NikonGear'23
Travelogues => Future NG Events - and Location Reveries => Topic started by: David Paterson on March 29, 2016, 00:45:59
-
I hopee this pdf proves to be downloadable. It contains some local knowledge of Killin and surrounds which I hope will be useful.
Will the first person to make a successful download, please let me know?
-
It is downloadable. Reading the stuff right now.
-
Thans for letting me know, B.
-
Thanks, downloaded.
Photographers shot on sight? Good grief..
-
Thanks Dave, by the look of things we need to come back another time,,, You know we only have one week in Killin,,, ;)
-
Photographers shot on sight? Good grief..
Sorry - that was my little joke, and the field referred to is actually mine . . . .
-
;D ;D
-
Dave, thanks for all the work you have put into this.
I will need to bring every available memory card!
-
Dave, thanks for all the work you have put into this.
I will need to bring every available memory card!
Anthony you need the D5 that you can take more pics in the same time
reading Dave´s remarks about tourists (for shure we exclude ourselves from this group)
it will be the opportunity to do "lane photography"
-
Ah, the D5 dream! Alas, I think it will remain a dream.
-
Sorry - that was my little joke, and the field referred to is actually mine . . . .
Haha, I was suspecting something along these lines!
-
We need bulletproof vests as well ?? ... afraid the airline weight restrictions will be difficult to comply with this time ...
-
Bjørn, as long as you don't travel with your well-known Palestinian scarf, you are OK for any airline!
-
I hopee this pdf proves to be downloadable. It contains some local knowledge of Killin and surrounds which I hope will be useful.
Will the first person to make a successful download, please let me know?
What do you mean that Fort William is not a pretty town. I luv it and luv Oban even more specially for the famous fish restaurant.
On our way to Ben Nevis, we stayed in Inverness in an old castle turned hotel which was amazing.......cannot remember the name.
Utterly luv Scotland and Scottish people.......a random bakery somewhere en route, refused to take my money for 2 Strawberry tarts as they were the last in the tray.......These are the real Scottish people.......Luv them!
-
What do you mean that Fort William is not a pretty town. I luv it and luv Oban even more specially for the famous fish restaurant.
Sorry if I stepped on your toes, but what I meant was . . . visually unattractive . . . if not quite downright ugly . . . but I suppose it can still be loveable . . . someone, somewhere's gotta love it. . maybe you are that person!
;D ;D
-
What do you mean that Fort William is not a pretty town. I luv it and luv Oban even more specially for the famous fish restaurant.
On our way to Ben Nevis, we stayed in Inverness in an old castle turned hotel which was amazing.......cannot remember the name.
Utterly luv Scotland and Scottish people.......a random bakery somewhere en route, refused to take my money for 2 Strawberry tarts as they were the last in the tray.......These are the real Scottish people.......Luv them!
I only know Oban for its whisky ;D
-
Well......you go to Oban for the whisky and go back to Fort William and see how nice it is 8) :D 8)
-
Have some sympathy for someone who will be doing the driving to Oban :(
-
Have some sympathy for someone who will be doing the driving to Oban :(
Well......once you get to Oban.....you have arrived 8)
-
Well......once you get to Oban.....you have arrived 8)
True.
It is the return journey that's the problem.
The answer is, of course, to bring some samples back with me, making sure that my passengers do not consume them on the journey.
-
Thanks for the excellent idea.
"one route passes along the edge of a field belonging to the owner of one “Dochart House” - trespassers, especially photographers, shot on sight."
On the OS map I see a permissive way following Innis Bhuidhe on the south side of the Dochart from the road bridge to a smaller foot bridge.
Surely nobody will consider trespassing walking there?
Where is the house of the furious shooter?
-
Sorry - that was my little joke, and the field referred to is actually mine . . . .
I am the "furious shooter" but only with a Nikon, and usually not very furiously.
There is no footbridge - what you are seeing is a viaduct across the R. Dochart, which used to carry a railway line ending at the head of Loch Tay. There is no way off Innis Bhuidhe except via the entrance at the bridge - or by wading the river.
