- EXPLORE THE CARNEDDAU MOUNTAINS

- EXPLORE THE CARNEDDAU MOUNTAINS

SPIRIT OF THE CARNEDDAU

CARNEDDAU PONY WORKSHOPS

DISCOVER.

LEARN.

INSPIRE.

DATES

TBC

GROUP WORKSHOPS

TBC

LOCATION

NEAR CONWY, NORTH WALES

PRICES

£175 PER PERSON

JOIN KEVIN FOR AN ADVENTURE EXPLORING THE BEAUTY OF THE CARNEDDAU MOUNTAINS, IN SEARCH OF THE HARDY PONIES WHICH ROAM THESE HILLS

  • This is a fantastic opportunity to explore a beautiful area of North Wales, the Carneddau mountains, and photograph one of its true icons; the Carneddau Pony. Under Kevin's tutelage, you will be guided to the best locations where you will be able to capture a wide range of stunning and memorable images.

    The Carneddau pony is a hardy breed dating back to the Celtic period. The Romans admired the ponies for their strength and ability and were known to have taken some of them back to Rome to carry out specific tasks in their homeland. During the Tudor period around 1509, King Henry VIII ordered the ponies to be destroyed because they could not carry a knight in full armor. Thankfully, they did not succeed due to the ponies’ strength of character in taking to the mountains to escape. In more recent times they were used to pull carts in the coal mines, but now the mines are closed, and there is no longer work for them there. Many of these ponies are now free to roam the stunning Carneddau hillsides

    The Carneddau mountains include the largest contiguous areas of high ground (over 2,500 or 3,000 feet (910 m) high) in Wales and England, as well as six or seven of the highest peaks in the country—the Fifteen Peaks. The range also encloses a number of lakes such as Lyn Cowlyd and Lyn Eigiau, and the Aber waterfalls. It is surrounded by the Irish Sea to the north, and the Conwy Valley to the east. This rugged but beautiful landscape will provide us with some great opportunities for landscape photography as well as the resident wildlife.

    The ponies are distributed over a wide range in an upland environment, they can normally be located around a few specific areas although this does vary from day to day depending on the weather conditions. There are also times when it is advantageous to remain with a herd for long periods, waiting for some specific behavior to unfold or to capture the perfect shot.

    Using a country lane we will drive up into the Welsh Hills to a small gravel car park. The approach to the site then is on foot and it is possible to locate the ponies on the lower ground after a short walk. Depending on conditions and fitness levels the aim will be to move uphill looking for ponies. This walk can involve some significant elevation gain on rugged terrain. The ground is moderately steep in places, uneven, and can be slippery in snowy or icy conditions.

    Walking in this kind of terrain is tiring and requires a good level of fitness and stamina, especially considering that you will be carrying heavy photographic equipment, although the pace will be slow and breaks can be taken.

    Kevin will be on hand to offer advice on how to best approach the ponies, as well as help with camera settings, exposure, etc.

    Note that you may well be sitting, kneeling, or even lying on the wet cold ground for long periods of time so you should wear adequate clothing and be prepared for this.

    You will be away from your vehicle all day. There are no facilities on site.

    • WILDLIFE

    Our primary target will be the Carneddau ponies, but along the way, we may encounter other species of interest and stunning landscape opportunities

    • FIELD-CRAFT

    Learn how best to approach wild ponies their history and how they came to live in the mountains.

    • PHOTOGRAPHIC EXPERIENCE

    Photographers of all levels are welcome. Whether you are new to the world of wildlife photography or an experienced pro looking to expand your portfolio

    • ACCOMMODATION

    Accommodation is not provided for this workshop. But there are many lovely B&B and guesthouses in the area.

    • TRANSPORTATION

    Transportation is not provided to and from our location but can be arranged if needed.


ITINERARY

  • Meet at the designated meeting point and time followed by a brief introduction to find out what you would like from the day.

    • We head out into the hills to locate the ponies stopping along the way for any landscape photography or any chance encounters we may come across. Once the ponies have been found Kevin will teach you the best field craft to approach the ponies and will be on hand with any photographic tuition during the session

  • Following sunset, we will begin the walk back down the hillside to the cars and the end of the workshop

EXPLORE THE MOUNTAINS

CARNEDDAU PONY SHOWCASE

WHATS INCLUDED

  • Full one-to-one guidance throughout the day

  • Field-craft training

  • Full technical camera tuition

  • Expert knowledge of the ponies and the surrounding area

  • A friendly, relaxed approach

WHATS EXCLUDED

  • Food and drink

  • Transport to/from the meeting place (transport can be arranged if needed)

  • Personal Insurance

  • “The pony workshop with Kevin was a rare and unique experience. Kevin knows the hills like the back of his hand. The session was informative, providing photographic guidance and technical support and rare encounters with the majestic animals gave me a fascinating insight into their behavior. We wandered across stunning scenery on an exciting and rewarding day capturing mystical silhouettes and intimate close-up shots of one inquisitive youngster. Kevin’s passion for the ponies is infectious and I have since viewed these beautiful animals with an entirely new lens!”

    Cate - Carneddau Pony Workshop

  • “I had a wonderful time on a Carneddau pony workshop with Kevin, which, given the weather, was an amazing achievement! When I look at the photos I took, I can see a difference between those I took with Kevin’s guidance and what I would have taken on my own. I have more variety and they are technically better. I’m really chuffed to feel that I learned something and I loved the ponies and locations. As well as that, I enjoyed Kevin’s company and appreciated that he went ahead despite the weather conditions (prolonged pouring rain), that he was so good-natured about it all, and that he picked me up from the hotel! It was great to get expert and knowledgeable guidance from such a skilled, award-winning photographer. During the day, Kevin focussed on helping me (rather than taking his own photos) which I appreciated very much. I can highly recommend Kevin’s workshops. ”

    Guest - Carneddau Pony Workshop

  • “A wonderful day with the beautiful wild ponies. I feel privileged to have been able to get so close to them and be in their territory. Kevin was good company and shared his extensive knowledge about the ponies. It is clear he has a great passion for them. Kevin was generous with his time with individuals giving encouragement and passing on his field craft techniques to help us set up for good shots. We didn’t get the sun but that didn’t dampen Kevin’s enthusiasm in attempting to get good photographs

    Kate - Carneddau Pony Workshop

  • “Had a really enjoyable day photographing the beautiful wild ponies with Kevin. His enthusiasm and knowledge knew no bounds and even though the sun didn’t make an appearance I managed to capture the ponies in their natural environment. A brilliant day🐴”

    Janet - Carneddau Pony Workshop

GET IN TOUCH.

Kevin Morgans Wildlife Photography
Email: kevinmorgans@outlook.com
Phone: 07578798667