Turn left at Carlisle
When you come on a Photo Active workshop you will be taking pictures in one of the most beautiful areas of Britain. Galloway has to be Scotland's best kept holiday secret, and the reason for this is simple - in the headlong rush up the motorway to cram themselves into the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, people miss some of the finest scenery and most unspoiled coastline in the country. All they have to do is turn left at Carlisle and drive along the beautiful Solway Firth to find scenery to beat the best they'll find anywhere - including the likes of Cornwall and Devon. There are no traffic queues and overblown parking charges here! Here you can leave the crowds behind and drive for miles on deserted roads. Even the few traffic wardens have a refreshingly helpful attitude.

Birds and wildlife
Galloway has been much loved by naturalists and bird watchers for many years; Gavin Maxwell's famous story about otters, 'Ring of bright water', was based just a few miles from the home of Photo Active in Galloway.

'Seaside', my harbourside home in Garlieston, overlooks Wigtown Bay and the Solway Firth. It is here that Photo Active students can relax and learn how to improve their photography. Wigtown Bay is home to many species of sea birds and waders, and is of particular importance to oystercatchers. Some 2500 of them overwinter here along with around 1200 curlew, and as the tide falls, the bay comes alive with their piping calls.

Cradle of Christianity
The people of Galloway have always had a reputation for staunch independence and self-sufficiency. In fact, Wigtownshire, the name of the peninsular between Wigtown Bay and Luce Bay, was the cradle of Christianity in Scotland. It was here, in the 5th Century, that St. Ninian founded the first Christian settlement at Whithorn, just four miles from Garlieston.