Scottish Highlands

This is at the Pass Of The Cattle on the Applecross Peninsula on the west of Scotland, about the same latitude as Skye.

Taken a few years ago. I don't know if the road has been 'improved'. I hope not.

This road is famous for being one of the first to be closed because of snow. Photographed in August 1988 on Kodak 400ASA film.

Taken on a trip in August 1988. The Inverpolly area is a nature reserve and has some rugged scenery.

Ken Garden says'I am 99.9% certain that this is Sail Gharbh, the highest peak of Quinag in Assynt as seen from the Skiag Bridge - Kylesku road.' but John MacKenzie says 'I am 99% certain the picture is Sgurr an fhidlier on Ben Mhor Coigach, viewed from Bein an Eion.'

A Russian cruise-liner full of German tourists is anchored just off the town of Ullapool.

Not one of our highest mountains at 2009 feet above sea level, but a well-known one nonetheless.

Taken in the late 1970s.

Bridge of Gairn north of Braemar. Thanks to Simon Fletcher for pointing me to the map...

Bridge of Gairn on the map.

Photographed in 1986. As far as I can remember this was facing east towards Glen Coe and the mountain Buachaille Etive Mór.

On the north coast of Scotland near Durness. The path into the cave turns into an elevated wooden walkway. It may be possible to sail deeper into the cave in a small boat.

Inside Smoo Cave, looking out. The wooden walkway is visible in the dim light coming from the hole in the roof of the cave.

This picture and the two of Smoo Cave were photographed in 1988.

The Ardnamurchan peninsula is the westernmost part of mainland Britain. It is considerably more peaceful than England's West Country. From Salen, take the B8007, a narrow single-track road with passing places.

One of countless sea lochs on Scotland's Atlantic coast. Blue skies, rugged rocks, sheltered waters, and brown seaweed on the shore. A crab's eye view through a wide angle lens.

Continuing the theme, but with the lens facing the light. The stones in the foreground are adorned with barnacles. The tiny tidal islands have ancient stunted trees.

Looking across the loch to the Ardnish peninsula. The sunlight throws the bumpy hillsides into sharp relief.

Grass and seaweed grow side by side here at the tidal fringes. This is a close-up view of the rocks as seen two pictures above. The geological strata reveals an S-shaped fold.

West of Ullapool, at the other side of Loch Broom from Rhue lighthouse. The land is causing the moisture-laden air to rise up and its water vapour condenses into a cloud which stretches eastwards before evaporating again.

Guiding sailors into Loch Broom and Ullapool from Stornoway and further afield. Low clouds obscure the tops of Coigach.

On the Morar peninsula which is split by Loch Morar running east-west along its length. Mallaig is at the end of the railway line and the ferry across the Sound of Sleat to Skye. Arisaig is at the western end of South Morar and is much more tranquil.

This is a view just above the village of Elgol at the southern end of Skye. From here you can sail into the heart of the mountains.

On the east side of the island. The next picture is from the same vantage point...

The basalt columns make the cliffs resemble a kilt, hence the name.

The Cuillin Hills as seen from Portree.

The footpath to the geological curiosity that is the Quirain, at the north end of Skye on the Trotternish peninsula.

Looking up toward the cliffs to the west.

The precipitous footpath continues up the scree slope and onto the top of one of the pinnacles.

A view south from the footpath to the Quirain.

The Sound of Raasay is the stretch of water between Skye and the smaller islands of Rona and Raasay. This is looking south from near Kilt Rock, pictured above.

Photographed by Harry Henniker.

This is from the back cover of my brother Harry's book 101 Mountain-Bike Routes in Scotland (ISBN 1 85158 936 8). Harry took the picture using his camera's self-timer.

A few miles north of Ullapool on the A835. Beyond Isle Martin and the sea loch (Loch Kanaird) rises the rocky mass of Coigach. The beach here is made from flat, white stones.

From the same viewpoint as the previous photo but facing west. The late afternoon sunshine is still quite strong but there's a rain shower in the distance. The sea sparkles and glitters in the sunlight.

This time I turned the camera the other way to photograph the holiday cottages between the beach and the road. A rowing boat is moored at the top of the beach. Fluffy white clouds drift across the blue sky.

A variation on Ardmair 03.

Slioch is the name of the mountain at the other (north east) side of Loch Maree. This is the first of several photographs of the Beinn Eighe Nature Reserve. The birch trees in the foreground are part of the reserve and are quite close to the A832 road near Kinlochewe.

There are two trails accessible from the car park beside Loch Maree. Further up the Woodland Trail the birch trees give way to Scots Pine, pictured here. This area is a surviving fragment of the ancient Caledonian forest.

The Mountain Trail climbs up the white quartzite rock to 550 metres (1800 feet) and the way is marked with cairns. The path has steps at the steepest parts. Some sloping areas have been cut with a diamond-bladed Stihl saw. Good boots and a change of clothing are advised. This view looks down to Loch Maree.

Conservation Cairn marks the top of the Mountain Trail. From here, on a clear day, 31 tops over 915 metres (3000 feet) can be seen - but today it's rather hazy and we can see only a few miles.

There are many tiny lochans up on the plateau. Four mountain peaks are reflected in the calm surface of this one, and there are still large patches of snow in late April.

A small cairn (about 1 metre high) stands beside this lochan, marking the path. The Mountain Path symbol has been cut into a rock embedded in the cairn.

Lunar Loch is the name given to this lochan to mark man's landing on the Moon on 21st July 1969. This area does resemble a lunar landscape as the rocky surface is largely devoid of life.

A retreating glacier has left this 'erratic' here. This is a large boulder of reddish Torridonian sandstone contrasting with the grey-white quartzite formed from sediments laid down in shallow tropical seas. The sandstone was originally up to 7000 metres thick when Scotland was south of the equator.

The Mountain Trail follows a clockwise circular route. On the way down is this Scots Pine tree known as Lone Pine. This tree was a seedling before the Union of Scotland and England in 1707. (Scotland and England were on opposite sides of the Iapetus Ocean until 400 million years ago when they finally collided!)

Further north, near the A837 road south of Inchnadamph, are the Bone Caves where bone fragments of brown bear, arctic fox, reindeer and lynx were found. Hundreds of pairs of reindeer antlers were also found, dating from 8000 years ago.

Pictured here is one of the caves, carved by water through the limestone rock. A well-worn path leads the way along the steep slope to the cave entrance.

As can be seen, the cave entrance is an arch just over two metres high. At the right of the picture is the footpath leading up here.

Inside the same cave, looking out. There is another extensive cave system a few kilometres further north in the Traligill River valley east of Inchnadamph.

Cul Mór is one of the mountains within Inverpolly Nature Reserve. This is the view down its rocky east slope towards Loch Veyatie and Cam Loch. The A835 road is visible at the right of the photograph. The foreground is boulder-strewn but grass can still be seen.

Higher up and the boulders are everywhere. There's no obvious path here but there are occasional cairns marking the way up the ridge. This view is to the south.

Suilven can be seen about six kilometres to the north in this photograph. The more distant peaks are Quinag, ten kilometres further away. At the right of the picture the western slope of Canisp is just visible.

This shows the footpath from Badrallach to Carnach on the northern shore of this sea loch.

A close-up shot of a very attractive bright green beetle with white spots and red legs. This creature was flying short distances along the path. Thanks to DavidAC for identifying it as a Green Tiger Beetle (cicindela campestris).

Nearer Scoraig the path curves north round the rocky outcrop called Creag á Chadha. This view south shows where the path crosses the crags. In the distance can be seen Sail Mhor at the other side of the loch.

This is the view west out towards the mouth of the loch and the open sea. At the extreme right of the picture, the path to the community of Scoraig is just visible. There is no road here; you must walk, or travel by boat (or helicopter).

Looking down from Creag á Chadha into the blue waters. Trees down at the water's edge are catching the April sunshine.

Zoomed in on one of the Silver Birch trees.

Photographed from Rhue near Ullapool.

The footpath from the north east corner of Loch Lurgainn climbs up this slope on the way to Loch an Doire Dhuibh. Two small Scots Pine trees stand out against a blue sky with fluffy little clouds.

The same footpath, a little further on. The ridge of Suilven is now plainly visible about nine kilometres north, behind the lower western slopes of Cul Mór just over two kilometres away. A puddle reflects the blue sky.

Suilven seen from the opposite side, much closer up. This is the footpath from Lochinver to Ledmore. There is a way up onto the ridge by a col east of Caisteal Liath apparently, but the path to it from this path is not obvious, being marked only by a barely discernable cairn of about two stones.

