covered patch of forest floor—a perfect low-angle shot: f/5.6 for shallow depth, focusing on a fern frond rimmed with dew.

Then, later in the walk, I reach the Allt na Cailliche stream. Light is turning golden. I spot a small waterfall set among birch trunks. I slow the shutter to ~1 s for silky water, tripod firmly on a rock, composition balanced by a fallen log in foreground pointing toward the falls. The surrounding trees pick up warm light. I bracket exposures to ensure I capture the full dynamic range.

On the way back I stroll through leaf-litter underfoot, the sun now poking between canopy, casting warm patches. I snap close-ups of leaves, bark texture, focusing on minimalism—one trunk off-centre, a damp leaf next to it.

Back at the car park as the light fades, I glance back at the loch shore (Loch Garry). I take a final wide-angle shot of the woodland edge against loch and mountains beyond—an anchor shot to remind viewers of the broader landscape context.

Every shot on that walk tells a piece of the story: forest floor, trees, water, light, atmosphere. That’s what the Invergarry woodlands give you.

Why it’s worth carving time out

If you are serious about woodland photography (or just love nature), visiting Invergarry is worth it because:

• It rewards patience — Woods are slower to reveal themselves than open landscapes; you’ll be rewarded if you stay.
• It builds your craft — You’ll practice low light, texture, composition, and you’ll come away with images that differ from typical “lochs and mountains” backgrounds.
• Connection to place — As a photographer I often talk about “sense of place”. The woods around Invergarry have that: history, natural character, biodiversity, change with the seasons.
• Less trodden than iconic spots — Whereas some famous Highland destinations get overcrowded (and photographed), these woodlands remain more peaceful, giving you creative freedom.
• Complements your portfolio — If you already shoot rugged mountains or lochs, adding woodland work gives a fuller portfolio, richer variety.

Practical considerations & caveats

• Access & parking: At Glengarry (GOOGLE PIN) – (What3Words), parking is charged (£1 up to 1 h, £3 all day) and is clearly sign-posted. (Forestry and Land Scotland)
• Weather/ground: Woods can be slippery and muddy. Bring waterproofs, good boots, change of socks.
• Respect nature: Stay on paths where indicated, avoid disturbing wildlife, don’t trample sensitive ground.
• Time of day: Because of the glen’s topography, light may arrive later and leave earlier—plan accordingly.
• Safety: If you venture off main trails for that special shot, let someone know where you’re going. Mobile signal can be sketchy.
• Season alters access: Some trails may be affected after storms, with fallen trees or debris (as noted on the official site for Glengarry). (Forestry and Land Scotland)
• Gear weight: Woods encourage slower work—but also mean being prudent about gear. Tripod, one zoom, one prime maybe. Don’t bring two huge bags and regret it on uneven terrain.

Final word

If there’s one thing I hope you take away from this, it’s this: The woodlands around Invergarry are not “just another forest”. They are a rich, atmospheric, deeply photographic place. Whether you visit in spring’s fresh greens, autumn’s fiery leaves, or even winter’s skeletal branches and mist, you’ll find scenes that reward you.

For me, each visit is a fresh challenge: finding the light, the composition, the moment. I’ve walked in those woods in fog, in sunshine, after rain—and every time I come away with something that pleases me. I’d love for you to go there, explore, create your images. And if you do, drop me a line in the comments or on social—share your favourite shot from the walk.

Thanks for reading my ramble. Grab your gear, head to Invergarry, and let the woodland speak through your lens.

All the best,
Gary Gough

Where are the woods @ Invergarry/Glen Gary?
(GOOGLE PIN)
(What3Words)