But, fwiw, here is something I put together very recently for Clan MacNab.
-
I am the "furious shooter" but only with a Nikon, and usually not very furiously.
There is no footbridge - what you are seeing is a viaduct across the R. Dochart, which used to carry a railway line ending at the head of Loch Tay. There is no way off Innis Bhuidhe except via the entrance at the bridge - or by wading the river.
But, fwiw, here is something I put together very recently for Clan MacNab.
"Furious" is indeed not the adjective I'd associate with Dave. Sorry I overlooked the joke ???
Viaduct it is then. The path I was mentioning runs on the south side of the Dochart, following the island but not on it. After the island ends it then seems to cross the river by the viaduct, am I wrong in understanding that the viaduct is now open to walkers? It would be a pity if it is not.
How difficult is it to get permission to walk on the island?
-
Dave, thank you again for all these useful informations.
I would love to visit the west coast. :D
Do you reckon that visiting Oban, castle Stalker and Cruachan power station is feasable the same day (I we leave early of course) or Cruachan P S could be the plan ''B'' in case of bad weather ?
Also I would love to stop at the North-East end of Loch Awe near Dalmally to take pictures of this beautiful ruins of Kilchurn castle (one stop on our way toward Oban and one on our way back as we can get two different lightings).
So, we'd probably need 2 trips to do that without rushing ?
Cheers, Francis.
-
Simone - the viaduct is, in fact, open to any kind of traffic, but by common consent no-one in the village uses a car there except in dire emergency - pedestrians rule; only the local farmer who has land and animals on both sides of the Dochart uses a vehicle, and he may well own the bridge; he certainly owns a lot of the old railway line which crosses it.
Francis - CruachanPS, Oban, Stalker - in that order - would be possible in a day - morning at the PS, lunch and afternoon in Oban, and Cas.Stalker in the evening (it's an evening location anyway). Tight, but possible.
Kilchurn is not for the some day, I think. There is quite some walking to get good camera positions - you would need an hour for each camera position, plus you might have to wait for good light.
-
Oops - a little problem - Cruachan.
Though I have been inside the mountain twice, taking photographs, I was commissioned to do so by the electricity company and I didn't realise that the public were not allowed to take pictures - it seems very mean. Infrastructure companies are often very nervous about a perceived danger that photographs will somehow help potential terrorists, though of course this is 99.9% nonsense, and anyway they publish photographs on their own website.
I have emailed them asking for exceptional permission.
-
What about available local maps, Dave? I have only an electronic map (Garmin) and it is on the scarce side regarding local names although the topographic details seem pretty good.
I hope we can buy adequate maps locally?
-
What about available local maps, Dave? I have only an electronic map (Garmin) and it is on the scarce side regarding local names although the topographic details seem pretty good.
I hope we can buy adequate maps locally?
The Ordnance Survey maps at 1/25.000 scale are amongst the best in the world. Even the 1/50.000 scale is pretty good.
I will bring a topo map and you can peruse it if you don't find one locally - which should be easy to do.
-
What about available local maps, Dave? I have only an electronic map (Garmin) and it is on the scarce side regarding local names although the topographic details seem pretty good.
I hope we can buy adequate maps locally?
Yes, there are good maps available locally - the same maps as described by simato - UK Ordnance Survey maps. I'll check on exactly what they stock - but the "outdoors" shop in Killin definitely has OS maps. You can probably buy OS maps via the internet - the one you want is Map 51, Loch Tay and Glen Dochart 1/50,000. This covers an area 60km EW by 40km NS, with Killin near the centre of the area covered. The also have the "Explorer" series, 1/25,000, and Map 378 is the one, and covers exactly the required area in very great detail (it is double-sided). I doubt whether this level of detail is needed for our purposes.
-
The OS online map shop is at:
https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/shop/maps.html?gclid=CIKMxr2e-ssCFawp0wod23EJ_Q (https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/shop/maps.html?gclid=CIKMxr2e-ssCFawp0wod23EJ_Q)
At another of their websites I found some excellent aerial photo-maps and have pirated and annotated two of them for our use.They show very precisely the relationship between variious locations I have frequently talked about and posted images of.
