Pentlands – Various Views and Signs

Photographed just before 5pm early in December. The sun had set but there was still some skylight and a bright full moon. Down below the slopes of Allermuir, at the right of the picture are the bright lights of the A720 city bypass as it heads below the A70 Lanark Road before curving away westwards past Wester Hailes and Sighthill.

A long lens shot taken from lower down Allermuir. At the bottom of the picture on the Edinburgh side of the Firth of Forth, the green copper rooves of the old Donaldson's School stand in front of the spires of Fettes College. The Craigkelly transmitter tower stands high above the town of Burntisland across the water over in Fife.

A clear, sunny day except for some mist and low cloud lingering over the Firth of Forth led to six long lens photos taken from Capelaw. Here, the red shale bings stand behind an industrial estate at Broxburn. The snow topped Ochil Hills rise up in the background.

The Forth road bridge stands behind Edinburgh Airport. In the clearer air higher up, wind turbines can be seen.

Low cloud obscures much of Fife but sunlight catches the Forth Bridge and North Queensferry and Inverkeithing.

A twin rotor military helicopter passes in front of the Craigkelly transmitter mast standing above Burntisland. At this side of the Firth of Forth stands the remains of Granton Gasworks.

It continues east. Below can be seen Fettes College, and further to the right the twin Gothic spires of Stewarts Melville College. A small plane flying west is at top right.

The helicopter prepares to land at Redford Barracks. Murrayfield rugby stadium is at the bottom left of the picture.

These three ships sailing up the Firth of Forth look like they're in the sky due to the long lens. Photographed from Capelaw.

The main Pentland ridge. From left to right the hills are Carnethy, Scald Law, East Kip and West Kip.

An HD widescreen wallpaper candidate. A monochrome background would show off Desktop icons rather well.

A different view of the same scene. George Watson's school and part of Morningside are visible at the bottom of the picture.

Taken a few minutes later and zoomed back to show part of the Pentlands.

This is a long lens photo from the Pentland Hills.

Zoomed in a little more on Western Harbour and the Chancelot Mill. Look for the cylindrical EICC building left of centre as well as Scottish Widows and George Watson's on the right.

In the middle distance you can see the horse shoe shaped Scottish Widows building at Morrison Street. In front of that at the foot of the photo there's a glimpse of George Watson's school and the Andrew Duncan Clinic at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital in Morningside.

In this smaller picture Inchkeith Island is left of centre. In front of that can be seen Edinburgh Castle's Esplanade and the grassy slope (light grey) leading down to Johnson Terrace. (These infrared photos were taken from Capelaw in the Pentland Hills.)

Sunny Leith! This large, wallpaper-sized infrared photo features Western Harbour, the Chancelot Flour Mill, Ocean Terminal, Persevere Court and Citadel Court in the sunshine. In the gloomier parts of the picture various Edinburgh landmarks are visible including Edinburgh Castle. It's raining in Fife.

This time it was Salisbury Crags and Arthur's Seat which got the sunshine. This is another large, wallpaper-sized picture possibly suitable for showing off your colourful desktop icons.

Arthur's Seat's vegetation glows brghtly reflecting the sunshine's infrared light. Blackford Hill is rather gloomier. The white pixels on top of Arthur's Seat are people.

The end of September 2012 and geese prepare to fly south for the winter. Fife lies beyond the Firth of Forth.

A hard frost today and no wind caused these man-made clouds to form from Grangemouth and Longannet beside the Firth of Forth.

From Capelaw looking north to Saughton Prison. Corstorphine Hill is shaded by clouds.

A long distance view through a long lens of 2½ Forth Bridges.

Due for demolition in the second half of 2015. The chimneys have become a landmark but will be gone soon.

A long lens look at the A720 Edinburgh bypass where it crosses the valley of the Water of Leith.

Also photographed from Capelaw is this new construction (September 2015).

Photographed from the lower slopes of Allermuir. Cruise liner and Edinburgh Castle.

A wider view with Leith Docks to the right of the flour mill building.

A more easterly viewpoint

The view from Castlelaw to the Forth Crossing.

Caerketton summit photographed from Allermuir

Caerketton summit photographed from Allermuir