It’s nearly summer solstice, and the days are veerrrrrry long. So catching the sunset AND sunrise is a bit more rare this time of year.

Unless I’m camping.

So, we decided to go for a spontaneous camping trip in the Cairngorms - our first of the year.

Driving towards Loch Morlich in the Cairngorms

Stopping along the way to capture some wide views of the Cairngorms.

But life in Scotland is bittersweet.

With immense beauty comes other struggles - like battling swarms of midges.

But I don’t let that stop me.

We found a lovely secluded spot on the edge of Loch Garten, facing East, which meant we’d be looking straight into the sun in the morning.

If you decide to camp here, please follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.

After setting up camp, I walked around to scope out the area, but I was uninspired by the flat lighting. Still, it was incredibly peaceful.

Photo tip: I usually check sunrise/sunset times before going on a trip, and set my alarm 45 minutes beforehand. This gives me enough time to get my photo gear ready and prepare for the best light.

But we were soon met by hoards of mosquitos and midges, so we bunkered down in the tent.

My alarm went off at 9:30pm and I braved the Midge Army to capture some sunset images.

The sun was hiding behind some clouds for the most part, but I still found some lovely color!

And then it was time for a couple restless hours of sleep. I never sleep well when I camp. I wake up with every little sound.

My alarm went off at 3:30am, and I happily left the warmth of the sleeping bag, excited to see if the sunrise would bring some color.

It did.

After the sunrise, the weather quickly shifted to grey and cloudy. I’m so happy I made the effort to wake up and witness this sunrise…it is burned into my memory as one of the more peaceful and gorgeous moments in my life.

A few hours later we packed up and headed home.

But I can easily say that in the end, it was all worth it.

If you’d like to watch the VLOG of this trip, head over to youtube: