Tag Archives: clouds

Highland Stream

Highland Stream
“Highland Stream” — A wild stream rushes through a valley between highland mountains.

I am definitely not a fisherman. I’ve tried, both in the mountains and along the Pacific coast. But I’ve had few successes and many failures. (Eventually I decided that I did not need to carry fishing gear as an excuse to wander along waterways. A camera is a fine substitute!) But evenI have heard of the historic reputation of the fishing in Scotland’s highland streams and rivers. In my mind, a scene like this is central to that reputation — even I can imagine myself spending a day out in the beautiful landscape, wading in these waters.

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Wheat Field and Building Clouds

Wheat Field and Building Clouds
“Wheat Field and Building Clouds” — Thunderheads rise above a Cotswolds wheat field.

If you are following along, it may start to be difficult to follow the itinerary of our late-spring trip to the British Isles. We started in Scotland, spent time in Ireland, then headed to England for about three weeks. The first week in England was spent on a walk between villages in the Cotswolds. We had heard about people doing that, and it sounded fun — and we were able to meet up with relatives who live in Europe.

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Marsco and Waterfall

Marsco and Waterfall
“Marsco and Waterfall” — The peak of Marsco towers over a waterfall, Eas a’ Bhradain, Isle of Skye.

In case you haven’t heard, it is wet in Scotland. I knew this, having been there before, but coming from the relatively dry California climate, it is still quite a contrast. One thing that still takes me by surprise at first is the size of the streams and rivers that rise over short distances — and that they are everywhere. We stopped and photographed this roadside cascade as we were departing Skye to head north.

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Looking Toward Skye

Looking Toward Skye
“Looking Toward Skye” — View over a mountain loch toward the Isle of Skye, seen from the road to Applecross Pass.

While Scotland’s Isle of Skye is, for good reason, a very popular place to visit, you can also find great views of the Isle and its mountains from along Scotland’s less-populated western coast. After our visit to Skye we headed north to Ullapool, and from there drove a long loop out to the village of Applecross. Before turning south toward that spot the route hugged the coastline, offering continuous views across the water to islands including Skye.

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