Best weekend breaks for photographers

19 destinations picked for this guide.

Photographers love Britain's moody light, dramatic coasts and historic villages. These are some of the best places for a photography weekend, with famous views, interesting light and quiet corners, and the best times are early morning and late evening.

DungenessKent · Budget-friendly

A wild shingle headland of black huts, lighthouses and a famous garden

DunkeldPerth and Kinross · Mid-range

A cathedral village on the River Tay, in Perthshire's Big Tree Country

GlencoeHighland · Mid-range

Scotland's most dramatic glen, with towering mountains and a haunting history

NorthumberlandNorthumberland · Mid-range

Castles, empty beaches, dark skies and Hadrian's Wall

PembrokeshireWales · Mid-range

A rugged coast of golden beaches, seabirds and a famous coast path

Robin Hood's BayNorth Yorkshire · Mid-range

A smugglers' village tumbling down a steep cliff

Snowdonia (Eryri)Gwynedd · Mid-range

Wales's mountain heartland, with Snowdon at its centre

StaithesNorth Yorkshire · Mid-range

A cliff-hugging fishing village with a tiny harbour

WhitbyNorth Yorkshire · Mid-range

A dramatic harbour town with a clifftop abbey

BoscastleCornwall · Higher-priced

A dramatic harbour tucked into a steep wooded valley

ClovellyDevon · Higher-priced

A cobbled, car-free village stepping down the cliff to the sea

DartmoorDevon · Higher-priced

Granite tors, wild ponies and ancient woodland

Isle of SkyeHighland · Higher-priced

Jagged mountains, fairy pools and wild Atlantic coast

Lake DistrictCumbria · Higher-priced

England's biggest national park: lakes, fells and cosy villages

MouseholeCornwall · Higher-priced

A tiny harbour village famous for its Christmas lights

Norfolk coastNorfolk · Higher-priced

Wide sandy beaches, salt marshes and seal trips

OrkneyOrkney · Higher-priced

5,000-year-old villages, standing stones and sea cliffs off the north coast of Scotland

ShetlandShetland · Higher-priced

Puffins, Viking heritage and a wild, treeless coast far to the north

St IvesCornwall · Higher-priced

Golden beaches, art galleries and a pretty Cornish harbour

Frequently asked questions

When is the best light for photography?

The golden hour, just after sunrise and before sunset, and the blue hour around dusk and dawn.

Do I need a tripod?

For landscapes and low light, yes. It helps with sharp, long-exposure shots.

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Best weekend breaks from Manchester and the North WestBest weekend breaks from LondonBest weekend breaks from Birmingham and the MidlandsBest weekend breaks in Yorkshire and the North EastBest weekend breaks in ScotlandBest weekend breaks in Wales

Last reviewed October 2026. Prices and journey times are estimates, so check before you book. Report an error or share a tip.