Highland Contemplations 2010

[Mathos]

Having driven many miles throughout Scotland on my many golfing trips, I found your photos stunning and they brought back many fond memories.

Scotland is one of my favorite places and will always bring back recollections of better days.

Thanks for the photos and the effort you put in.

Thanks for your comments and appreciation Chuck.

Very much appreciated.

[Mathos]

Thanks to the recent Green senders,
Jizzy and others, appreciated.

[Mathos]

It really is a fantastic section of The UK to visit.

You never really know what you are going
to come across round each bend in the road
or over the rise of a hill on one of those
narrow country lanes.





Like the cliffs above, the outstanding blue ocean or loch
the varieties in sea craft. The colourful buoys,
fishermen and so much more besides.


To say nothing of the wild life.

I have several more photographs of
The Stags and Deer to place on the
thread in due course.



Palm type trees on the shores as well,
this one was taking a fair old wind battering.



The terrace of cottages here were beautiful and so well built.

The walls were thick, and they were superbly presented.

From the other end:-




One was offering B & B with a small sign in
the window reading:-

'Gone Fishing'

Quite apt, I thought.

[Mathos]

Priceless, driving down a lane of this calibre and viewing a sight that
should probably be reserved for angels.





It's special.



You have to stop and take the photographs,
even if they only reflect a fraction of the true
view before your eyes in the real world.




The hard part is explaining the beauty as you really
witnessed it.




And more, much more besides.

[Mathos]

Simon King has been doing some nature programmes on this part of the UK
and on the Shetlands especially:-

This is well worth clicking on:-


BBC - BBC Two Programmes - Simon King's Shetland Diaries, Episode 1
Simon King, wildlife cameraman and Springwatch presenter,
sets off on an adventure to the Shetland Isles
to live there with his family through the changing ...
BBC - BBC Two Programmes - Simon King's Shetland Diaries, Episode 1 - Cached


He does a great job:-



The ocean is so blue, these waters are an abundance of wild life and fish.




No doubt explaining so many fishing boats and
trawlers all around the coast line and in the
fantastic waters of the sea lochs especially.

Isn't that a great sight to see.

[Mathos]

Each hour of each day, the sights simply appeared to get better.





Driving along the narrow road you can see in the photograph
was like a lottery win.


So beautiful to be there and feeling quite privileged.




These lucky folk appear to live in the most
outstandingly fantastic of places on the planet.




Sensational.

[Loy Toy]

Absolutely breathtaking pictures there mate and the Loy Toy's say thanks with some green appreciation. I'll show the girls tomorrow morning when they wake up.

Absolutely wonderful.

[Mathos]

So much for folk to do.





All the time in the world to do it in.


Check the road out on the one below,
you can see it drop down and then emerge in the
small loch hamlet in the lower coastal valley.





We just came back, and we wish we
were back there again.


It's somewhat very special.



The food is amazing.


Castles come into the equation from time to time.





But we can talk about those outstanding edifices
on another occasion.

[Mathos]

Absolutely breathtaking pictures there mate and the Loy Toy's say thanks with some green appreciation. I'll show the girls tomorrow morning when they wake up.

Absolutely wonderful.

Thanks Loy Toy:-

Appreciated, hope your children enjoy the same as well.

[Mathos]

I'm not necessarily taking the sections
I place on the thread in a sequential order,
rather as certain memories or photographs
stir the mind seems more appropriate.


We drove to Durness from Thurso.

It was a nice drive, about 75 miles or so
on the obligatory wonderful country lanes,
passing by outstanding coastlines, mountain areas
and sensational rugged moorland.


Best part of the trip was along the A836 and A 838.



It's all special and extremely scenic.




We made our way towards 'The Smoo Caves.'



They were quite impressive.

Archaeological excavations have apparently
found many interesting finds here.


Signs of human use, not only for living,
but boat repairs and more besides.




They were certainly large enough to
have a good party down there.






The acoustics would be good.


'Rock on Tommy'



There was a timber walk-way across part of
the river which came out of one of the caves.




Part of it had a timber roof on,
I doubt it would have been much use as
a safety function if a boulder or two had
dropped down though.

It was well worth the walk, plus the jaunt
through the cave though to see the water-fall here.



I got as far along the rocky ledge as I
could in an attempt to see if it would be possible
to see where the fall was cascading
down from above ground.




I didn't make out that good.

During the 'season' it's possible to visit the
caves and others via boat from these locations.




It was amazing how brilliant the sun-light appeared
after the darkness of the inner caves.

