We passed this cemetery along a drive to the remote coastal village of Elgol on the southeast coast of the Isle of Skye. While parts of Skye are very busy and popular with tourists, there weren’t many people along this remote single-track road where there aren’t really any “tourist icon” sites. It was just lovely Scottish countryside —broad valleys, lakes, and some impressive mountains.
Continue reading Cill Chriosd Burial Ground
This scene on the western Scotland coast not far from Skye was a pleasant surprise. We were on a long drive to the village of Applecross, and our route had taken us through a lot of typical country — rugged coastal areas, broad valleys, high peaks with a dusting of new snow. But out here a lot of the country seemed rocky and rough with few trees. But as we came to a bridge over the River Applecross, suddenly everything was green, the broom flowers were yellow, and there were spring-green trees.
Continue reading Spring Trees, Flowers, and Meadow, Applecross
Perhaps I have already mentioned that we experienced a lot of “gray” weather during our May visit to northwest Scotland? In fact, the locals told us that it was colder, wetter, and grayer than usual for this time of the year. We even saw new snow on some highlands peaks, and we had at least some precipitation just about every single day. That weather, along with early May time frame meant that we did not see a whole lot of lovely green landscape. But there were a few exceptions, including this spot at Applecross Bay.
Continue reading Trees, Stream Bank
You often hear the expression that there is a “carpet of wildflowers” in a landscape. That description was apt in quite a few areas of Death Valley National Park when we visited in late February. To be clear, much of the landscape of this desert park sill looked like… desert. But in places there were wildflower blooms of impressive size.
Continue reading Desert Gold Bloom