Northumberland ... where Natural & History meet

"LIVE HERE!   LOVE HERE!   BORN HERE!"

PHOTOURS  and  Birding  Tours

A range of individually planned, personalised and very informal photographic tours - sometimes in conjunction with other respected and leading wildlife photographers.  I aim for guests to achieve new and memorable images in inspiring settings and at the same time have an enjoyable and relaxing experience with like-minded people.  

Enjoy a three-day island extravaganza off the Northumberland coast on my home ground. We'll be head to head with Puffins, toe to toe with Terns, eye to eye with Kittiwakes and many, many other close encounters, as we get up close and personal with the thousands of seabirds at one of Britain's foremost wildlife spectacles.

The Farne Islands are the most easterly outcrop of the Great Whin Sill; a strip of hard, dark, volcanic rock that stretches throughout Northumberland and on which many of the castles are built for which the County is famed.  Inner Farne with St Cuthbert's Chapel has 1000's of nesting seabirds, including Puffin, Shag, Eider and four different Terns.  Staple Island is one of the outer group of islands and is an exposed, rugged, rocky outcrop, its gullies, cliffs and sea stacks, known as the 'Pinnacles', are a perfect habitat for breeding Guillemot, Razorbill, Kittiwakes - and even more Puffins!

We'll visit both islands and most people end up in an overwhelming frenzy of shooting pictures - the photographic opportunities abound. You will enjoy it so much you'll want to do it all again - and you can - we have two full day trips to the Farne Islands!  From the boat we may even get face to face with some of the large numbers of Grey Seals that thrive on the outer islands as they come close to inspect us, full of curiosity.

I've been visiting the islands since my boyhood (over 40yrs since my first trip!) and know the best places to maximise your visit and chances of the shots you want to achieve.

The two days on the Farnes are split as we head further south and take a short cruise around Coquet Island; an RSPB reserve a mile off the coast, near Amble (unfortunately landing is not allowed on the island).  It's home to another huge colony of seabirds, including 90% of the UK population of one of the rarest - the Roseate Tern.  From the boat we'll have opportunities to shoot the birds from a sea-level perspective as they wheel and dive around us.  This day will also be spent exploring parts of the renowned Northumberland coast with mainland bird colonies or for landscapes, abstracts, rock patterns, flowers and butterflies as we visit secluded bays and beaches that I know well. Daylight is long at this time of year and our days will be full.

We are based in very comfortable hotel accommodation on the Northumberland Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

2023 Tour dates coming soon

Activities from evening of day one arrival until early morning of departure

Price TBC:
4 nights accommodation - no single supplement
All meals
Transport during tour
All boat fees
Friendly, informal but personal tuition and advice
Excludes: Insurances, personal drinks or landing-fees on Farnes – but National Trust members are free (it's worth joining to cover these costs alone and you'll have a full year to enjoy other NT properties)
Maximum 3 people + Guide Rob Jordan
Deposit of £tbc

For further information and detailed itinerary contact Rob Jordan:
E: robjordanphoto@btinternet.com

NB: Boat trips and landings are subject to weather conditions - pro-rata refunds for cost of boat trips if not possible - alternative mainland locations if boat trips fail to go ahead.

OTHER  PHOTOURS

NEW - Northern Icons

Dates - details to be arranged

The Angel of the North, Hadrian's Wall, the Tyne Bridges, Bamburgh & Dunstanburgh Castles - visually stimulating images that define this region. The tour concentrates on creating imagery of these and other iconic landmarks.

NEW - Wet & Wild Waterfall Weekends

Dates - details to be arranged

Short-breaks exploring various and often hidden waterfalls found throughout northern England. Photography will concentrate on defining the essence of each location, creating imagery that will be both a literal and impressionistic interpretation of place.

NEW - Coast & Castles

Dates - details to be arranged

Northumberland has more castles than any other county in England and one of the most inspiring natural coastlines to be found anywhere.  This tour concentrates on the wild, windswept landscapes and 'inner' detail created by both nature and the hand of man, often at the fringes of day and light.

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