September morning reflections, Loch an Eilein, Strathspey

September Morning

Golden September Morning, Loch an Eilein We often have the best ‘summer’ weather late on, in September.  Its the classic time of early morning mist, golden sunny warmth, and chill evenings.  Here in Scotland we’ve enjoyed a few such days this week. This is early morning at one of my favourite places. The thick mist […]

Spring day at Loch Vaa

Loch Vaa Spring

Spring Day, Loch Vaa A perfect April day – after a frosty start it turned bright and sparkly, the forest around the loch thick with fresh resinous pine scent in the warm sunshine.  Fish were jumping, ducks and geese busy making a clamour – everything seemed to be stretching out to enjoy the sun and […]

sunset looking south over badenoch from Torr Alvie, Aviemore, Scotland

Badenoch from Torr Alvie

Looking south over Badenoch, from Torr Alvie, near Aviemore Torr Alvie is a wonderfully mysterious hill, rising up in the middle of the valley, covered in ancient natural forest (an open mix of birch, oak, beech, pine and juniper).  The ‘easy side’ is a long southwards slope which catches the sun, with a great view […]

Loch Morlich and wintry Cairngorm Mountains, November

Moon, Loch, Duck

Loch Morlich and Cairngorm Mountains at dusk, Cairngorms National Park After a beautiful day of sun and frost enjoying the late autumn colours, I stopped off at Loch Morlich to enjoy the afterglow reflections on the calm water (calm in contrast to the biting wind up on the mountains!)  I love the colours of the […]

Autumn birch wood in mist, craigellachie NNR Aviemore, Scotland

Blue and Gold

Birch Gold, Craigellachie National Nature Reserve, Aviemore There’s been no photography this week, with ongoing gales, rain and storms, so here’s another image from that spectacular morning this time last year.  Its all about being in the right place at the right time – as the mist swirled and cleared, and suddenly the sun shone […]

River Dulnain, strathspey, scotland

Strath Dulnain

The River Dulnain, upper reaches of Strath Dulnain, near Carrbridge As I write this, it looks lilke the Scottish heatwave is coming to and end as it has suddenly clouded up and started to look stormy, after two weeks of baking temperatures and cloudless days.  Here in the Cairngorms we have had temperatures of 30°C […]

waterlily, lochan mor

Water Lily

Water Lily, Lochan Mor, Strathspey Water Lilies grow in around 1 metre depth which, since I don’t have a high telephoto lens, necessitates getting wet to get closer to them, a potentially risky business whilst holding an expensive camera, ignoring the midges, and hoping not to slip…  Its also hard to stay in focus as […]

Sun and Ice

Sun and Ice, Loch an Eilein Its been an amazing week with temperatures down to -10C most nights, and some clear blue days.  Its warm in the sun, and bitter in the shade or when the wind blows!  The ice forms overnight on the loch, then breaks up under the sun and wind during the […]

Silence and Space

Loch Vaa and Ben Guilbin, Strathspey, September Here is Loch Vaa again from that perfect day a couple of weeks ago… rippling beautifully in the sunshine.  I always find that Ben Guilbin (the hill behind the loch) has a mysterious quality.  It certainly has a bit of an ‘atmosphere’ when walking there, a certain energetic […]

River Tromie

River Tromie, Strathspey Summer arrived… for one stunning weekend. Well, until the storm broke anyway.  Yesterday was perfect for just sitting by the river, taking in the sun, seeing the intense shimmer through the vibrant greens of the trees, and keeping an eye on the massive thunderclouds building up over the mountains.  The Tromie is […]

Loch an Eilein reflections

Sunset reflections, Loch an Eilein After three weeks of rain ( spiced with sleet and hail showers just for variety) the clouds cleared for a weeekend of fabulous blue skies  revealing the shining snow covered hills – gleaming whiter than a toothpaste advert.  The air was simultaneously burning and freezing, decidely ‘baltic’ at times!  After […]

Loch Mallachie

Sinking sun at Loch Mallachie, Boat of Garten, Strathspey Fingers crossed – so far November has been amazingly mild and bright, with many sunny days like today where the impulse was to ‘get out and enjoy it!’  An hour’s bike ride on the tracks through the deep quiet of the pine forest to enjoy the […]