I’ve made two landscape photography trips to Scotland with Don and his wife Jane.
The first occasion I met up with them when we hired a cottage on the Isle of Skye. They were on their way back from the Outer Hebrides.
Elgol Harbour The weather for our week was fantastic, and on our first evening we were treated to a stunning sunset at Elgol Harbour.
Old Man of Storr The highlight of the week was climbing The Old Man of Storr in the north of the island. We arrived at the local car park at 4:30am when it was still dark and initially proceeded through a pine forest. The climb was steep with almost 100% steps and I was soon struggling.
As Don is younger and fitter than me, it was soon clear I was holding him back. The sun would rise soon and it looked like it would go straight into cloud. Don went on ahead so as to hopefully salvage something from the trip. I was surprised to hear my phone suddenly ring, and it was Don who had arrived and was checking I was OK as he couldn’t see me.
I eventually arrived at our chosen spot to take our photographs just in time.
You have to climb past the peaks then look back, so for a long time it was ‘so near yet so far’.
The sun duly appeared and as luck would have the clouds disappeared. Even so our best shots were taken in only two minutes of glorious sunlight.
We stayed around for a while for a selfie till it got too cold (it was just on freezing), and started the climb down. This proved to be worse than the climb up and my legs were screaming agony by then. I don’t think I would have made it without the walking stick my daughter lent me.
Back to the cottage for a well-earned breakfast and sleep.
Cuillin MountainsOn another morning we photographed the Cuillin Mountains in the centre of the island from various locations. There was even snow on some of the peaks.
Neist Point Another evening we photographed the lighthouse at Neist Point. This time the clouds were not very willing, and two layers both going in different directions, just would not clear. We sat there for one & a half hours before we finally got a few minutes evening sun.
Such are the frustrations of landscape photography!
Quiraing Another morning we drove to the Quiraing mountain range at the north end of the island.
We had not realised the distance from the cottage so arrived a little late, and it was a mad scramble to the best location and to get the kit out and set-up in time as the sun rose and we lost the important light.
But we still had time for another selfie, this time with Jane & Don!
Eigg & Rum islands Towards the end of the week we photographed Eigg & Rum islands from Glenancross, plus a selfie with Don!
One would have thought we were on a tropical island. Clearly a testament to the ferocity of the weather that sculpted the landscape.
Rannoch Moor My second trip to Scotland was to Fort William and Rannoch Moor. This time the weather was not good but we did get to photograph Black Mount with Lochan na h-Achlaise lake in the foreground.
Scotland is such a beautiful part of the country, long straight roads with no traffic, such friendly people and the right to roam everywhere (oh if only we had that in England)!!!