A more classic view of Suilven, as seen from the same footpath as in the previous photo, but closer to Lochinver. The rocky surface is Lewisian gneiss, ancient rocks formed three billion years ago. Suilven is Torridonian sandstone created by giant rivers. This layer (up to seven kilometres thick) was eroded to leave mountains such as Suilven and Slioch.

A general view showing numerous distant peaks.

Clouds are gathering in the evening sky but the sun is shining here and there, particularly on Ullapool and the snowy plateau in the distance.

The same photograph but cropped to achieve a tighter composition for a more dramatic effect.

Looking west across Loch Clair. The eastern end of the Liathach ridge, Stuc a Choire Dhuibh Bhig towers into the clouds. A shaft of evening sunlight shines down on the loch. To the east of Liathach is Beinn Eighe, separated from it by Coire Dubh.

This path starts next to the car park on the A896 (a single track road with passing places from Kinlochewe to Torridon). It leads to Coire Mhic Nobuil and Beinn Alligin, or if you fork right at the cairn, to Loch Coire Mhic Fhearchair. In this picture Liathach is on the left and Beinn Eighe is on the right.

Further along the path and Beinn Dearg appears in the distance. The path is part of the Beinn Eighe Nature Reserve which, in turn, is part of the Torridon area in care of the National Trust for Scotland.

This part of the path is about 200 metres higher than the start and 3 or 4 kilometres further on. This area is the watershed for the burn called Allt a Choire Dhuibh Mhoir which flows through the glen called Coire Dubh, through which the path also passes.

The cairn marks the fork in the path, mentioned on page 8. The path to the right begins to climb Sail Mhor, Beinn Eighe's most westerly peak.

The path now climbs about 180M and curves round to the right in a semi-circle for about another 2KM. It consists in many places of large stepping stones.

The path steepens and after passing waterfalls on the left, reaches this stunning landscape. The views in all directions are quite magnificent.

From the same viewpoint as the picture above but facing east across the rim of the loch. This is Ruadh-stac Mor (1010m). Only experienced climbers should continue beyond this point.

A view of the loch's crystal-clear waters, with the Triple Buttress of Beinn Eighe towering above. (pronounced loch corry vik ericher)

Another shot of the Triple Buttress. The gully to the right is strewn with the remains of a Lancaster bomber, commemorated by a plaque at the summit of Coinneach Mhor.

Numerous mountain peaks can be seen from the path on the return journey. This one is 7 or 8 km to the west. The lochans in the middle distance are called Lochan Carn na Feola and are about 2 km away. To the right of Baosbheinn can be seen the southern slopes of Beinn an Eoin.

The return path to the car park mentioned on page 8 gives the walker another chance to marvel at the northern buttresses of Liathach.

The more gentle SW slopes of Beinn Eighe, reflected in this tiny lochan beside the path returning to the A896 car park. The snowy white scree is quartzite rock.

This path starts from a pony trail beside the A832 one kilometre northwest of Kinlochewe. It's a more gentle climb into the Beinn Eighe Nature Reserve than the steep path which begins further northwest on the shores of Loch Maree.

Further up the hill and a deer fence crosses the path. Very little vegetation can grow on the bare white quartzite rock - and it's necessary to restrict the movement of red deer in the nature reserve.

Once up on the plateau, many more mountains come into view. The burn (stream) in the distance is called Allt Toll a Ghiubhais and the peak to its right is Ruadh-stac Beag. White tufts of cotton grass are sprouting from one of the countless tiny lochans.

There is no visible path across this boulder-strewn landscape at the base of Meall a Ghubhais to the path beside Conservation Cairn but it's worth the walk. This view faces east over the lochans called Loch Allt an Daraich.

Down at the water's edge. Slioch (981m) is visible in the distance at the other side of Loch Maree, which is hidden from view.

The clear water reflects the blue skies and white clouds. Green pond weed grows under the surface. The quartzite rocks are tinged by the peaty tint of the water.

Near the little summit called Leathad Buidhe (560m) on top of which is Conservation Cairn. White boulders are interspersed with heather. Near here you can join the path past Lunar Loch (page 5), which leads down to the Nature Reserve car park. (Turn left to take the less steep path.)

April 2003. Beinn Eighe Nature Reserve. The sun burned off the low cloud and mist but not before we stumbled (almost) into this little toad on the footpath in Coire Dubh, west of Kinlochewe between Liathach and Beinn Eighe.