[Mathos]

When we left the cave, we decided to take the
cliff path up the eastern side of the inlet.





It was a fair old hike up there too.

Nice though, really nice.


If this inlet could talk,
I reckon it would tell a tale or two.



In a manner of speaking the whole area
is speaking to the archaeologist's visiting here.

It's simply a question of learning the language.




A very impressive spot.

Caves all over the place, as you can see.


This was a bonus:-




This was the above ground location
where the water made it's initial descent
into the abyss, creating the water-fall
below ground in The Smoo Caves.




Nature has a manner of making art very simple.

As well as brilliant.

[Mathos]

[Spin]

Be it historical man made products like the Esso Pump and tracked vehicle, they really are special finds. I had a look around to see if there was anybody who could give me some information on these two classics. Alas it was not to be. But aren't they super.

That vehicle is almost certainly a Snow-Trac ST4 made in Sweden , about 200 of them were imported into Scotland and very few survive today. Certainly an interesting bit of automotive history and a rare chance to find one and photograph that's for sure!

You might recall that one appeared in the movie "The Shining".

This ones from the wiki page, here

[Mathos]

Be it historical man made products like the Esso Pump and tracked vehicle, they really are special finds. I had a look around to see if there was anybody who could give me some information on these two classics. Alas it was not to be. But aren't they super.

That vehicle is almost certainly a Snow-Trac ST4 made in Sweden , about 200 of them were imported into Scotland and very few survive today. Certainly an interesting bit of automotive history and a rare chance to find one and photograph that's for sure!

You might recall that one appeared in the movie "The Shining".

This ones from the wiki page, here

Thanks for that Spin.
Appreciated.

[Mathos]

I had a problem with my photograph sizes earlier,
it has delayed me somewhat.


Not to worry seems alright now:-




Lord, Lord, Lord, I think it will rain.


Best find a B & B or a Hotel.




Listen to the falling rain, listen to it pour.



"Oi follow me Mathos, I know where there's a hotel."





"You sure about that Dear?"


"Yep, on your left, just after that big rock in the distance"





Good job we were in a 4WD.




He was right as well.





The Ben Loyal at Tongue.




Nice clean room, outstanding views.




Nice to get sorted for the night before it went dark.




A clean room, bit on the small side
and somewhat dated, but it had
all we required for the night.

Good value for money.


Food was alright.

Breakfast the following morning
was excellent.



Flobo was out early getting her
nicotine quota sorted for the break of day.

[Mathos]

The North west section is perhaps
the most beautiful area of Scotland,
in our opinion.
Folk differ of course in what their preferences are.

So Mote It Be.




The Map (from the Net) will give you
ideas on the locations I have mentioned
from time to time.


There are some marvellous lochs.




Amazing Mountain areas:-



Fantastic too, how the frozen ice
still in numerous deposits on the
higher ground reflected so attractively
on the landscapes in general.

The one above is like a giant thumb-print.

Really nice.



Some sensational rock formations from the ice age.


Quite spectacular.

[Mathos]

We thought it would be great to visit Cape Wrath.


I'd read during the winter that the owner/occupier of the light-house there had turned part of the same into a cafe.

You cannot drive to Cape Wrath.






You can drive to Keoldale in Durness,
then you need to get the Ferry which is
apparently operated via the lighthouse man
and he transfers you to his mini bus on the
other side then drives the twelve mile or so
along a single track road to his cafe/lighthouse.


Sounds like a good trip.





Beautiful area, but the weather began to look a bit on the iffy side.



The water was showing signs of a
stronger swirl approaching as well.

Still as long as The MOD didn't try to
blow us out of the water, we could probably
take a bit of a stormy crossing.



It's not that far across the water.


Alas, not our day.

Seasonasl operation only and it wouldn't be
operating until Easter or so.

Not to worry it was good to be as far up as we were.


This is a brilliant video and a good write up on the same.

Earn your Cape Wrath cuppa at Scotland's most remote café | STV ...
2 Jun 2009 ... Owner John Ure is optimistic that his cafe "The Ozone" at the ... main keeper's buildings at the Cape Wrath lighthouse, built in 1827. ...
entertainment.stv.tv/.../100146-earn-your-cape-wrath-cuppa-at-scotlands-most-remote-caf/ - Cached - Similar

Click on the related articles for the two best videos.

North West Highlands: Queen Victoria's "end of the world"

Edge of the Land hits the stunning terrain along Scotland’s north coast"
Edge of the Land hits the stunning terrain along Scotland’s north...


Well worth watching.

Especially on full screen.

Brilliant in fact.

