Tag: sand

  • Leaving Harris and Lewis

    Final frames from my first visit to Harris and Lewis in November 2016. There are lots of pre-trip processes I do mainly around maps which I love. Ordinance Survey Explorer paper maps kickstarted my love of the outdoors. In Cubs I learned map reading. In Geography I learned mapping countours and detail. Aged 15 I learned route planning as my friends and I and cycled Scotland’s Youth Hostels. So now I start with a map and write notes on it before I go and update with what I found. “Great rock formations”, “Sea stacks”, “Great hot chocolate” all make for useful information. And i will return to these islands.

    Tarbert Stores, Harris

     

    Seaweed

     

    Leaving Tarbert

     

    “Coat of Arms” beach

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  • Lewis beach – Bosta

    This Lewis beach, Bosta, is not only a lovely white beach on Great Bernera. It was also a farmed area in Iron Age / Pictish times with settlements. A reconstruction of an Iron Age house opens on warmer months.

    Isles of Bearasaigh and Seanna Chnoc

     

    Dislodged Seaweed Root

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  • Isle of Lewis Beaches – Mealasta & Mangersta

    Storm passes on the Isle of Lewis beaches Mealasta and Mangersta. It’s a wild coastline exposed to Altlantic ocean and storms, yet still the sun shone. I was lucky to experience changing weather systems as beach transitioned from sunshine to rain/sleet/storm/sunset.

    Stormy Mangersta beach
    Rain frozen in frame with sun on a Stormy Mangersta beach

     

    Blue and yellow
    Blue and yellow

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  • Scarista Beach Scotland

    Lets go to another Scottish beach because you must. Beach visits refresh the parts other environments fail to reach. Sarista Beach Scotland is on the west coast of Harris and despite this overcast November day, interesting views were all around. I’m often taken with the small geography of the sand, how the wind shapes it, how the plants inhabit and shape sand too. Be sure to see me doing Maths on the Beach™ at the end of the article.

    Beach detail

     

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  • Harris Beach – Luskentyre

    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.

    Luskentyre bay at sunset
    Luskentyre bay at sunset

     

    Harris beach - Luskentyre
    Harris beach – Luskentyre

    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…)

  • Camusdarach beach shoreline

    This beach is on Scotland’s north-west coastline and was the location for the wonderful movie Local Hero. On this visit the weather was dreich, as a gloomy low pressure system lingered all day. I love coastlines and can easily spend a whole day wandering along the beach and rocks because there is always something interesting to shoot. Texture, movement, colour and light. Long beaches can also aid dramatic compositions, unlike woodland.

     


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