Eilean Glas Lighthouse on the island of Scalpay is a gem. Tower of red and white gloss painted brickwork surrounded by dishevelled outbuildings and a huge rusty fog horn. It lies north west of the northern most top of Skye protecting shipping from the turbulent Minch waters.
North Harris Scotland is another slice of nice. Rainbows, rain and sunshine bring out so much definition in landscape photography. A bridge in the east links to Scalpay, an island of around 300 people that includes the lighthouse at Eilan Glas. More photography of that soon.
On leaving the campsite on Isle of Harris Scotland I noticed someone waiting for a bus, so I offered a lift. One of many pleasures of rural Scottish highlands is be friendly and you get friendly. They love to share the island and the culture with you.
Hebridean weather is driven by the jetsteam and prevailing south west atlantic winds. I experienced many changes from sunshine, howling horizontal rain, oodles of rainbows then beautiful sunshine – within an hour. Photography becomes a waiting game, but unlike most places it changes quickly so you often get your wish many times in one day.
You think Photography is easy? This location proves it isn’t. Walking this Harris beach jolts your senses and herein lies the problem. Its not about bagging a winning shot, but more a fear, a feeling of what you have to lose if you fail. The goal is the next shot, never more than that. Luskentyre (headland fort, disappeared) is often voted best beach in Scotland/UK/Europe/world. I understand why.
You are alone on this beach. Yet sounds of waves crash on the shoreline, winds whistle your ears and the views..oh the scenery. And smell, yes the salty fresh and sweet odours ream the nostrils clean. Take your shoes off – feel the sand, squeeze grains between toes, scrunched satisfyingly underfoot. Alone, but never lonely. Mother nature has your hand. (more…)
Forsooth Miss Haversham, these lands do give me the vapours. Its taken too long to reach the Outer Hebrides, and oh boy it was worth it. Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) runs many ferries to Scotland’s Outer and Inner Hebrides. The Outer Hebrides are a collection of 100 islands off Scotland’s north west coast of which only 15 are inhabited. I visited in November 2016 to tour, camp and photograph the views and detail of Harris and Lewis in the north. I drove up to Uig on Skye for the ferry to Tarbert which lies on Harris just south of Lewis. Confusingly they are different regions of the largest island. Harris is very rocky with many hills while Lewis is more gentle, lower level and marshy.
In November I visited Harris and Lewis on a photography tour. They are part of the Outer Hebrides lying on the north west coast of Scotland. I had planned to travel the group of islands from Vatersay then through the Uists onto Harris and Lewis. However it became clear during planning how large these islands are. In the past I considered backpacking or cycling, but as summer melted into autumn then blown away by winter so I choose motorised transport.