Excerpts from Scotland - A Photographer’s Guide
I have been to Scotland 14 times; call it an obsession, but each time I leave I want to return again. Scotland affects one in ways that cannot be explained. Perhaps it is the simplicity of life there, or its warm and friendly people, or its history. I cannot say which appeals more. It is a very special place to me.
Good topographical maps are essential when one visits Scotland. Sometimes the most marvelous places to photograph are hidden from the highway, and instead, are found down a boggy trail two miles from a car park. I will discuss some new options for digital maps that are economical and exceedingly useful.
Some roadways present other interesting challenges. Sheep and Red Deer are everywhere, and are often encountered on roadways, especially during early morning hours. Add to this, blind curves around high cliffs! Then, there are the forty six million roundabouts, some of which may involve four or more in a series. Navigating through a series of roundabouts, while driving on the left side of the road, is an interesting experience.
Visiting the Isle of Lewis and Harris is like stepping back into history 50 years. Remote, the island is the undiscovered jewel of Scotland. It is a place that is very difficult to get to, but one has not discovered Scotland unless one visits this isle.
Upon arriving at the Harbor at Dunbar, I looked around to find our boat. Much to my surprise, what I saw was less than what I had expected; although, the Seabird Centre had advised that we would be transported in a “working lobster boat.” Yes, it was a working boat for sure!
I was very fortunate to have rented The Old Farmhouse, a wonderful self-catering house located on a high bluff overlooking the Firth of Clyde with a splendid view south of Ailsa Craig. I cannot emphasize enough that the best accommodations in Scotland are not found in hotels.
Machrie Moor is filled with stones here and there with old ruins everywhere. The best time to visit is in the late afternoon when the sun emphasizes the colors of the stones. I recommend that one use a good zoom lens to help isolate the stones. I found a 70-300mm lens to be very useful along with a 16-35mm.
The Isle of Mull is delightful to visit, despite the rain. I recall visiting a small shop on the island which is simply impossible to describe. Its proprietor was a retired literary critic for one of Scotland's largest publications. His shop was filled with books, cats, onions, potatoes, and an old stove that sort of kept the shop warm.
Sanna, a small hamlet on the northern edge of the peninsula is well worth a visit. One can wander for hours along the seashore at Sanna as well as find many old croft houses and ruins in the area. Sometimes it is difficult to determine where a trail begins, particularly if one hopes to photograph the old ruin just outside the village.
One will need OS maps of the area to take advantage of trailways not always visible from highways. One excellent example is the trail that works its way from the car park at Sheildaig and goes to the end of the peninsula that juts into Loch Shieldaig on the east and Loch Torridon on the west. The walk is rugged, and one will find it necessary to climb a small but steep ridge. Good weatherproof boots are a must on this trail, as it is muddy and wet. The reward of finding old ruins and croft houses along its shore makes the walk well worth the effort.
My excursion to the St. Kilda Archipelago was without doubt the greatest travel experience of my life. I cannot begin to tell you what it is like to sail through the archipelago; “awesome” is not strong enough. It is very much another world, often called the lost world of Britain, and sometimes described as the end of the earth.
Annually, only about 2,000 visitors go to St. Kilda, making it one of the most secluded places on earth. I am very glad that I had the opportunity to go.
Despite my own failings to capture the essence of Scotland, I retain within my memories glorious moments when the hills came alive and God's grace fell upon the land.
In the last five years, I have traveled 250,000 miles, by airplane, by vehicle, and by boat. I have experienced just about every conceivable calamity that can occur on a photo travel adventure. This experience has led me to develop what I call the “Essential/Non-Essential Packing List.”
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