This is the footpath further on, having turned right at the cairn-marked fork in the path. Up ahead can be seen the waterfall at the rim of the Loch, and beyond that, the misty bulk of Ruadh-stac Mor 1010M high.

The view over the lip of the waterfall seen from the back. There are stepping stones across the source of the burn Alt Coire Mhic Fhearchair. This is the only viable way to go on because of the scree at the west side of the loch.

And this is the scree referred to above, photographed across the glassy calm of the loch.

A wide-angle view of the mirror surfaced crystal clear waters, looking west past Sail Mhor towards Beinn Dearg in the distance.

Zoomed in on Carn na Feola and Stuc Loch na Cabhaig reflected in the loch's surface. Both peaks are part of Beinn Dearg.

The lingering mist, rays of sunshine and patches of snow emphasise the dramatic nature of these ancient mountains.

The camera has been panned left from the previous picture, showing the base of the triple buttress.

Photographed from the same little promontory as the picture above but facing back towards the rim at the north end of the loch, where one or two walkers are on the move. In the distance are Beinn an Eoin and Beinn a Chearcaill.

The object in the foreground is part of a Lancaster bomber which crashed here on 13th March 1951. Other plane parts are still scattered around this area.

Zoomed in on the scree-chute path which leads out of the corrie and onto the ridge between Coinneach Mhor and Ruadh-stac Mhor. Only experienced hill walkers should proceed beyond this point.

Beinn Eighe's white quartzite scree spills down into Coire Dubh. The large split rock in the foreground is close to the footpath which leads from the A896 car park to Loch Coire Mhic Fhearchair.

A vantage point further south-east gives a more direct view of the scree in the previous photo.

If you drive west along Glen Torridon on the A896 (single-track with passing places) then you'll reach another car park beside the western end of the footpath connecting Coire Mhic Nobuill and Coire Dubh Mor. Cross the road bridge over the burn to get to the start of the path. The bridge shown here is just before the path forks left for Beinn Alligin.

If you're climbing Tom na Gruagaich at the south west of Beinn Alligin then you'll likely pass this rocky plateau - whether you come directly up from the car park on the left side of the road bridge, or go further upstream in search of a less steep start. Beinn Damh and other mountains can be seen in the distance south of Loch Torridon.

This is the path up Tom na Gruagaich just above the rocky plateau in the previous picture. The intermittent track leads to the top of the corrie Coir nan Laogh and the summit at 904M.

Looking east across Coire Mhic Nobuill we can see Liathach including The Pinnacles. Just to the left, in the distance, is Beinn Eighe.

This is the view to the east from further up the corrie. The camera has been zoomed in on Beinn Eighe. Its nearest peak Sail Mhor is hidden in cloud. In the foreground are Tom na Gruagaich's steep rocky slopes at the west side of Coir nan Laogh.

From the summit of Tom na Gruagaich you must descend to this ridge if you intend to walk to Beinn Alligin's highest summit Sgurr Mhor at 986M. Cloud partially obscures the way ahead, making it risky for the inexperienced.

The sun shines on Sgurr Mhor and the Horns of Alligin further to the east. Weather permitting, experienced walkers and scramblers can traverse the entire ridge.

Zoomed in on the three Horns of Alligin.

Coming back down from Tom na Gruagaich to the car park. This is the most direct route but is quite steep. The ladder helps you get over the deer fence.

Several kilometres to the east, above Loch Maree, a National Nature Reserve Trail snakes its way across the quartzite rock from Leathad Buidhe, past several lochans. Photograph taken from Meall a Ghiubhais.

The northern ridge of Creag Dhubh looms out of the mist beyond the deer fence at Doire Daraich.

A few yards to the north is this second gate in the deer fence, previously photographed on a sunnier morning. (Meall a Ghiubhais is pronounced 'mel a yuvay')

Up on the plateau we can see the low cloud swirling about Beinn Eighe. From left to right the three peaks are Creag Dhubh, Sgurr Ban and Ruadh-stac Beag.

Despite the bare white quartzite rock and extreme weather, nature - on a small scale - does well here. This little unidentified mushroom / toadstool was about 3cm tall, growing on a patch of moss.

About 2cm across, this little flower was growing in the same area north of Creag Dhubh. Thanks to DavidAC for identifying it: It's 'dactylorhiza maculata' = 'heath spotted-orchid', also known as 'moor spotted-orchid'.