1) Detail of Killin village and immediate area
2) Smaller scale, showing Loch Tay, the village and the Lodges.
-
Wow! Thanks, David!
I already did a little bit of research on Google Maps, but your annotated map is considerably more helpful.
-
Well, folks - just over three weeks to go - better tell me soon if you have special requirements, like a chauffeur-driven Rolls Royce, or quails' eggs and caviare for breakfast . . . .
These few weeks will rush past, so I'm being at least half-serious; if you do have any requests, the time is now.
Also - is everyone fixed up with transport from Edinburgh airport to Killin? (It seems that no-one is flying into Glasgow.)
-
Also - is everyone fixed up with transport from Edinburgh airport to Killin? (It seems that no-one is flying into Glasgow.)
Yes, but need a lift / public transport directions for my return on Wednesday the 11th :)
-
Thank you so much Dave. You did so much for us already!
Lets hope the gods of light & weather will bless our paths!
Thank you again.
-
Yes, but need a lift / public transport directions for my return on Wednesday the 11th :)
We have a rental so I'll take you there 8)
-
We have a rental so I'll take you there 8)
Awesome!!!
-
Well, folks - just over three weeks to go - better tell me soon if you have special requirements, like a chauffeur-driven Rolls Royce, or quails' eggs and caviare for breakfast . . . .
These few weeks will rush past, so I'm being at least half-serious; if you do have any requests, the time is now.
Also - is everyone fixed up with transport from Edinburgh airport to Killin? (It seems that no-one is flying into Glasgow.)
Dave I'd like to know if there is any permit required to camp at the head of the loch. I am planning to drive over on Friday night, arriving around 11PM.
-
Yes - access is unlimited but it's private ground and they do like people camping to ask first. I'll mention it to the appropriate person, and get you a number to ring.
It will be pretty dark at 11pm, even in May - better have a good torch!
Best of luck,
Dave
-
Yes - access is unlimited but it's private ground and they do like people camping to ask first. I'll mention it to the appropriate person, and get you a number to ring.
It will be pretty dark at 11pm, even in May - better have a good torch!
Best of luck,
Dave
Thanks.
I know getting there at dark is not the best thing.
Finding a nice spot will be interesting... even with a light.
-
David, would it be possible to rent a helicopter? ::) 8)
-
With open door or with door off 8)
OMG 6mm heli-shot A must have!
-
David, would it be possible to rent a helicopter? ::) 8)
Helicopters are rather scarce in the village this year, nevertheless all things are possible. If you would deposit £1000 in my Paypal account I will organise a chopper. 8) 8) 8)
Alternatively, at Loch Earn - less than 20km south from here, you can take short flights in a float-plane, taking off and landing in the loch. It should cost a little less than a helicopter. ;D
Later. sorry - my float-plane information was out-of-date - it is no longer available. There are such flights on Loch Lomond, however.
-
I think the ride in Norway was 200£ each, with room for 3 photographers so 600£ - which would be OK for my part!
-
£1000 is OK for an entire day.
What Erik is talking about is for an hour.
I am in if the doors could be removed :o
-
http://www.hghelicopters.co.uk/tours/ (http://www.hghelicopters.co.uk/tours/)
-
Looks perfect Dave, Thanks - Pretty sure JA and Jakov are in on a tour with me ;)
-
http://www.hghelicopters.co.uk/tours/ (http://www.hghelicopters.co.uk/tours/)
Wow, the Loch Ness tour looks interesting. Does the fee include the performance fee for Nessie? :D
-
Loch Ness Tour it is!!!
Perhaps there will be more interested?
It's a nice 100 mile drive north to Nairn.
-
Looks perfect Dave, Thanks - Pretty sure JA and Jakov are in on a tour with me ;)
Check 8) 8)
-
Loch Ness Tour it is!!!
Perhaps there will be more interested?
