Ardnamurchan peninsula’s north coast, late autumn against a stunning sunset.

loch Arkaig leads into the land entry through wild mountains,
to the Knoydart peninsula, otherwise only accessible by sea.
The mountains of dragons and spears were dark and foreboding under storm filled clouds. Then the sky opened like heavens eye and – I saw the light.
The Drakensberg Mountain Range includes the highest mountains in Southern Africa. The name means Dragon Mountains in Afrikaans and is called uKhahlamba in Zulu which means “barrier of spears”. Large parts of the Drakensberg were declared a world heritage site in 2000 due to its ecological and cultural diversity.
Spent a wonderous day with friends and family in the southern drakensberg several years ago and caught part of the mountain range including the Rhino peaking out of the clouds. (: excuse the pun 🙂
Rhino Peak is 3051 meters high and is named after one of the most endangered species on the planet.
The Drakensberg Mountain Range includes the highest mountains in Southern Africa. The name means Dragon Mountains in Afrikaans and is called uKhahlamba in Zulu which means “barrier of spears”. Large parts of the Drakensberg were declared a world heritage site in 2000 due to its ecological and cultural diversity.
Sailing in the middle of the Indian ocean north west of Madagascar
Rain is here at any time in Ardnamurchan
then the sun – and then the clouds
and then rain is here again.
My dear wife Susan the photographer at work, taken by this photographer at work, at Loch Sunart on the Ardnamurchan peninsula – western highlands of Scotland.
Summer evening nestling safely below the mountains of Morvern at loch Sunart after a day sailing amongst all this beauty.
Through the mountains, to the far wild west of the highlands, runs the rail line to Mallaig, a gateway to the western isles.
As it passes through the tunnels in these wild mountains, but before it runs along the loch that lies between them, a strange and little known event occurs.
Yes, you will see the train appear again, but not its magical counterpart that veers off into the fastness of the wilderness and into the dimension of the sidhe, making its way to Hogwarts.
For this is the real Harry Potter Line.
Returning home to the western highlands from Edinburgh, I crossed a windy Ranoch moor at sunset in gloomy sleet with little visibility.
But, as I reached the entrance to Glencoe, the sky opened briefly and all was transformed.
Before me a pyramid of dramatic power appeared, as if the sidhe had cast a spell allowing me just enough time to take the shot.
And then with a wave of a wand made of howling wind – All was gone!
We spent this stunning first day of winter taking unforgettable photos around where we live on the Ardnamurchan peninsula in the western highlands of Scotland.
We ended off with this golden sunset, taken from where Glenborrodale Castle looks out over loch Sunart.
My wife Susan and I were walking high up on the mountain behind our house in Ardnamurchan.
It is in the western highlands of Scotland, looking out over loch Sunart.
We were checking our water supply, which is from a strong stream about half way up from the top.
Nobody comes up here except for the few people who live in this remote area, so the water is pristine.
The distillery a few miles away uses water from a similar source due to its purity.
This is one of the blessings of the wild and remote western highlands.
We had a very cold swim in this lovely natural pool under the waterfall a few hundred metres upstream.
Followed by a picnic on the grass next to the pool.
Wonderful fun.
BUT, then we found tiny ticks on our legs. Thirty or so on Susan’s bare legs.
We spent many years in Africa and are no stranger to all types of ticks.
The problem is here in this seemingly peaceful place where the red deer roam, they drop ticks.
These local little devils carry Lymes desease, which is no joke and not found in Africa to my knowledge.
They have a friend, the mighty scottish midge, who attacks in great numbers like the highland warriors of old.
So between them they keep us humans at bay and protect their mountains.
However it is all worth it.
Living here is magical, so we have come to terms with the wild.
Loch Linnhe is the starting point of the great glen in Western Scotland which ends at loch Ness and Inverness.
Loch Linnhe runs inland for miles from the open Atlantic ocean, past the isle of Mull and on to Fort Willam at the foot of Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in Britain.
On route and opposite the isle of Mull is the wild and virtually uninhabited land of Morvern and its mysterious mountains.
You can only explore them on foot, but it is a serious undertaking and only for the true explorer.
The western highlands of Scotland are magnificent and truly photogenic.