Photographing Scotlands Heather

Written By Mark Warnes

A Field Guide to Purple Haze, Place, and Patience

Late summer in Scotland carries a quiet kind of magic. The hills blush violet, the moors hum with bees, and roadside verges erupt in a floral crescendo that feels both ancient and wildly alive. Heather—humble, hardy, and iconic—offers one of the most atmospheric subjects in the Scottish wild, if you know how and when to look.

This guide shares Saltfell’s essential tips for photographing heather—touching on gear, light, weather, and post-processing—along with fifteen of our favorite sites to catch this fleeting purple tide.

Timing Is Everything

Heather’s peak bloom generally spans late July to early September, with August often offering the best displays. You’ll find variation depending on altitude, region, and local climate:

  • Lowland coastal sites often bloom earlier (late July)

  • Highland and upland moors peak slightly later (mid-August into early September)

  • Weather matters—a cold spring or soggy summer can delay bloom or mute tones

Light & Weather

For mood and definition, aim for:

  • Golden hour (early morning or late evening) to capture warm contrast and directional light across the heather

  • Moody overcast for more subtle tones, especially with backdrops of woodland, water, or stone

  • Soft post-rain mist offers magical diffused light and a glossy sheen across wet blooms

  • Avoid harsh midday sun unless shooting macro detail with shadows

Composition Tips

Heather loves layers, texture, and contrast. Some tricks:

  • Lead with lines—footpaths, fence posts, burns, or stone walls can help guide the viewer through the sea of purple

  • Use negative space—don’t overfill the frame; sky, hills, or lochs add context and breathe

  • Pair with contrasting motifs—silver birch, bracken, lone boulders, or sheep add gentle counterbalance

  • Elevate viewpoint—drone or hillside angle to show spread and density (but tread lightly and follow drone codes)

  • Foreground interest—clustered blooms, mossy rocks, or boots-in-the-shot field notes

  • Side light reveals structure—great for dawn and dusk texture

Camera Settings

Processing Suggestions

Heather's tones vary from soft lilac to deep amethyst, and sometimes even rusty plum. In Lightroom or similar:

  • Use HSL panel to gently adjust purples and magentas—don’t oversaturate

  • Add local clarity or texture for mid-ground contrast

  • Try a gentle split tone: warm highlights, cool shadows

  • Use graduated filters to balance bright skies or dull foreground

  • Add a subtle vignette for intimacy

15 Heather-Laced Sites Worth Visiting

Here’s a poetic hit list—from dramatic coastlines to rolling inland ridges. Expect variety in scale, solitude, and visual rhythm.

  1. Fowlsheugh RSPB, Aberdeenshire – clifftop trails, seabirds, purple margins

  2. Glen Clova, Angus – accessible upland glens with textured heather slopes

  3. The Lammermuir Hills – wide ridges, soft pastels, gentle drama

  4. Ben Rinnes, Moray – summit views and layered purple carpets

  5. Loch Maree & Slioch, Wester Ross – sublime backdrop and contrast

  6. Cairnsmore of Fleet, Dumfries & Galloway – fringe wildness and low moorland

  7. Glenesk, Angus – tonal transitions and accessible compositions

  8. Cnoc Mor and Knockan Crag, Assynt – geological storytelling in bloom

  9. Schiehallion foothills, Perthshire – gentle paths and iconic massifs

  10. The Flow Country, Caithness & Sutherland – sparse beauty and peatland tone

  11. Isle of Mull, Ross of Mull coast – heather-fringed shores and rocky motifs

  12. Beinn Eighe Reserve, Torridon – structural drama with summer blossom

  13. Pentland Hills near Edinburgh – urban edge wildness and easy access

  14. The Borders’ Eildon Hills – patchwork textures and historical echoes

  15. Morven & Tap o’ Noth, Aberdeenshire – folklore, ridgelines, and heather lore

Mark Warnes