The Quiraing Circuit stats:

Length: 6.3km for the loop + 700m for the extra viewpoint if you wish
Time: 2.5 – 3 hours return 
Elevation: 392
Grade: Moderate
Parking: The Quiraing Car Park, Portree IV51 9LB, United Kingdom
Fees: 3 Euro for 3 hours parking

Where to stay: (Budget) Benview Bed & Breakfast
(Luxury) Luxury Super Central Cottage
(Midrange) Aite-Sithiel

Car hire:
Discover Cars

Now, if you are going to hike in Scotland, I feel the Isle of Skye is a must. I flew into Glasgow and drove to the Isle of Skye, you can get around by buses or tours but hiring a car or campervan is the way to go. It’s a place in the highlands and contains Scotlands best hikes (in my opinion) the hiking there will leave you in awe. Marvellous mountain tops with luscious green grass. The highlands is an absolute must. It’s hard to narrow down the best hikes to add to that hiking list but for me, the Quiraing walk is one of the best Isle of Skye hikes.

Getting there

It’s pretty straight forward to get here, if you pop “the Quiraing car park” it will lead you right to the parking lot where the trail starts. It’s only 4kms from staffing and 30 minutes from Portree. These are probably the best options of accomodation if you aren’t in a campervan. Most of the hiking parking lots do have a fee. This fee goes towards maintaining these lots and services like toilets. Just pay and display the ticket in your car window. It 3 Euro for 3 hours and 5 Euro for 6 hours. I paid $3 euro because I knew I would be under 3 hours. You can pay this by card which is super handy if you don’t have cash on you. 

My number one tip for this hike is, TO GO EARLY! Now I know everyone always yeah yeah go early but really for this one, you’ll be thankful you did because it can fill up and when you are hiking this glorious trail, you’ll know why. 

From the carpark, the trail is pretty clear and well defined. The Quiraing viewpoint is right opposite the carpark so if you are just there to do a quick car stop and take a photo, it’s quite easy to get to. But if you do the Quiraing walk you’ll be instantly rewarded with jaw dropping views. It’s almost hard to keep your eyes on the trail because you just want to look around. Follow the trail/people and when the path splits at the very beginning take the right route. I feel doing this anticlockwise is the best option. There’s plenty of photo spots to stop at along the way with backdrops that look like screens savers. I feel the most ideal photo spots are actually along this first part of the route. Hiking in Scotland is a landscape photographers dream.

Now if you aren’t feeling up to it you can definitely turn back any time but I do recommend completing the loop. After about 30 minutes is when you see the famous Needle and The Prison in front of you. From here you want to keep following the trail and soon you’ll see more pointy pinnacles in the distance. Keep to the path that stays left, close to the mountain wall. You’ll have a small steep section that climbs up to the ridge line.

The halfway Point

Now this is actually the point where the usual circuit loops BUT if you have the energy don’t stop here. The real views are at the table top mountain to your right. I thought about ignoring this but I’m glad I pushed through and went to see the view for myself. It’s about 15-20 minutes to the top with some uphill climbing but nothing super strenuous. I think the view speaks for themselves.

Once you are done taking mental memories and hopefully physical ones with your camera, head back the same way you came until you reach the fork in the road again. At this point you’ll want to head right. You’ll see the route that climbs up and over the cliffs you walked past on the way in. There’s no hiding it, this part is a slog but it has to be done. Once the magnificent views come into sight you’ll soon forget about how much your were just sweating. Now there are insane viewpoints along here but remember to be safe because on the edge it is a straight drop. So stay back and safe and walk along the trail until it starts to descend. 

End is in sight

This last section was super muddy when I did it and if its rained, there’s no avoiding it. Just embrace the mud and watch your step. The trail can get a little harder to see on this route down but if you just head back in the direction of the car park, you’ll be fine. It will all lead out to one path eventually and it is really hard to get lost. Just don’t panic if you lose to trail for a section, just eyes on the carpark and head that way and down.

If you’re like me and need a visual representation of the route you’ll be taking, I recommend checking out the mapped trail from All Trails this is the outline of the path you’ll be taking and if you have service it will track you along the way so it’s impossible to get lost. P.S this doesn’t contain the extra viewpoint section. This is marked below. 

For any Isle of Skye hiking, you’ll need:

• Water, as always.
  Good solid footwear because it can get muddy and slippery.Snacks/food. Never be caught out hungry on a hike, that’s no fun for anyone.
  Hat.
  Sunscreen.
  Camera/phone camera!

