There’s no better place to start a holiday than the Nice Place(TM), even if it does involve getting up and on the road at 4am for a 165-mile drive up north.
The sun rose over Loch Beinn a Mheadhoin as I approached:
The rising morning sun dispelling the last dull light of pre-dawn, showing the tree colours to optimum advantage.
First hints of the sun rising behind distant hills, silhouetting trees small on the ridge
The fine tendrils of birch tree branches silhouetted against the sky, sunrise tinging the clouds bright orange and purple-blue.
The Caledonian Forest at Glen Affric was its usual beautiful self – still not cold enough for morning mist in the trees, but brilliant morning sunlight and heavy rain caused a wonderful vibrant double rainbow while I was down by the river.
My very favourite old Scots Pine trees amongst hte heather, Glen Affric Caledonian Forest Reserve.
A beautiful characterful birch tree covered in lichen and moss, branches like arms spreading in all directions.
Fast-flowing cascades in the River Affric.
Fast-flowing cascades in the River Affric.
The beginnings of a rainbow against a dramatic rain and hail cloud contrasting with bright morning light.
A stunning vibrant rainbow and secondary bow over the Caledonian Forest at Glen Affric, bright morning sunlight catching one of the Scots Pine trees and distant birches along the river.
An interplay of textures and lines: partial reflections of birch trees in a puddle amongst the heather and grass
Stunning bright morning light catching the burnished brown bark of a Scots Pine tree
Two of my favourite birch trees amongst the heather in moody dull morning light.
An unusual composition - enjoying subtle tones of morning with clouds passing by, a loose distribution of trees (birch, Scots Pine) amongst the heather on the outskirts of the Caledonian Forest reserve, Glen Affric.
Subtly catching the bright morning sun behind one of the Scots Pine trees lining the banks of the River Affric.
Favoured old characterful Scots Pine trees enjoying a hint of morning light among the heather.
For a change, I took a long walk a couple of miles along the side of Loch Beinn a Mheadhoin, to be rewarded with a gorgeous view of Sgurr na Lapaich covered in pure white snow, across the water.
Bright pure white snow catching the morning light on the undulating slopes of Sgurr na Lapaich across Loch Beinn a Mheadhoin
Bright pure white snow catching the morning light on the undulating slopes of Sgurr na Lapaich across Loch Beinn a Mheadhoin
A different morning stroll: around the back of Loch Beinn a Mheadhoin, looking back toward Sgurr na Lapaich
Other views from the morning:
The River Affric flowing among the lower slopes of Sgurr na Lapaich
A small clump of granny Pine trees in the Caledonian Forest reserve
A sign of clear pure air: lichen growing on fine filaments of a pine tree branch twigs.
A late-Autumn dusting of snow on the mountains above Glen Strathfarrar from Struy.