It's a nice 100 mile drive north to Nairn.
Can I leave it to you guys to make your own arrangements with HG Helicopters? I expect you could negotiate an extra 30 mins or so without too much extra cost. This would give you a bit more freedom to see / shoot other things. You could also ask if they would do you a tour from Glasgow airport - it's much nearer to Killin, the drive is very scenic, and the west coast and some of the islands are within range of GLA; not so, Inverness.
I have already contacted them with a general enquiry and will pass on anything I learn. I would also be willing to put down a deposit to secure a booking for you - it would be good to leave the actual date open - weather is a big factor.
-
Wow, the Loch Ness tour looks interesting. Does the fee include the performance fee for Nessie? :D
I think Nessie is usually on 25% of total takings - paid in fish, of course. ;)
-
I think Nessie is usually on 25% of total takings - paid in fish, of course. ;)
That's good to know. I don't want any one less NG member after the event.
-
These people fly from Oban...
http://www.flyscenicscotland.co.uk/ (http://www.flyscenicscotland.co.uk/)
-
Friday 15th April - it has just started snowing here, and a friend emailed from Wester Ross (up north) to say that they have fresh snow right down to sea-level.
But it's April, so this is spring, right? ::) ::) ::)
-
Thanks for the information Dave!
I will be bringing along warm winter clothes!
-
I guess I will bring some new gear ... versatile clothing mostly.
-
I'm glad I come by car, I can trow everything I (could) need in the trunk. :)
-
I went with my brother today to check out the restaurant ("The Bistro") at the lodges. The staff were friendly and efficient and the food was ok - it's not gourmet dining, and the lunchtime menu is rather limited, but it's . . . . ok. The manageress is quite willing to do a deal and give us all a discount but I think we would find that this tied us down a bit. Let me know if you would like me to negotiate a discount or if you prefer to be completely free.
When you arrive on the 7th, you will drive all the way through Killin and out the eastern end of the village - LOCH TAY HIGHLAND LODGES is about 6.5km beyond Killin and you will pass several other holiday resorts, camp-sites and so on, including one which is confusingly called Killin Highland Lodges. Ignore all these, and keep going until you see the sign and entrance in the following attachments. The sign is on the left side of the road and the entrance is on the right, directly opposite the sign.
You will, of course be driving ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD.
On the day, I will try to be there to say hello and show everyone where our lodges are.
-
Dave, thanks for the additional research. I would prefer not to have any ties to a particular restaurant or service, even if it means losing a discount.
-
I definitely agree with Anthony.
Overall I think that if weather cooperates it is more convenient to eat dinner in pubs wherever we are shooting so that we can take advantage of the evening light.
At lunch we'll most likely also be on the road somewhere.
-
Yes, I also think as you do, but since they offered a discount I simply thought I should pass it on. Uncommitted is best.
-
David, you have done such a wonderful job of arranging everything for our Nikongear Meetup !!!!
-
David, you have done such a wonderful job of arranging everything for our Nikongear Meetup !!!!
Nice of you to say, Andrea, but let's not tempt Fate - we're not quite there yet. Fingers crossed. ;D
-
Today my car hit the sharp end of a pickup truck and lost - I hope it will be fixed in time for the trip.
By the way it was not my fault:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ootypjvncvmhvs4/20160425_081855_EF.mp4?dl=0 (https://www.dropbox.com/s/ootypjvncvmhvs4/20160425_081855_EF.mp4?dl=0)
(Gee that was tense, especially when I had to swerve again to avoid the second incoming car)
-
Today my car hit the sharp end of a pickup truck and lost - I hope it will be fixed in time for the trip.
Tense moment, as you say, but we don't really see when/where you contacted the pickup. Which was being driven the way pickups are, all over the world - as if they are the only vehicles on the road.
(All members of NG, their friends, family, workmates and casual acquaintances are, of course, not included in the previous statement.)
-
I hope it will be fixed in time for the trip.