Enjoy and happy hiking one of the best hikes Isle of Skye. If you want to know what I travel with in terms of photo gear, check out my blog on what’s in my bag.

<p>The post Scotlands number 1 hike – The Quiraing Circuit. first appeared on Krista May Photography.</p>

Milford Sound

Have you heard of the 8^th wonder of the world? It’s right in New Zealand backyard, the most beautiful place in New Zealand. As far as Queenstown activities goes, this is only a hop, skip and a jump from Queenstown and the best place to visit in New Zealand. 

How to get there?

Even though Milford Sound is a stones throw away from Queenstown because it is surrounded by mountains, the journey is a windy road that takes about 4 hours to get there by car. My top recommendations for transport to Milford Sound are:

• Making a weekend of it and hiring a Jucy Van and camping along the way to get the most out of the journey. Stopping in Te Anau and camping right on Milford Sound’s front door. There’s endless hikes to conquer and wild views to witness.
  
  
• Put your feet up and relax as someone else takes the wheel, catching a coach from Queenstown to Milford may be one of the most relaxing and scenic routes you take. This gives you optimal time to take in the scenery as your driver fills you with exciting info about the Fiordland National Park around you and have a cheeky nap on the way home after sensory overload for the day. There’s also an option to get the coach from Te Anau to Milford Sound if you are already on your way.
  
  
• This Milford Sound tour is my absolutely favourite route option. For those of you that get car sick or have a jammed packed schedule and can’t give up a whole day. You can catch a scenic flight from Queenstown to Milford Sound, get the boat tour and then fly back to Queenstown. Save time and energy and see the world from a birds eye view. 

What to do in Milford Sound? 

So you might think there’s noting else to do besides sip your morning coffee cruising amongst giants on the Milford day cruise but there’s much, much more. 

• Milford Sound day cruise: This is my favourite thing to do in the Fiordland, I’ve done it many times and I’ll continue to go back because nothing quite prepares you for how vast and dramatic this landscape really is until you are standing on a boat right under the cliff faces, feeling very small but in a good way. You will drive by sheer vertical cliffs and float so close to waterfalls, you’ll have basically went swimming.  You venture the whole way through the fiord until you get to the entrance where the fiord meets the sea. Just in draw dropping beauty. To top it off, you also get lunch and a look inside the underwater observatory. For Milford Sound Day Cruise Deals check out my favourites.

• The Milford track which is one of New Zealand Great Walks. This is a 4 day adventure that is for the those seeking exile in nature. For more info DOC has you covered.

• If standing near waterfalls isn’t enough and you want more after your Milford Sound cruise, you can kayak to them. Paddle your way past Milford’s iconic permanent waterfall Bowen Falls. 

Milford Sound is playground for all ages. You just have to get out and explore it. Pick your route and pack your bags because there’s not time like the present. For more things to do around Queenstown check out my top 6 deals in Queenstown.

<p>The post Visit the 8th wonder of the world – Milford Sound first appeared on Krista May Photography.</p>

TIME: 4.5 hours one way
DISTANCE: 12.81km one way
LEVEL: Experienced

WHY LAKE ANGELUS HUT?

What do you look for when looking for a hike or a mountain to conquer? Does it need to have trees, steep sections, flat sections, gravel road, off-road, bush bashing, lakes or huts? My go-to combination is a beautiful hut with a side of tarns. That’s the ultimate combo in my opinion and if you think the same, keep reading! 

ANGELUS HUT TRACKS AND ROUTES

Nelson Lakes National Park is in the South Island of New Zealand, at the northern end of the Southern Alps and it has been hiding a treat, and that treat is called Angelus Hut. The best of the Nelson Lakes walks. There are a few different routes you can take to get here but the track I went with was the Robert Ridge to Lake Angelus Hut Route. I wanted to be on the ridge the whole time and take in as much of the scenery from height as I could. It’s a personal preference but for me I’d rather do the hard grind right off the bat and then endure the slow and steady incline rather than a flat path finishing in a steep ascend. I’m a hard and fast hiker so on the long tramps I really have to pace myself. So let me be the one to tell you, PACE YOURSELF. Take in the views, take breaks, explore the huts along the way and truly experience the journey because it is just as good as the destination. The Robert Route to Lake Angelus Hut path starts with a leg burner, gaining elevation quickly with every calf-crushing step. So be prepared to wipe those beads of sweat dripping down the brow – unless you are one of those people that are lucky enough to not sweat. I’m not one of those people. So, with sweaty backs, brows and bodies we slowly but steadily made our way up the steepest section of our journey, trying to distract ourselves from how heavy our bags were with a mind game of hangman. Yes, I said hangman. Let me tell you, it’s way harder playing when you have to keep all the letters you’ve said in your head rather than on paper. But working the mind muscles while we were working the body muscles made the time pass a little quicker and if you need a new hiking game. Give it a go. TIP: It’s not too bad to keep track of things when you pick words that are 5 letters or less.

