Sunrise over Knoydart
Dawn over Knoydart in the Scottish Highlands
I was licky to have an opportunity to take a few shots of this sunrise from in front of Sabhal Mor Ostaig, the Gaelic college on Skye, looking over to the hills of Knoydart. I was on a photography course recently at the college, and was staying on campus for five days. I’d been keeping an eye on the weather forecast. I realised we might be in for a good morning, so I got up early to catch the peaceful morning light.
The college has two separate areas – the original college was built in 1973 around the barn at Arainn Ostaig in Sleat. The new buildings, over the road at Arainn Chaluim Chille were added several years later. The college has built up a huge reputation as a centre for excellence in teaching Gaelic. It also runs a programme of short courses which run over the easter and summer holidays.
The photography course was great fun,. and gave us plenty of opportunities to get out into Skye’s stunning scenery to take photos. I rather enjoyed this wee tranquil moment watching the dawn colours breaking over Knoydart. It wasn’t as peaceful as it looks in a picture, though – the midges were driving me demented!
View from Bla Bheinn
We were lucky to climb Bla Bheinn on a hot, still, cloudless day this week. The munro is on the Strathaird peninsula on Skye, and gives stunning views over the Cuillin ridge on a clear day. This was one of my favourites – looking down over the Cuillin ridge, Loch an Athain and Ruadh Stac, with the path that heads out to Sligachan clearly visible.
Buy this photo as a print from the Photography Scotland website shop
Rannoch Moor in the Scottish Highlands
It was sunny as we were heading North through Scotland towards Glencoe. The clouds suddenly rolled in as we approached Rannoch Moor – it’s such an atmospheric place on days like this.
You can buy this photo as a card or print from the Photography Scotland website shop
Looking down Glencoe
Glencoe
I love Glencoe on days like this – looking at its atmospheric best with clouds swirling around the tops.
I took this photo looking westwards down Glencoe, towards the foot of the glen.
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Ballachulish and Glencoe
Storm over Glencoe mountains
I was in Ballachulish taking photos for the band Corran Raa recently. The band had a gig at the Crafts & Things, the cafe in the village. While they were getting themselves ready for the evening, I wandered down to the shores of Loch Leven with my camera,as the evening light looked promising, and some clouds were beginning to gather over Glencoe village.
The weather suddenly turned very ominous as I reached the shores of the loch.
Rannoch Moor
This is a photo from way back. I’d bought a digital camera just after they were first invented. The camera was the size of a brick, and the batteries went flat after you’d taken a dozen photos. But it still managed to take a few good shots. This one was on Rannoch Moor, just outside the Youth Hostel at Loch Ossian.
Looking across Loch Ossian in the Scottish Highlands
Taransay’s public transport system
A question I’ve been asked regularly about Taransay is “Where does the ferry go from?” One of the lovely things about this wee island in the Highlands is that there is no regular ferry service. It’s possible to find people who will take you across the Sound from Harris. Or you can BYOBoat.
There’s a small jetty at Paible. The beach on the South West of the island makes for a very attractive port!
The island transport – a quad bike and trailer – appeared a few years ago.
Sand dunes at Paible on Taransay in the Highlands of Scotland
Quad bike on Taransay in the Outer Hebrides
Overlooking Horgabost on Harris
We’ve just spent two weeks on the lovely island of Taransay in the Outer Hebrides. I took this photo while we were waiting for the RIB back to Horgabost on Harris.
Looking towards Harris from Taransay in the Scottish Highlands
Farm life on Lismore
Highland cow
Earlier in the year, I was on Lismore for a few days. This highland cow was all but begging to have her photo taken…what a wee poser!
Highland cow on the island of Lismore, Scotland
This photo is available to buy as a print from the Photography Scotland website shop
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Beautiful Ballachulish boat
Highland yacht
I spotetd this lovely old boat on the shore at Ballachulish. It took me a while to find an angle where I could take the photo without the huge and rather unsightly ‘for sale’ sign on the deck spoiling the picture.
Anyone want to buy a beautiful boat??
Yacht on the shores of Loch Leven, in the Scottish Highlands
Almost there
Glencoe
Somehow Glencoe seems to be ‘almost there’ for a lot of trips I make..it’s on the way to so many amazing places. It’s also an amazing place in itself. Thanks Niall for another great suggestion for a photo for the gallery this week!
