Old pine stump relections at Loch Mallachie sunset

Mallachie Pine

An old pine standing in the bog in the (very) squelchy edge of Loch Mallachie, Strathspey, glowing in golden sunset colours.

Aheny River, Co Kerry, Ireland

Aheny River

A gorge and small waterfall on the Aheny River, inland from the charming town of Kenmare.  I loved this wee spot with the oak trees overhanging the gorge.

Alder Branch and snow

Alder branch against snow, banks of the river Spey, Dalfaber, Aviemore A simple silhouette, but I love the blue colour of the snow shadows, taken on a wee wander along the riverbank.  As we move into mid-February the increase in light is becoming quite noticeable, and very welcome! Thanks to one of my correspondents for […]

In the woods

Rothiemurchus woods, evening light Just before sunset in the Rothiemurchus pine woods, in the background is a small loch filling a deep hollow, full of reeds. I loved the intense colours with the low sun. This week’s quote basically says that caring for our planet is caring for ourselves – a message which is at […]

Crescent moon and afterglow, midwinter

Crescent moon and sunset afterglow, midwinter. Taken while cross-country skiing out in the woods near Aviemore. Although it was long after sunset (about mid-afternoon…) the sky was bright and the snow reflecting the pinks and purples lit my way home. The Highlands have been in a Scandinavian weather system all week, with temperatures down to […]

Reflection in Blue

Reflection in blue – Craigellachie National Nature Reserve. A perfect blue sky reflecting in the lochan, with just a few floating leaves… and no wind! A few thoughts on Nature and appreciation this week… “Nature never did betray the Heart that loved her.” – Wordsworth. “Fresh beauty opens one’s eyes wherever it is really seen, […]

cairngorms – First Snow

Cairngorms and Rothiemurchus from Craigellachie Well, after a stormy weekend of gales and rain and wild conditions, this morning dawned bright (albeit chilly…).  The reason for the chill was soon visible – the first fresh snow of the season on the Cairngorms. “For many people, coming back into relationship with nature and the universe – […]

Jura and Scarba from storm-lashed rocks.

Jura (far distance) and Scarba from storm-lashed rocks. How energetically cleansing it is to be surrounded by such a “fresh” sea… “After you have exhausted what there is in business, politics, conviviality, and so on – have found that none of these finally satisfy, or permanently wear – what remains? Nature remains.” – Walt Whitman, […]

Lady’s Mantle Raindrops

Raindrops on Lady’s Mantle After a few days last week being the hottest place in the country, we’re probably the coldest now, with fresh snow well down the hills last night. The leaves of Lady’s mantle are coated in fine hairs giving it a silvery appearance.  This fine down also holds raindrops, great for artistic […]

Winter Sparkle

Deep Freeze Haze, Loch Vaa, Strathspey How beautiful its been for us this week – minus 8 or so, sunshine, mist, and no wind.   These gnarly old trees, in a deep frost-hollow, were sparkling with natural fairy lights as the sun refracted through millions of ice-drops. Light and dark, the raw ingredients of photography – […]

Autumnal Birch leaf

Birch Leaf Our Birch trees have started to turn colour this last week or so.  Here’s one catching the sun along the riverbank, starting to turn. “Look deep, deep, deep into nature, and then you will understand everything.” – Albert Einstein “When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to […]

Braeriach Sunset

Braeriach Sunset, Cairngorm Mountains. The cold spell continued this week with beautiful clear days and fantastic sunsets casting pink onto the snowy mountains. “All nature does is to continually remind itself who it is. Everything in nature, all of the landscape, trees, rivers, rocks, earth, and mountains are repeating who they are over and over […]