Yorkshire Coast and countryside photography workshop

What’s so special about Yorkshire?

Yorkshire’s scenery is a stunning tapestry of natural beauty and charming villages that captivate visitors and locals alike. On the Yorkshire coast, picturesque villages such as Saltburn, Staithes, Whitby, and Ravenscar each offer a unique character rooted in history and tradition. Staithes, with its narrow, cobbled streets and colourful cottages, exudes a timeless charm, while Saltburn’s Victorian pier and funicular railway highlight its seaside resort atmosphere. Whitby, famous for its dramatic abbey perched atop steep cliffs and its rich maritime history, blends haunting Gothic allure and Olde worlde charm with modern shops, a picturesque harbour and old wooden piers.

Scarborough, Flamborough, and Bridlington are some of the most picturesque seaside towns along the stunning Yorkshire coast, each offering unique natural attractions and scenic beauty. Scarborough is renowned for its expansive sandy beaches, bustling harbour, and iconic Scarborough Castle overlooking the sea. The town’s vibrant promenade and lively arcades create a classic seaside atmosphere, while the coastline itself boasts rugged cliffs and panoramic views of the North Sea. Just a short drive away, the dramatic white chalk cliffs and towering sea stacks of Flamborough Head stand as a testament to the area's geological history, offering spectacular vistas and excellent opportunities for birdwatching and coastal walks.

In complete contrast to these coastal landscapes are the Yorkshire Wolds, an undulating expanse of rolling hills and lush farmland. The Wolds are characterized by their gentle slopes, chalk escarpments, and their perfectly formed, twisting Dales and valleys, offering a peaceful retreat from the busier coast. Unlike the rugged cliffs and dramatic sea views of the coastline, the Wolds evoke a sense of calm and openness, perfect for walking, cycling, and exploring rural villages. Their soft, flowing terrain and fertile valleys create a bucolic setting that emphasizes tranquility and natural beauty, providing a striking contrast to the rugged, dramatic scenery of the coast. Together, these diverse landscapes showcase Yorkshire’s remarkable variety—from the lively seaside villages and dramatic cliffs to the gentle, rolling hills of the Wolds—making the region a truly special and multifaceted destination.

Our accommodation

Our base for the duration of the workshop will be Cober Hill Hotel at Claughton, which is perfectly situated on the coastal route between Scarborough and Whitby, so very central to all the fantastic locations we will visit.

On-site, our beautifully maintained 6-acre grounds offer plenty of opportunities for relaxation, from wandering through flower and shrub gardens to sitting peacefully in one of the charming arbours or the secret garden with a good book. There's also a wide range of indoor and outdoor activities, including tennis, putting, bowls, croquet, pool, table football, table tennis, and a large children’s play area. For moments of peace and tranquility, unwind in one of our cosy lounges, perfect for resting, reading, or simply relaxing.

Which locations will we explore?

The workshop takes place over four nights and three days and all transport for the duration of the workshop is provided. As always, our exact itinerary will be determined by the weather conditions and other factors, such as the tides etc, but to give you a loose example of the timings, and locations we might visit.

Day 1. Thursday 13th November

Meet at Cober Hill Hotel, check in is at 15:00 pm (evening meal 18:30 pm). We can discuss plans for our first day and talk through what you would like to achieve from the workshop. I also send out a questionnaire which helps me to tailor any tuition to individual requirement.

Day 2. Friday 14th November

Ravenscar to Saltburn. We’ll start the day (after an early breakfast) over on the Yorkshire Coast. We might begin with a walk around the town of Whitby, taking in the olde worlde charm of it’s narrow cobbled streets and it’s old wooden piers and picturesque harbour. It’s a great place to try out some long exposure photography.

Throughout the course of the day we’ll visit various locations all along the coast, possibly including; Ravenscar, Robin Hoods Bay, Sandsend, Kettleness, Runswick Bay, Port Mulgrave and Staithes. We’ll look to photograph the sunset at one of a few different locations, all depending on the weather. This could be Saltburn, Whitby Town or Saltwick Bay.

Travel back to our accommodation – evening meal 18:30 pm

Day 3. Saturday 15th November

Scarborough, Flamborough & Thornwick Bay. We’ll begin the day early, photographing the sunrise in Scarborough. We’ll then possibly head back to our accommodation for a quick breakfast. After breakfast we’ll make the short drive down the coast to Flamborough, this time concentrating on the white Limestone cliffs of Selwick Bay, the Flamborough Headland, and the north landing. There’s loads to photograph around here, and the geology down in the bays can make for a great subject in itself. The likelihood is that we’ll finish the day photographing the stunning views up the coast, looking towards Bempton Cliffs from Thornwick Bay at sunset. Be sure to bring a long lens if you have one, as there are often great opportunities along the way to photograph stunning wildlife. Travel back to our accommodation. Evening meal 18:30 pm.

Day 4. Sunday 16th November

The Yorkshire Wolds. And now for something completely different, after an early breakfast, we’ll spend a day exploring the undulating landscapes of the Yorkshire Wolds. If you’re a fan of minimalist, graphic and abstract type landscape images, then I have a feeling you will love the Yorkshire Wolds. I’m not sure why, but it’s a very under appreciated area, and I very rarely see another photographer on my visits here. That’s not a problem though as it just means we’re more than likely to have these places all to ourselves! Images here tend to rely more on subtle light than garish, colourful sunrises and sunsets. The middle of the day can actually be very productive, and especially so if we’re lucky enough to have broken cloud overhead. This can create some wonderful light and shadow down in the shapely, twisting valleys and across the rolling meadows of the Wolds. We’ll aim to visit at least three to five different locations during the day.

Travel back to our accommodation. Evening meal 18:30 pm.

Day 5. Monday 17th November

Breakfast at accommodation. Workshop concludes (check out of hotel after breakfast)

Who is the workshop suitable for?

As all the workshops tuition is tailored to individual requirement, it is suitable for all levels, including beginners. If required I can go through the basics of exposure, camera set up etc with a short zoom session before the practical side of the workshop begins.

Fitness and ability level

There are no long and strenuous walks on the workshop, however, if we decide to walk down into some of the bays (such as Saltwick Bay, or Selwick Bay at Flamborough Head) the paths here, though fairly short are uphill/downhill with steps. These areas can also be slippery in places at certain times, so you should be reasonably sure footed and used to walking on uneven surfaces.