MOUNTAIN HARE PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP
Peak District
9th to 17th December 2026
Photographing England’s only remaining population of mountain hares in their brilliant white winter coats is a real privilege, but it is also one of the more challenging workshops I run. We often have to battle the elements and difficult Peak District terrain, meaning proper fieldcraft is absolutely everything with this sensitive species. I’ll teach you how to track, spot, and slowly approach them so we can capture intimate portraits without causing the animals any unnecessary stress.
Key Information:
Cost: £220 per person | £350 when booked as a pair
Group size: max. 2
Duration: 7 hours (starting at sunrise)
Location: North-West Peak District
Dates: Daily from 9th to 17th December 2026
Fitness: High / Demanding (Full Day Walk)
The Terrain: This is my most physically demanding workshop, covering approximately 7–8 miles over the course of the day with a total height gain of roughly 250m. The walk up to the mountain hare territory takes around 1 to 1.5 hours (2.5 miles), tracking over a mixture of paved paths before turning onto uneven, rocky terrain. Once on the high moors, we will spend 3–4 hours spotting and tracking the hares - covering a further 2–3 miles over deep heather and boggy ground - before making our way back down the same way we came up. A solid level of walking fitness and a sturdy pair of waterproof boots are essential.
Photography Level: All levels welcome. The photography itself is (hopefully) fairly straightforward as the hares are usually stationary, but the approach requires total silence to avoid causing stress. Because of this, I can't give camera tuition while we are actively with the animals; we will get your settings completely dialled in before we approach so you feel confident shooting on your own.
What You Will Need:
Camera: Your favourite camera.
Lenses: A focal length of 400mm (250mm APS-C, 200mm Micro 4/3) for more environmental photos, or 600mm+ (400mm APS-C, 300mm Micro 4/3) for more intimate portraits. A 100-400mm or 150-600mm lens is perfect if you’d like to capture both.
Binoculars: Not a necessity, but will be ideal to help pick out Hares in the distance.
Support: This workshop is only really suitable for handholding your camera and lens. Due to the distance we are covering and the terrain, lugging a heavy tripod up the mountain isn't practical and will only slow you down. However, while you won't need support for your camera, a pair of hiking poles is highly recommended to help with the incline and to save your knees on the rocky descent back down.
Carrying Your Kit: Because we are walking 7–8 miles, I highly recommend a comfortable camera strap or a camera harness. This keeps your camera instantly accessible for quick shots but leaves your hands free while hiking over the rough, rocky terrain.
Extra equipment: Spare batteries and extra SD cards (keep spare batteries in an inside pocket close to your body, as the winter cold drains them quickly).
Clothing & Food: Full winter layers and waterproofs (jacket, trousers, and sturdy walking boots). I will have a hot drink ready for us, but plenty of water, a packed lunch and plenty of snacks are essential for a full day out on the moors.
Good To Know:
Weather: Because this workshop runs in December, the weather is completely unpredictable, and the high moors we visit are extremely exposed. If it is due to rain for most of the day, it is a bit of a lose-lose situation: you won't want to get your camera out in it, and the hares will be hunkered down sheltering anyway. While I will always do everything I can to ensure the session goes ahead, we will have to call it off in the event of very strong winds and/or constant heavy rain. If we do have to cancel, I will look to re-book you onto another date during that specific run of workshops if there is space. If that isn't possible, your payment will be issued as a credit voucher to use toward any future workshop or tour booking.
A quick bit of advice: If you are travelling from further away and need to book accommodation, I would strongly suggest booking somewhere with a free cancellation policy just in case the elements beat us.
Meeting Point: To protect the locations and the wildlife, I don't publish the exact meeting spot publicly. Around 2–4 weeks before the session, I will send you a detailed pre-workshop email with the precise parking info and a pin drop for our meeting spot. If you are travelling from further away and need to book accommodation ahead of time, please feel free to drop me an email and I can give you some pointers on the best areas to look.
Parking: There is plenty of free parking.
Facilities: There are no public toilets or facilities available during the 7 hour session (yes, that means wild weeing!).
Supporting Local Wildlife: £10 from every single booking goes directly to the Protect Our Peatlands Campaign to help fund the restoration of vital blanket bogs, preserving crucial carbon sinks and safeguarding the fragile upland habitats.
The Post-Workshop Print: Every session includes a free, high-quality 8" x 12" print of your favourite photo from our day together. After the workshop, you can choose your image and I’ll print and post it directly out to you.
Other Species We May Encounter: Red Grouse, Woodcocks and Short-eared Owls.
Participant’s Photos
