For the photographer, a holiday is a quest for the perfect shot. This guide to six train-accessible UK destinations is curated for those who see the world through a lens, offering dramatic landscapes, beautiful light, and unique details that are waiting to be captured.
Cornwall is a photographer’s dream, and the seaside hideout provides the ultimate vantage point. The main subject is the iconic St Michael’s Mount, which you can shoot from your window at all times of day—from misty dawns to golden sunsets. The dramatic coastline, colourful fishing boats in Newlyn harbour, and charming cottages in Mousehole provide endless further inspiration.
The Northumberland coast offers a different but equally compelling aesthetic. The vast, sweeping beaches, dramatic castles like Alnwick and Warkworth, and the pastel-coloured houses of Alnmouth are all wonderfully photogenic. The quality of the light on the North Sea can be spectacular, especially during the golden hours of sunrise and sunset.
The Brucefield Estate in Scotland is a paradise for nature and macro photographers. Capture the intricate details of the forest floor, the textures of tree bark, the delicate beauty of wildflowers in spring, or the rich colours of autumn leaves. If you’re lucky, you might even get a shot of a red squirrel. The sleek, modern design of the bothies themselves also makes for a great architectural subject.
In the Lake District, the opportunities for epic landscape photography are limitless. A short hike up Orrest Head from your Windermere hotel yields one of the most famous panoramic views in England. The interplay of light, water, and mountains is a constant source of inspiration. The Essex cabin with its reflective pond and the elegant grounds of the Berkshire hotel also offer a wealth of beautiful subjects to capture.
