#536 THE SCOTTISH RETREAT SPECIAL 2026
RECORDED ON LOCATION IN THE HIGHLANDS
This week, The Photowalk returns to the Scottish Highlands for a special show recorded during our latest 2026 retreat in Scotland. Together, we follow the Black Water as it gathers pace through the woodland gorge at Rogie Falls, find historic scenes in Cromarty, explore the wartime shoreline of Roseisle Beach, and spend time beside Loch Maree, one of Scotland's most celebrated lochs, where the mountain of Slioch rises directly from the water, just shouting for pictures to be made!
Along the way, there are conversations about photography, friendship, creativity, large-format cameras, and the unexpected power of writing, not simply as a way of recording thoughts, but as a way of discovering them. Joined by Lynn Fraser, Michael Assmann, John Anderton and Giles Penfound, this journey takes you through a part of Scotland that has become deeply woven into the story of The Photowalk.
Email your stories, thoughts, and pictures to the show. If you can optimize/resize photos to 2,500 pixels wide, that’s always much appreciated. If you’d like to support this show and have access to further content and the midweek Extra Mile show, we’d welcome you as an EXTRA MILER. There’s also our Facebook group, a safe place to meet and talk with photographers of all interests, the Photowalk YouTube channel, plus the show is featured on Instagram and Substack.
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This episode is also supported by Silvergrain Press. If you have photographs sitting on a hard drive that deserve a life beyond a screen, Silvergrain Press creates beautifully made photo books, fine art prints and handcrafted frames. Visit silvergrainpress.com/photowalk and use the code PHOTOWALK for 15% off your first order.
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MORE ABOUT names, words, THE MUSIC and places FROM TODAY’S SHOW
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Join us in Venice for the Venice ‘26 retreat, photographing a city built on water, light, and ritual as winter settles across the lagoon. Together we’ll wander through early-morning markets, quiet canal edges, hidden monasteries, and the weathered backstreets of Castello and Cannaregio, with time to slow down, take photographs, and build creative confidence in a city that reveals itself gently when the crowds disappear. Places limited.
What We Can Know by Ian McEwan is a literary mystery set in the year 2119, following academic Tom Metcalfe as he searches for a lost poem that has long fascinated generations. Part love story, part detective story, and part meditation on memory, it asks how much we can ever truly know about the past, even when the evidence appears right in front of us.
Robert Burns, also known familiarly as Rabbie Burns, was a Scottish poet and lyricist. He is widely regarded as Scotland's national poet and is celebrated worldwide.
Merryn Glover’s series of Cairngorms Lyrics, and the story behind the series.
THE BISCUIT TIN QUESTION: What would be the title of your photography autobiography? Send your thoughts to stories@photowalk.show
MUSIC LINKS: Music on the show is sourced primarily from Artlist and also features in Michael Brennan’s Spotify playlist GoFoto. For Apple Music users, follow this playlist.
Kelvin Brown’s flickr Photowalk inspired group - join by invite by clicking on to THIS LINK.
THE SHOWPAGE GALLERY
MICHAEL ASSMANN
The beautiful scene looking down toward Loch Maree.
BEHIND THE SCENES PICTURES FROM MICHAEL
See more work from Michael Assmann.
JOHN ANDERTON
The dramatic highlands, photography above and below by John Anderton.
NEALE JAMES
Sketchbook photos from the trusty X100V.
VIDEO LIBRARY
The following videos or subjects are referenced within today’s show.