Simone, just in case : I am on my own in my car from Winchester...So, don't hesitate to ask if you need ! ;)
-
Tense moment, as you say, but we don't really see when/where you contacted the pickup. Which was being driven the way pickups are, all over the world - as if they are the only vehicles on the road.
(All members of NG, their friends, family, workmates and casual acquaintances are, of course, not included in the previous statement.)
The definition in the streamed version seems to be lower. There was a contact between the passenger tyre/wheel with the big metal rod at the pickup's tailgate. It exploded the tyre and looking carefully one can see a puff of what looks like dust coming out of the tyre. Overall it was a very slight contact, a few cm wider and I would have avoided it - except I had another car coming at me!
Simone, just in case : I am on my own in my car from Winchester...So, don't hesitate to ask if you need ! ;)
Thanks for the offer, I sincerely hope that this will be solved by then. The other driver has already accepted full liability so there should be no holdups.
By the way, you will have a heck of a long drive! I thought you were living much further to the North. Are you going to drive non-stop? It must take around 9 hours from there.
-
Actually, I planned to live on friday early morning and halt somewhere for the night (around Carlisle).
I will get a small tent with me.
If it's raining, I have equipment to sleep in my car which is spacious enough to lie without being folded ... :D
-
Scotland is 240Volts and these funny large three leg type sockets,,, Just so you remember,,, :o 8)
-
Scotland is 240Volts and these funny large three leg type sockets,,, Just so you remember,,, :o 8)
Thanks for the reminder, almost forgot to bring those kind of adapters ::)
-
Dave, which place do you recommend in Killin for a hearty early Saturday morning breakfast, to keep a hiker going up Tarmachan Ridge?
-
Dave, which place do you recommend in Killin for a hearty early Saturday morning breakfast, to keep a hiker going up Tarmachan Ridge?
do you know - I have absolutely no idea, and it will depend on what you mean by early. I'll do a little research on this and come back to you. My guess is that cafes and restaurants (there's not many of those) will not be open until mid-morning. Your best bet will likely be one of the hotels.
-
Dave, which place do you recommend in Killin for a hearty early Saturday morning breakfast, to keep a hiker going up Tarmachan Ridge?
Why not buy ingredients and prepare breakfast in our Lodge kitchen?
-
Why not buy ingredients and prepare breakfast in our Lodge kitchen?
This is for the morning before we check in.
I am arriving a day early and will be wild camping one night at the head of the loch.
-
Dave, is there a list of participants' mobile phone numbers?
-
Dave, is there a list of participants' mobile phone numbers?
Nope, but we'll sort that on site :)
-
Dave, is there a list of participants' mobile phone numbers?
No - I've been thinking about that. Non-members look at this forum, and I don't think we should publish tel. numbers here. Better to do it the first time we are all together. We can either store all the numbers on our devices, or I can take them and print a paper list which everyone can have a copy of.
-
Simsurace - here is the Callander map - the Co-op is no. 124 Stirling Road (main street)
-
Simsurace - here is the Callander map - the Co-op is no. 124 Stirling Road (main street)
Thank you!
-
A point worth reminding people about while there still is time: ensure you have *marked* your lenses, lens caps, etc. There will be a flotsam of such debris around when participants beg/borrow/swap/"test" gear and always in the final sorting of the mess, some surplus items are discovered. The owners usually find these bits and pieces missing first when they return home.
-
good idea
I for myself have imprinted NIKON on my stuff ;)
-
A point worth reminding people about while there still is time: ensure you have *marked* your lenses, lens caps, etc. There will be a flotsam of such debris around when participants beg/borrow/swap/"test" gear and always in the final sorting of the mess, some surplus items are discovered. The owners usually find these bits and pieces missing first when they return home.
I'm looking to buy some water-proof stickers to stick on my stuff, good point. Otherwise special attention will be required.
-
if you go for a cosmetic shop and buy easy removable nail colour, it should be a solution for those happenings
-
Sorry for my belated post. Just found this beautiful movie introducing Killin.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkPPMzRWgPI
Am I seeing some places where you guys enjoyed visiting and from which Dave is regularly posting beautiful images?