 

TIME TO RELAX, AT RELAX SHELTER

After the steepest part of your hike, you have a chance to relax for a mini break at the Relax Shelter and soak in some history of the area and mountain itself which is quite interesting. But seriously though, when you get there RELAX, your little tired legs will need it for the rest of the journey. This is a super popular hike, especially the Robert Ridge Route, but it’s important to note this is a summer route as it is quite exposed in areas and you would need proper training to attempt this in winter. But because it is the best summer route to take, you’ll see a few other hikers along the way but anyone who is game enough to attempt this stunning hike is worthy of its path. From the Relax Hut it is a pretty easy-going trail but long trail with a wide-open area and because of the wide path it is quite exposed so plan your lunch breaks. We stopped for lunch about halfway through and had to duck behind some big boulders to get some coverage from the raging wind. People with long hair can relate when I say, trying to eat while your hair is slapping you in the face and getting a piece of hair with every bite may be the most annoying thing on the planet. So, find some shelter and eat your lunch in peace, because no one likes being hangry. The weather in the mountains is unpredictable, and if you hike you already know this, but if you don’t then always be prepared and bring appropriate clothing for all conditions on exposed ridges like this. It may be summer but I can feel like winter within seconds. Also, wind chill can make it feel like winter and it can be brutal. The only time I’ve ever bailed on a hike before was because it was 80-100k winds and I had to crouch down to avoid LITERALLY getting blown over but this is a story for another time.

HALFWAY TO ANGELUS HUT

After lunch it’s a warming feeling to know we are halfway to Lake Angelus Hut but also kind of daunting to think that what we have already done, we have to do again. Luckily this really is the easy end of the hike. There still are some exposed sections, a little bit of scrambling and some uneasy rock underfoot but the orange markers along the trail will really be your saving grace. They are placed perfectly that it would be near impossible to lose your way. So, keep those eyes peeled. How do you feel about false peaks? Because I have strong feelings of hate towards them, so here’s me warning you: There are false hills and you will think Angelus Hut is over the next one about 4 times, so you can’t say I didn’t warn you. Try to enjoy the journey as much as the destination and you’ll never be falsely deceived by these misleading peaks that will crush your soul just a little. To help distract the mind the 360-degree views of epic scenery and occasional crystal blue tarns will feed your eyes and your soul for long enough to get you through. Once you pass the route leading off to the right heading towards Speargrass hut you are getting close. Make sure you have a route mapped out on topo map or on your phone because you always want to make sure you are on track. There’s a sign that says 30 mins to Lake Angelus Hut but honestly, 90% of it is downhill so it’s a sight for sore eyes and it’s more like 15 mins than 30.

 

SEEING LAKE ANGELUS HUT

I don’t think there is a better feeling in the world than seeing a hut after you’ve been walking for hours. That moment of relief is just pure joy. It was a pretty full hut when we arrived but it is a paid hut so you know you’ll have a comfy space (anything is comfy when you’ve walked 12km to get there) waiting for you. I’m glad we set off early because it was nice knowing we had a bit of time before sunset to chill out and, of course being a photographer, obviously leaving enough time to go gallivanting out in the mountains. So knowing I had a few hours before golden hour just to chill really gave me the second wind I needed. Also, plenty of time to feed the belly because again, no one likes being hangry. We took off our shoes and boiled up some water to dig into our Back Country Meals as my stomach was growling. Mushroom Bolognaise hits different when you’ve worked for it, knowing I’ll also dig into my Back Country Brownie after my sunset mission. If you have the energy I really recommend going for a little exploration around the tarns and even up to Angelus Peak if you are game. If another 7km return sounds like a nightmare to you, stick to the couple of hundred meters to visit the Hinapouri Tarns from above and if you genuinely feel that the hut is the most you can do in one day, don’t be disappointed because it’s so incredibly beautiful at the hut you don’t need to go anywhere to get the best seat in the house when the sun starts to set. So, get in early and just enjoy the whole time there because it’s a tough hike and this view is your reward. We ventured out across the valley to the Hinapouri tarns from above and it did not disappoint. I spent a few years in Canada and this whole place gives you north American big mountain vibes and I LOVED IT! I decided this was the best spot to witness the sun say goodbye one last time, because I knew in the morning I would spend it around the tarns right outside the hut. I captured a few photos here and then headed back to the warm hut to dig into some much-needed sugar, wine and card games. (Wine is a must on all overnight hikes) A hard earned Back Country meal & an epic morning inversion layer

