Author Topic: Scotland's far north-west - final images added. (Read 6019 times)

David Paterson · « **on:** September 10, 2017, 17:39:57 »

Mayumi and I have just spent a week centred in the tiny village of Stoer in the north-western district of Assynt, Sutherland county, arguably Scotland's most scenic region. The landscapes are dramatic and the weather was dramatic too - dramatically good and dramatically bad - and some patience was required to wait out the bad spells.

I can't describe the region without sounding like a tourist brochure, so I'll let the images do the talking. I will be posting batches of jpegs over the next couple of days, and I'll start with the journey north.

1. and 2. Water-carved rock along the River Garaidh, Inverness-shire.
3. Fireweed by the roadside in Easter Ross.
4. and 5. Rivers flow into Loch Shin, east Sutherland.
6. and 7. Mixed conifer forest at Achfary, Sutherland.
8. and 9. Heading northwest across Sutherland, the hills start to get bigger.
10. Loch More and Ben Stac.

Ann · « **Reply #1 on:** September 10, 2017, 18:09:52 »

You are painting a lovely portrait of a stunningly beautiful area. It is the rapidly changing weather and lighting which makes that area so photogenic.

I remember staying for a few days at a Pub on the Oykel River in Sutherland.

The riverbed was almost dry (after an extended drought )and there were some very distressed city-slicker fishermen (with all their expensive and newly purchased gear from Hardys!) staying there too.

At about 10:00 p.m. someone came into the Bar wearing a sou'wester and dripping wet. It was raining and raining hard.

The "Fishermen" looked much happier.

By the morning, the depth marker post on the river was no longer in sight: the river was filled to its banks with a swirling, peaty, un-fishable soup.

Angry "Fishermen" once more.

Jakov Minić · « **Reply #2 on:** September 10, 2017, 18:17:38 »

David, you know how much I enjoy your photographs from your beautiful country.

David Paterson · « **Reply #3 on:** September 10, 2017, 19:03:20 »

Thanks, Ann and Jakov - please look in from time to time - I will be posting several sets of images.

Ann · « **Reply #4 on:** September 10, 2017, 19:12:22 »

I love these Travelogue topics because it gives us the ability to add further sequences of images and to tell a much more comprehensive and cohesive story about those special places which we have been so fortunate to visit.

I am much looking forward to reading David's next installments in this thread

Jacques Pochoy · « **Reply #5 on:** September 10, 2017, 19:27:29 »

Really great pictures (I love rocks)!
Last time I went to Mallaig, I didn't have time to travel further (and didn't have a camera with me). Your pictures are giving me a desire to return there on a more timely pace :-)

David Paterson · « **Reply #6 on:** September 10, 2017, 19:49:11 »

Quote from: Ann on September 10, 2017, 19:12:22

I love these Travelogue topics because it gives us the ability to add further sequences of images and to tell a much more comprehensive and cohesive story about those special places which we have been so fortunate to visit.
I am much looking forward to reading David's next installments in this thread

Thanks again, Ann - I'll try not to disappoint!

Quote from: Jacques Pochoy on September 10, 2017, 19:27:29

Really great pictures (I love rocks)!
Last time I went to Mallaig, I didn't have time to travel further (and didn't have a camera with me). Your pictures are giving me a desire to return there on a more timely pace :-)

Thank you also, Jacques. It is against the law to visit the Scottish Highlands without a camera

well, it should be . . . and at Mallaig the good stuff is only just starting; the further north you go, the better it gets.

David H. Hartman · « **Reply #7 on:** September 10, 2017, 20:29:37 »

David,

Thank you for another beautiful series. My favorite is the first. They are all keepers.

Dave Hartman

Akira · « **Reply #8 on:** September 10, 2017, 20:58:12 »

Dave (Paterson), apparently we could spend a whole week looking for interesting patterns on the rocks there.

The dramatic scenery is definitely worth spending as much time as possible to look for seemingly infinite shooting opportunities.

Thank you for starting yet another exciting thread. Am looking forward to more posts to come!

simato73 · « **Reply #9 on:** September 10, 2017, 21:54:25 »

I am generally a landscape guy, but the first rock image beats them all.
Honourable mention to the second mixed conifers wood shot that has some lovely sense of depth and warm colours.

David Paterson · « **Reply #10 on:** September 10, 2017, 22:22:04 »

Many thanks to David, Akira and Simone - nice that you all chose the first rock image which is also one of my own favorites.

Quote from: Akira on September 10, 2017, 20:58:12

Dave (Paterson), apparently we could spend a whole week looking for interesting patterns on the rocks there.

Akira - I shot about 20 different rock patterns in a very short time, all of which were interesting at least, and I had some difficulty in choosing two to go in this selection. And I do plan to spend a day there very soon, this time with a tripod. On last week's trip, everything is handheld - because I forgot my effing tripod!!!

David Paterson · « **Reply #11 on:** September 10, 2017, 23:32:17 »

The area we visited is extremely mountainous and though these mountains are not particularly high, many of them have a rugged, dramatic appearance. However this selection concentrates on the quieter aspects of landscape and nature in Assynt and the surrounding region.

1. Loch Awe with Canisp in the distance.
2. Lily-pads, Loch Roe, Achmelvich
3. Loch Duartmore, on the Scourie road.
4. Floating leaves, Loch Assynt.
5. Island in Loch Assynt.
6. Evening at Clashmore
7. Pink Yarrow by the roadaside near Scourie.
8. Duartmore Forest.
9. Pines at Drumrunie.
10. House and fields at Achnacarnin.