Into the Highlands
mountains
The Quiraing Sunbather
The Quiraing, on the Isle of Skye, isn’t exactly the first place you’d think of when it comes to sunbathing, but on returning to the car, i came across this chap trying to catch some rays. Then again, maybe he was just getting some rest after walking the Quiraing.
The fabulous mountains in the background are the Torridon hills on the Scottish Mainland, an area of Scotland that I’ve never visited before but would love to explore.
The Lonely Tree
I’m currently going through my Scotland images and came across this one taken in 2013. It certainly lives up to the Darker Skies name!
The tree has appeared in a number of my photographs including the one below that has been used as my twitter header image, on and off, since 2012. I have to say that i’m rather fond of that little tree.
Both photographs were taken at a location near Dornie, Highlands of Scotland.
From the Castle Walls
Sterling Castle is one of the most impressive landmarks in Scotland and one that i’d passed for quite a few years without stopping for a closer look. Fortunately i managed to get that closer look last weekend and both the castle and the views were fantastic.
Sterling sits in the central Scotland and has played a key role in shaping the country over the years. It’s strategic position, combined with the near impregnability of the castle, has caused invading armies many problems over the years. Often they would bypass it rather than try and take it.
The visibility was fantastic on the Sunday i visited. The cold November air was beautifully clear enabling visitors to see the mountains, located 30 or 40 miles away near Tyndrum, at the edge of Stirlingshire. A sprinkle of snow could be seen on the peaks.
One thing that did surprise me during my castle visit was the number of tourists, though i suppose that the tourism season never really stops now. I’ve always loved the reactions and behaviour of those on holiday. We all do it, but in the social media age we seem to need to prove, more than ever, that we have visited a location. The selfie stick must be the ultimate symbol of that desire. The postcard, at one time a critical part of communicating holiday news, has been dying over the years due to social media, to the point that Salmon postcards, who have been publishing postcards and calendars since 1880, are to close after over 100 years of trading.
Coach tours are my favourite tourism activity to watch though. The large scale and yet fleeting visits they make are popular, seem to only give a tantalising taste of the location. People seem to love the convenience though, even though there doesn’t appear to be the time to stand and soak in the place. Two coach tours pulled up below the castle and i took the image below. While the castle appears to be the main focus of attention, the field also contained Highland cattle that also got their photo taken. Highland cows do love having their picture though 🙂 Note the photographers who have climbed over a gate to get a clearer view.
The image of the Wallace Monument has to be my favourite from the visit. The tower stands on the Abbey Craig from which William Wallace was said to have watched the gathering of the army of King Edward I of England, just before the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297. The tower also has a great view looking back at Sterling Castle, so the next visit will probably include a climb up the Wallace Monument to see the view.
The Autumnal colours are an added bonus along with the clear visibility. The light in the summer can be wonderful but it can also bring some atmospheric conditions that can hamper the photographer . The colder air, combined with the late autumn light, really helped capture the magnificent views from the castle walls.
Following the Path
The steep, rocky and rather busy path up to the Storr, Isle of Skye.
The Colourful Capes
Originally posted to Instagram, I thought I’d share this image again on the blog. Like the photo in the last post this picture was shot at Blackhill waterfall on Skye.
The waterfall was especially impressive with a white torrent of water running where usually a steady stream would be. Within a day or two the water had returned to normal levels.
Rain over Beinn Achaladair
Rain over Beinn Achaladair and Glas Bheinn mountains, near Bridge of Orchy in the Scottish Highlands.
Probably my favourite shot from last year, this image sums up the fabulous experience of being in the Highlands. The contrasts of light and darkness really come together to add some drama, even menace, to the mountains. It could almost be a reflection of the history of Scotland as well as the geography. The rain swept across slowly, so slowly in fact that i could take photos and do a short timelapse video on the iPhone.
Stopping to take the photographs hasn’t been easy. The viewpoint area offers a stunning panorama of the mountains and is always a popular stop with tourists in buses, car, bikes etc. On several previous occasions (the first there was a lone piper playing – mountains+pipes=perfection) there was literally no room to park a bike, let alone the car, so i had to pass by. Last year i managed to get there earlier at around mid morning, just before the traffic started to build, park up and finally get some shots. You can get a good cup of tea there too!
As a mountain photograph goes, this is the one i have to beat. I have a large print on the wall of this photo, and i’ve also used it as one of the new header images on this blog. Rain, mist and highland mountains… it just captures it perfectly. Hopefully next time i’m passing, the piper will be playing!
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