We didn’t have blue skies every day on our spring walk in the Cotswolds, but when the weather was clear it was often beautiful. We did a weeklong walk there on the last few days of May and first few of June. Yes, there was rain — though nothing approaching a deluge, aside from a few minutes on our last day. But on this morning we had a spectacular sky, blue and streaked with clouds, as we walked through this area of fields and pastures.
Continue reading Cotswolds Sky
We passed this large beach on our way from Ullapool to Applecross, Scotland this past May. We were on a long day trip loop drive out there. I don’t think I really had a good idea of what we’d see or what kinds of country we would pass through, and I was surprised by the many places where our route took us along the ocean coast. This beautiful beach seems to be shallow, with the tides uncovering a wide swath of sand. And, as is so common in this part of Scotland, we could see both the ocean waters and distant high peaks.
Continue reading Gruinard Beach
Arriving at this spot involved one of the driving adventures that characterized much of our time in northwest Scotland. We followed a main road northward from Skye, and here we diverged to the west toward the coast. As we topped a rise we looked back and saw this spectacular scene — spots of sunlight on nearby hills, light rain falling between us and three distant tall peaks, and a dramatic, cloud-filled sky.
Continue reading Three Peaks, Rain Clouds
Somewhere in northwest Scotland, between Shieldag and Applecross, we paused on our drive through this broad valley. It was surprisingly cold — there was new snow on peaks on either side — and rain showers passed across the landscape. Nearby was what appeared to be an old road, now marked as a foot trail, heading off into the valley — the sort of trail that makes you aware that there are places more remote than where you stand.
Continue reading Trail, Highlands Valley