Argyll and Bute

Mood, rain, light, colour - and an incredible feeling of excitement when all the elements came together...

Sunset at Castle Stalker, Loch Linnhe

Scotland

SCOTLAND 2012 - Loch Awe

One of the most photographed castles in Scotland and so difficult to get a different perspective on it, this is my latest, through the morning mist.

Standing at the head of Loch Awe on what is today a low, rocky mound, but which, in medieval times, was an island, Kilchurn Castle was built, probably, around 1440 by Margaret, wife of Sir Colin Campbell, first Laird of Glenorchy. This original 5-storey keep, later extensively improved and extended, was to be well-tested in battle it was used to garrison Hanoverian troops in the tumultuous days of the Jacobite Risings.

Scotland

Bowmore, Islay

The River Avich flows about 1 mile down the steep glacial valley of Loch Awe from Loch Avich and the falls are near the foot of the gully. There are several falls but the main one is of three cascades crossing open rocks. The falls are in the Inverliever Forest of the Barnaline estate near to the village of Dalavich in Argyll and Bute Scotland.

Islay, Scotland

Barcaldine Castle, located on the shores of Loch Creran with spectacular views to the snow-capped mountains of Glencoe. The castle has a mixed history but was built originally by Sir Duncan Campbell of Glenorchy between 1601 and 1609, and In 1692 the castle was attacked during the massacre of Glencoe. The castle fell into disrepair in the later part of the 19th century but was again restored between 1897-1911. The castle today not only offers B&B but also the chance for guests and Ghost Hunters (if lucky) to catch a glimpse of Donald Campbell, the Laird of Barcaldine who was brutally murdered inside the castle in the 1600s.

Lismore is a rare outcrop of limestone in the geology of the West Coast of Scotland, in the early 19th century the stone was quarried for profit, being burned in limekilns and shipped out in locally owned smacks for agricultural lime and building mortar. The remnants of limekilns and associated works are scattered around the Island, varying in size from a single kiln to the industrial centre here at Sailean. Lime was being worked in this part of the island by 1826, and continued into the 1930s. most of the buildings at Sailean are 19th century. The buildings at Sailean served a sizeable operation and workforce, and included a Manager’s Office, Worker’s Cottages and a shop next to a Cottage on the pier. Some of the houses were inhabited in living memory. In the far top right of the photo can be seen in the distance “Glensanda Quarry” Europe’s largest quarry and ships out some 7 million tonnes of Granite each year.

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Nice crisp winters morning at Loch Awe and Kilchurn Castle. First time I've managed to get out in all of December, on a trip with some friends, Loch Awe was the first stop of the day.

Chateau Kilchurn Castle

Spent some time around Loch Tulla, Glen Etive and Glencoe yesterday. Quite happy with the results of the trip so far!

Not a lockdown Library image as such but this is over 3 years old and hadn't been touched on the hard drive... apart from liking the actual image, given the current situation we all find ourselves in it seemed very apt to post it now, newer images can maybe wait for a while.

About as an extreme isolation location as you could want, a tiny little Island in a sea loch, with your own Castle to hide away in, away from it all....

This is of course Castle Stalker looking out across the sea to the Isle of Mull, I'd spent several hours along here shooting some fantastic light and had got carried away with the 'golden' images only for this one (from after the sunset) to be completely overlooked, to my mind now I actually prefer this one to the others.

It was freezing cold this February evening and as you can see there wasn't a ripple to be seen which certainly isn't usually the case here, the long exposure being used to take the clouds and really punchy colour right across the sky.

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The Bridge was constructed originally as a Railway Bridge and opened in 1903 to replace the Old Ferry crossing, and when completed was the largest cantilever span of any other railway bridge in Great Britain aside from the Forth Bridge. The bridge crosses the Falls of Lora, a rocky shelf which causes spectacular rapids during the tide cycle. After the railway line closed in 1966, the bridge was converted for the exclusive use of road vehicles and pedestrians.

Built between 1932 and 1958, St Columba’s Cathedral is the principal church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Argyll and the Isles. It was built in a neo-Gothic style of highly distinctive pink Peterhead and blue Inverawe granite. The Bell Tower soars above the cathedral which is located on the sea front at the northern end of Oban creating a distinctive landmark for vessels arriving or departing from the Port.

