The whole of the west Highlands was sat under the cold clear air of a winter anticyclone on this February day. I had driven up from South Yorkshire the day before, enjoying the clarity of the views over Rannoch Moor and the still air over an ice-covered Loch Ba, so I was delighted that the conditions were matched in Torridon. Exploring the islands of Loch Maree had been high on my list of trips to do, so I wasted no time in getting on the water at Slatterdale. Equipped with stove, food and camera gear, I was soon afloat. Conditions on the water were superb, barely a breath of a breeze to stir the surface of the loch and a weak winter sun shining through a haze of cloud. The scots pines on the shoreline stood out against the regiments of spruce and larch on the slopes behind. Crossing the loch to the islands I enjoyed the ease of paddling over still waters. Ahead the ridge of Beinn Airigh Charr was dusted with snow, just emerging from a blanketing mist. After a Continue Reading
Back on Loch Beinn a’Mheadhoin
The third day of my October trip to Glen Affric promised to be another good day on the water, though without the mirror calm of the start of the week. A breeze was set to pick up through the day, and cloud cover and some drizzle blow in. Arriving at my put-in at the carpark by the narrows of Loch Beinn a'Mheadhoin, the morning light was bringing out the vibrant yellows of the birch foliage. Quickly afloat, I crossed the strait to the southern shore, and found this beauty standing proud at the head of the beach. While the water wasn't as still as it had been on my visit to the loch two days before, it remained a very pleasant day to go paddling, and the light on the landscape was subtle and ever changing as the patchy cloud blew over. Along the water's edge there were many eroded pine stumps. Most, like this one, looked to have been felled, presumably with the creation of the dam. Their dead roots still gripped the rocky foreshore as time weathered the wood. I enjoyed Continue Reading
Beautiful Loch Beinn a’Mheadhoin
Glen Affric has a reputation as one of the most beautiful Scottish glens, and for several years I have wanted to explore it. This year, I was lucky to be able to do so in perfect autumn weather, just right for photography afloat. A long drive north, over the Pennines, passed the Lakes and into the Highlands saw me passing a glass-like Loch Ness, impatient to reach my destination and get on the water. Arriving at the campsite in Cannich, I quickly unloaded the car into the camping pod I was treating myself to (much cosier than a tent in mid-October, and with the benefit of electric power and light!), and made my way up the glen to Loch Beinn a'Mheadhoin to make the most of the last hours of light. Arriving at the Benevean Dam carpark, a short walk down a sloping path through woodland lead to a sheltered cover. A few midges were still out in amongst the trees, encouraged by the mild weather, but they didn't trouble me once I was on the water. Not a breath of wind Continue Reading