2025 | From Whitby to the Highlands

This series follows my journey with Gaelle through the north of England and Scotland. From the gothic ruins of Whitby and the timeless train station at Goathland, to the tidal mystery of Holy Island and the quiet beauty of Loch Awe, each stop held its own story. Driving through the Highlands, wandering distilleries, and ending in the wild landscapes of Northumberland, I tried to capture the mood of the road as much as the places themselves. Shot on the Leica Q2 Monochrome, these photos strip away distraction and focus on atmosphere—mist, stone, water, and light.

Angel of The North | Newcastle | Leica Q2 Monochrome

Hartlepool Beach UK | Leica Q2 Monochrome

Whitby Abbey | Leica Q2 Monochrome

Cholmley House | | Leica Q2 Monochrome

Whitby Abbey Cemetery | Leica Q2 Monochrome

Whitby | Leica Q2 Monochrome

Whitby Brewerie | Leica Q2 Monochrome

Whitby Abbey | Leica Q2 Monochrome

Goathland Train Station| Leica Q2 Monochrome

Goathland Train Station | Leica Q2 Monochrome

Goathland Train Station| Leica Q2 Monochrome

Tynemouth | Leica Q2 Monochrome

Coquet Island Lighthouse | Leica Q2 Monochrome

Holy Island | Leica Q2 Monochrome

Kilchurn Castle | Leica Q2 Monochrome

Highland cows Kilchurn Castle | Leica Q2 Monochrome

Oban | Leica Q2 Monochrome

Oban Distillery | Leica Q2 Monochrome

Dalwhinnie Distillery | Leica Q2 Monochrome

Highlands Scotland | Leica Q2 Monochrome

Castle somewhere in Highlands Scotland | Leica Q2 Monochrome

Highlands Scotland | Leica Q2 Monochrome

Forth Bridge Edinburgh | Leica Q2 Monochrome

Edinburgh | Leica Q2 Monochrome

Saint James Square Edinburgh | Leica Q2 Monochrome

Edinburgh Castle | Leica Q2 Monochrome

Edinburgh | Leica Q2 Monochrome

Amstrong & Son Vintage Shop Edinburgh | Leica Q2 Monochrome

Clennell Hall Country House | Leica Q2 Monochrome

Northumberland UK | Leica Q2 Monochrome

Gateshead Millennium Bridge Newcastle | Leica Q2 Monochrome

Newcastle | Leica Q2 Monochrome

Tynes river Newcastle | Leica Q2 Monochrome

This album is a little travel diary from my trip with Gaelle to the north of England and Scotland in 2025. We started off in Whitby, a coastal town full of atmosphere. The castle ruins loom over the sea, and it’s no surprise that Bram Stoker imagined Dracula walking those very cliffs. I remember standing there with the wind pushing against us, the stone walls dark against the sky—it felt like stepping into a gothic novel.

From there, we drove inland to Goathland, where the train station looks as though it’s been frozen in time. I couldn’t help but feel like we had stumbled onto a film set—unsurprisingly, it actually was used for Harry Potter’s Hogsmeade station. Watching the old steam train roll in felt like a little time machine arriving right on cue.

The next day, we drove north toward Tynemouth before reaching Berwick-upon-Tweed to visit my uncle. One highlight was crossing over to Holy Island, a magical place that can only be reached when the tide is low enough to uncover the causeway. We almost lost track of time wandering around the abbey ruins and watching seabirds skim the water. Luckily, we made it back before the sea came rushing in—it’s one of those places that reminds you how powerful nature really is.

After that, we headed deep into Scotland, arriving at Loch Awe on the west coast. We stayed there for three days, waking up every morning to glassy water reflecting the hills and clouds. A drive to Oban brought us to a busy fishing town and the famous distillery, where the smell of malt hung in the air. The next day we cut across the Highlands, stopping at the Dalwhinnie distillery. The road there was something else—endless moorland, mist clinging to the mountains, and single-lane roads where every passing car meant a polite wave.

We finished that leg of the journey in Edinburgh, which was buzzing with energy. Between the Edinburgh Festival and Oasis’s final concert in town, the streets were packed. I found it overwhelming for photography, but in a way, the chaos itself was the memory—music echoing down narrow streets and people everywhere.

Heading back south, we stayed in a manor tucked inside the Northumberland nature reserve. The light at sunset poured across the fields, and it felt like we had the whole countryside to ourselves. It was the kind of place where you put the camera down for a while and just breathe it all in.

Our final stop was Newcastle, where we spent two nights before flying home to Lyon. It was the perfect way to end the trip: quiet evenings by the river, reflecting on the road we had just taken through castles, coasts, and highlands.

For me, this album is about movement—driving north, chasing new skies, and collecting moments that range from windswept ruins to still lochs. The Leica Q2 Monochrome gave the whole trip a timeless feel, stripping away the distractions of color and letting the mood of each place come forward.

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