Frogs and/or toads were leaping about the ground everywhere we walked. They varied in size from 2cm to 7cm. This one found a pool between the rocks, and paused long enough for me to take a photograph.

In the same pool was this newt. The land here is about 500m above sea level and 58 degrees north.

Zoomed in to show more detail of Shieldaig on its own little peninsula. There is also Shieldaig Island.

A view of this sea loch on the north side of the Applecross Peninsula.

Glen Grudie runs south from Loch Maree and the deer-stalkers' path gives good access deep into the mountains with excellent views of the north side of Beinn Eighe. The two mist-capped peaks visible here are Ruadh-stac Mor and Sail Mhor.

Looking east , down over Allt a Choire Bhriste. We meant to climb Beinn a Chearcail but low cloud and gales made us turn back at the top of Choire Briste.

Back on the stalkers' path and heading straight for Ruadh-stac Mor and Sail Mhor, with Ruadh-stac Beag just visible on the left.

Further south along the path which climbs slightly up the eastern edge of Beann a Chearcail before descending again below the cliffs called Creag na Feola.

Onward into the wilderness. Ruadh-stac Mhor is cloud-free but Beinn Eighe's other peaks are covered. In the distance on the left can be seen the River Grudie's two tributaries, Allt Coire Ruadh-staca and Allt Coire Mhic Fhearchair, sparkling in the sunshine.

The path stretches on ahead, passing below Crag na Feola and getting ever nearer to Coire Mhic Fhearchair which lies between the twin peaks.

A tiny sundew plant which has caught several insects - probably midges.

The path heading east, back to the A832 and Loch Maree. Slioch is the mountain on the right, 980m above sea level.

This part of the path is about 600m above sea level, leaving another 374m to climb to Ben Lomond's summit. The well worn path is clearly defined.

The view south from higher up shows the path busy with walkers on this sunny July day, as well as Loch Lomond and about a dozen of its islands.

The path skirts a rocky outcrop, just south of the summit.

The summit as seen facing north from the rocky outcrop above.

The view down to the A82 road on the western shore of Loch Lomond.

The Cobbler, the overhanging summit of Ben Arthur is in the distance on the right in this picture taken from lower down on the path.

Back down amongst the woodland above Rowardennan at Loch Lomond side.

Ben Ledi is in The Trossachs, part of the Southern Highlands, near to the town of Callander. This is the view from the path below Creag Gorm looking down to the southern end of Loch Lubnaig and the Pass of Leny.

The summit at 879m is not quite a munro. This is the summit as seen from the ridge a little further to the north.

From the summit looking east to Callander. On the horizon can be seen the faint outline of the Ochil Hills with Dumyat standing slightly to the right.

Taken from Meall Odhar just south of the main summit. The view west shows countless mountain peaks around the Loch Lomond area.

Back down amongst the trees near Corriechrombie at the southern tip of Loch Lubnaig.

Emerging from the trees onto the smooth, black tarmac complete with double-yellow lines is quite a jolt to the senses. We parked in a layby on the A84, 5 minutes away.

Looking back at the scene in the previous picture from the bailey bridge which crosses the River Leny

From the David Marshal Lodge Visitor Centre at Aberfoyle are three marked walks: Waterfall Trail, Oak Coppice Trail and the Highland Boundary Fault Trail. There is also part of the National Cycle Network and this sculpture by Jon Mills commemorates this.

The Fault Trail takes you almost to the top of a 305m hill. There are information boards on the way, describing the complex geology. This is a view from the path back towards the Visitor Centre.

There is an old limestone quarry near the top of the hill, a pleasant picnic spot with wild flowers such as these.

Looking back down the summit path with the quarry to the left. Further down on the right the path joins a main trail used by walkers and mountain bikers.

From the summit of this small hill are some excellent views including this one with Ben Lomond's summit visible in the distance.

Not far from Aberfoyle is this 727m (2391ft) hill which, although not one of the Trossachs' higher peaks, is an excellent viewpoint for much of the area. In this view from near the summit Loch Katrine is below and numerous peaks can be seen to the west and north.

The main path back down to the Loch Achray Hotel carpark passes through these trees before crossing a felled area ahead.

The Forestry Commision use a heavy duty chain with welded links to prevent unauthorised vehicles passing beyond this point.

The path to The Cobbler, real name Ben Arthur.

Near Perth. (The remaining Kinnoul Hill views have no comments.)