Looking along Glencoe in the Scottish Highlands
Lonesome sheep on Lismore
One wee sheep, perusing the Lismore sunset
Sheep on the horizon, on Lismore Island, Scotland
Lismore trees
I’ve come home with a hoard of ’Lismore tree’ pictures. Here’s some of my favourites – all gnarled and twisted.
Lismore tree
This tree is perched high up on a wall at the back of the bay in Sailean
Tree growing from a wall at Sailean, on the island of Lismore
Trees on the North West coast of Lismore island
Lismore coos
Another lovely trip to a Lismore Fiddle Retreat this weekend. Full of music and fun, and a houseful of fabulous Canadians.
And this morning a couple of us had a brief impromptu photography workshop. This beauty is one way to keep a vet happy!
A nosy Highland cow
Take an action shot
I was feeling somewhat contrite after tweaking the rules in the last photo entry for the gallery, so I found two more genuine action shots this weekend. Definitely action, and definitely things I don’t usually do!
Berthing ‘the Clansman’ in Oban bay
Herding sheep on Lismore island
Taransay – island for sale
The news has been released today that Taransay is on the market. It’s hard to magine anyone would want to sell this special place, but if you have £2,000,000 to spare at the moment, it could be yours.
Looking across Taransay towards St Kilda
The shoreline near Paible on Taransay
Looking from Taransay to the hills on harris
Seals on the rocks
Ruined houses of Paible, Taransay
Corran Raa, the sandspit on the West of of the island
One of Taransay’s many unspoilt beaches
The uninhabited island lies off the West coast of Harris in the Outer Hebrides. Over the last 9 years it has been the home of the annual Taransay Fiddle Camp.
Tents on the island for the annual fiddle camp
These are just a few of my photos taken on the island over those 9 years. I hope the island’s new owners, whoever they may be, will have us back!
Sunset on Taransay
One for election day
…as we head into another election day, I’m wondering what the next 24 hours will bring…
Tree in Ullapool, in the Scottish Highlands
…plenty more photos, that’s for sure!
Sunset over Loch Linnhe
Sunset over Loch Linnhe, Scotland
I was looking through a whole load of photos from around Scotland last week, looking for images to use for Mairi Campbell’s CD launch event in May. I came across this one, which I took during my first visit to one of her Lismore Fiddle Retreat weekends. It made for a lovely peaceful lull before the evening house ceilidh started.
Sunset over Loch Linnhe
Blown away
That was a grand weekend on Lismore island…lots of good music, good company, and lovely food (voted best fiddle-weekend food by Trevor…that’s some accolade!)
It started in a flurry of uncertainty, when all the ferries were cancelled just as we were ready to leave Oban. The bay was full of moored ferries that were going nowhere…
But the intrepid ferrymen at Port Appin thought better of it, and we just snuck over to Lismore on the last boat before the storm really whipped up for the night.
Glencoe in winter
Winter snow in Glencoe
On a recent trip to the west with the band, we caught the first dusting of snow on the hills in Glencoe.
A light dusting of snow on Glencoe in the Scottish Highlands
Black and white
I haven’t delved into black and white photography before, but having set myself a wee deadline last week, I’ve suddenly and unwittingly been challenged to try it out. Recently, I’ve been watching entries over on The Gallery, and thinking I’d love to join in. Before the topic for this week was announced, I’d decided I would go for it, no matter what the subject was…so here is my “Black and White”…
This was originally a colour photo I took on an evening walk on Mull in October. I just love the shape of that tree! Here’s the original colour version. I think I prefer it in B&W…how about you?
Glencoe
Another quick stop. We were on the road to Lismore this time, and stopped near the head of Glencoe for this photo. I love these Highland autumn colours!
Autumn colours in Glencoe in the Scottish Highlands
Moonlight at dusk over Mull
Another evening walk on Mull took us down to the shore, as the sun was setting and the moon was rising.
Moon rising over Mull, Scotland
Rannoch Moor
Beautiful sunshine on an incredibly still day on Rannoch Moor
Reflections in a loch on Rannoch Moor in the Scottish Highlands
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