[Mathos]

This is the slipway which is used by the Ferry.





Various rules and regulations.

The weather started to brighten up as well.



Outstanding changes, clouds lifting, mist
disappearing, wind dropping and the sun coming out.




"Lets go for a swim Flobo."


"Are you totally crackers" was her reply to that.




It looked good enough to swim in,
there's no doubt about that.


Got to admit, I was tempted.




Well, a little bit.

[Mathos]

"I'm not going for a swim Mafos!"





"It's dinner time."




"Me neither mate, I'm happy enough with Peet Bog."

[Mathos]

It's difficult to find words to give
the value of compliments required
to places of this calibre.





Phenomenal sounds something like what I'm
searching for.

Stimulating to say the least.


This fellow looked great too.


Haven't I seen him somewhere before?





"That hotel I told you about OK for you and Flobo Mathos?"

"Sure was Pal..."

Hasn't he got a beautiful world to play in.





Looks like there might be 'gold in them thar hills'


Fantastic playground and more besides.

[Mathos]

I see the thread has been allocated a Five Star Rating.

Thanks for that, really appreciated.

[Happyman]

In a manner of speaking the whole area is speaking to the archaeologist's visiting here. It's simply a question of learning the language.

I seem to recall that phrase from a comment I made about landscapes in your Lancashire thread!
Nice to see that it was remembered !



This is a good thread as well

[Mathos]

In a manner of speaking the whole area is speaking to the archaeologist's visiting here. It's simply a question of learning the language.

I seem to recall that phrase from a comment I made about landscapes in your Lancashire thread!
Nice to see that it was remembered !



This is a good thread as well

100% Right about that Happyman.

I've certainly picked up some interesting views
plus knowledge from your inputs on these threads.

Thanks for that.




Glad you like the thread too.


Can't find a Scots flag here though.

[Mathos]

I mentioned we had some really brilliant days
regarding sunshine and quite
decent temperatures for the
time of year.


Hard to imagine these areas were
covered in heavy snow a few days
after we left.


When you come across views like this, the sea so blue,
a vessel out towards the horizon and the gorse
flaunting it's spring colours, it takes some
beating.






All of this area is popular with regards to
larger sea life spotting.

We were keeping our eyes open at every opportunity.


There are obviously a serious number of folk
who like the idea of living in these isolated areas.

No newspapers, very few shops,
these places are perhaps a twenty
mile trip from the nearest small store
selling a few basics. No decent links for PC's,
they certainly show a desire to keep apart from the
modern world.

Maybe, they have it right?




Quite nice properties here and there.

We noticed a great deal of damage to the roofs
on several properties. No doubt from the severe
winter we had just experienced.

It probably answers the question to the use of the
sheets being used on house roofing as opposed
to slate and tiles.

The majority however are normally slates
or tiles as opposed to the corrugated sheets.


I'd personally be more concerned with a rock fall demolishing the
property in this particular location though.

Still a nicer looking spot and no doubt will be an
attractive looking building on completion.

I quite liked it.


The heptagon/octagon building here was
in my opinion a bit too small, but,
if it suited the owner/occupier
my opinion is irrelevant.




For a couple, it is no doubt the perfect
home for size, running costs, a quality
wood burner would keep a place like that
superbly heated at give-away costing.

Economical existence you might agree.

What a gorgeous location it was
situated in.

[Mathos]

One here, obviously needing extensive
roof repairs or perhaps total renewal,
difficult to tell from the photograph.


(Well one of you builders might be able
to tell)





Looked a nice house,
the location was absolutely spectacular.





The rainbow here was outstanding.

Made me want to start digging for the pot of gold.





This old crofters cottage rather appealed to me.


It's a great pity, most of the old properties
of this nature had the roofs removed by the
owners when they were empty to avoid paying tax.


Some amazing old buildings, castles included were really
subjected to wholesale butchering on a terrible scale.

But on the other side of the coin,
numerous old buildings,
such as this row of terraces,
are being converted into modern
beautiful homes.




Notice, this one, right on the coast is being re-roofed with
tiles.


Difficult to find a place serving food out in the wilds.

Every now and then we dropped lucky, the
Cheeseburger here was quite a tasty change from the norm.





It was a good burger, pure in beef, more like
apiece of steak than what you might get
at one of those funny shops with no knives,
forks or plates even.

Flobo settled on a ham and cheese toasty
with a bit of salad like on the above .

Hey! The chips were really good.

I detest those 'French fry things'


Talking about houses though.



This must be worth a bob or two.

Good slate roof as well.

I liked it.