GETTING UP FOR A SUNRISE SHOOT

Now being a photographer, you know I get up for sunrise on every hike NO MATTER WHAT because you never know when mother nature is going to praise you with a show, and boy oh boy am I glad I woke up this morning. Now, when I say I wake up for sunrise every hike, I do but I also go back to bed pretty quickly if it’s not really putting on a show and that’s kind of what I did this morning. My alarm went out and I rolled out of bed with one eye closed and grabbed my camera, went outside and didn’t really see much going on. So, I crawled my tired body back into my warm cosy bed and some shut-eye for another 10 minutes. My first mistake was not peeing when I was up originally but I can’t sleep when I need to pee and this huts toilet are outside. So back off I went to the bathroom and just as I was approaching the toilets, I saw this INSANE inversion happening on the other side of the mountain behind the toilets. So I RAN back inside to get my camera gear, trust me nothing wakes me up faster than a beautiful sunrise. Wide-eyed and out of breath, I ran passed the bathrooms and over the hill to soak in those beautiful rays reflecting off the cloud inversion. A cloud inversion or temperature inversion is when the normal temperature distribution of air – warm at the bottom, colder as you go up – becomes inverted or flipped upside down. This means you have a cold layer of air trapped at ground level, overlain by warm air making the clouds sit low in the valley, covering the floor but exposing the mountains above. After running around all morning like a headless chicken shooting, I eventually made my way back to the hut to gear up for the journey home, starting with food! My favourite thing after photography! If you are doing a hike in the Nelson Lakes region, this is the one to do. Happy hiking.

If you are after more adventures in the South Island check out of of my top 5 hikes. Sefton Bivvy

Read more at Back Country Cuisine Adventure Blog

<p>The post Angelus Hut – The best hike in Nelson Lakes NP first appeared on Krista May Photography.</p>

ISO 125, F18, 1/400sec

I felt it would only be fitting to kickstart off my first blog with some tips on what I know and love most, photography. Ever wonder how photographers capture those crazy Sunstars in their images? As unreal as they may look, let me tell you.. they are real!

Now I’m not here to write a long-winded message because we all know you here just to make some cool Sunstar images. 

So let’s do it, my top photo tips. You need 3 things:

1. Camera (thanks captain obvious)

2. Sun. Believe it or not if there’s no sun.. SURPRISE there’s no Sunstar.

3. Tripod or my favourite, a random flat surface such as a post or rock. (not necessarily but handy to have)

The Sun Star effect happens when light passes through a small aperture in your lens and gets diffracted (spread out) across the aperture blades inside your lens. The more blades your aperture has the more rays it will create. 

“If you don’t know what aperture is then this is something you can come back to in the future once you master the basics of photography.”

Hint * When talking about aperture, a higher number means a smaller the aperture.
( I know confusing right )

So basically the smaller the aperture, the more of a Sunstar you’ll get. The rule of thumb for capturing a clean looking Sunstar is to start no lower than F16. I usually start here and often go to F18 if I want the rays to be even tighter. Make sure you adjust your other settings (Shutter speed and ISO). Remembering that a higher F-stop number, the less light you are letting in so the darker your image will be.

Using these tips you could simple point and shoot at the sun and capture a basic Sunstar. For a more creative approach, try capturing the sun peaking behind a subject or something in the foreground/back ground like my image above.

My favourite time of day to shoot a Sunstar is at sunrise or sunset because I like the way it looks with golden hour. These tips will help you achieve this affect at any time of day as ling as big yellow (the sun) is out.

Now get outside and give it a shot (<- photography jokes HAHA) 

Check out more of my Sunstar photographs @kristamayphotography

ISO 100, F16, 1/125 sec

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<p>The post Photography techniques to improve your photos 10 fold first appeared on Krista May Photography.</p>