Clach Thoull (hole in the rock) a Natural Geo - logical rock Arch created when the Sea level was much higher than it is today can be found near to Port Appin in Argyll Scotland where a shoreline track winds it’s way round a outcrop of land between the waters of the “Lynn of Lorn” and Lovely “Airds Bay” It is a pleasant circular walk affording some lovely views of “Loch Linnhe”, the “Isle of Lismore” and the distant “Morvern Hills” to the west.

Islay, Scotland

The mountains of Beinn Dorain, Beinn an Dothaidh, Glas Bheinn and Beinn Achaladair can be seen off in the distance from the banks of Loch Dochard

Iona Abbey is located on the Isle of Iona, just off the Isle of Mull on the West Coast of Scotland. It is one of the oldest and most important religious centres in Western Europe.

Islay, Scotland

The Round Church stands in a magnificent location at the head of the village of Bowmore's Main Street. From here it dominates the village and offers views down the centre of Main Street to Loch Indaal and beyond. Folklore suggests that the circular design was intended to ensure that the devil could find no corners in which to hide. The Church was built between 1767/69.

Standing on a rocky outcrop and commanding panoramic views over Lismore and the Firth of Lorn, Tirefour Broch is an impressive and well-preserved Iron Age broch. The wall rises to over 10 foot for most of its length, and in one place survives to a height of 16 foot. This iron-age broch dates back 2000 years; once the walls would have been 15 metres high as well as 3 metres thick. The spectacular setting adds greatly to its appeal. The rising mist on the hill to the right is "Port Appin:

Nice crisp winters morning at Loch Awe and Kilchurn Castle

Castle Stalker is picturesquely set on Loch Laich a tidal islet off Loch Linnhe near to Port Appin Scotland. The islet is accessible from the shore at low tide. The Castle is one of the best-preserved medieval Tower-Houses in western Scotland

Explore #8 04/03/17

Following on from the last image again at Castle Stalker at sunset, this one was a while after the last image with the sunset in full swing the sun just about to drop behind the horizon at the side of the now almost sillhouetted castle, after the day of weather that had proceeded this there was no way in the world that I expected to get any colour from the sunset let alone this performance which seemingly appeared out of nothing, the thick all day long clouds parting at just the right time to let the glorious late light come pouring through, it was quite a wait to see if anything was going to happen here but so glad I stuck it out, and lets face it there are a lot worse places to be waiting around in!

I'll probably post 1 or 2 more from here as the after glow from the sunset was stunning as well during blue hour, allowing for some very colourful and unsual long exposure images.

I'd really like to get over to that Castle one day and have a look around, for me there's something about islands that makes me want to visit them, probably as they usually look so inaccesible, I imagine anyone trying to attack this Castle in years gone by would have really had their work cut out !!

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The small stream of “Eas an Diblidh” flows down the hillside of “Coille Mheadhonach” in Glen Creran, Scotland, to eventually flow under the “Fairy Bridge” creating not only the waterfall but the chance to walk over and admire this magical Fairytale Structure beautifully created by………and there the story ends, as I have no information of Who or When it was built, best leave it as a mystery……..

A panoramic view up Loch Etive with "Ben Starav" (3285ft) on the right and "Buachaille Etive Beag" (3029) and "Buachaille Etive Mor" (3345ft) in the middle. A wonderful scene and a wonderful walk to capture them.

Beinn Udlaidh rises above this apparently abandoned dwelling in Glen Orchy

The 31Km “Loch Etive” is one of the most attractive lochs in Scotland. It is surrounded by wild countryside and high towering mountains, this photo taken from near “Cadderlie Bothy” on the west side looks across the loch towards “Ben Starav” (3285ft) in the foreground to “Stob Dubh” (2897ft) in the distance on the east side.

In between Christmas and New Year I made an attempt to get to a location near the Clashgour estate near Loch Tulla, unfortunately after walking 5k I got to a spot where a bridge I needed to cross no longer existed and with the river being in a fierce spate I decided to turn back, this is the view of the munros in the title as I headed back along the banks of the Abhainn Shira river defeated but already deciding to return and attempt a different approach!

Kilchurn Castle reflected on Loch Awe. This is the view from the railway line at the back of the Loch Awe Hotel.