Finally!

After many hours, complete with navel gazing, angst and procrastination, my Scottish slide show is complete. I sure learned a lot, and have included work from a digital audio program that made me feel like a recording engineer. I'm likin' this.

Lochranza, Brodick, And The Long Road Home

Arran was a delight - our home was a historic cottage in Lochranza with a splendid view of the ocean. Our stay was far too short, and soon we were on the winding road to Brodick, to catch the connecting ferry to Glasgow. Putting these final images together has been bittersweet - this photographic journey has revisited the adventure of a lifetime. Ah well, stay tuned for the movie!

Lochranza Through My Window

Cemetery, Lochranza Church

Castle By The Bay

The Village Brook

Roadside View

Distant Oasis

Sheep On Route

The Gateway To Arran

When one door closes, another opens, and all too soon it was time to leave Islay for the island of Arran. Our journey took us to the Mull of Kintyre, tunefully immortalized by sometime resident Paul McCartney. Before boarding the ferry at remote, desolate Claonaig Quay, we happened upon an unexpected pleasure - the village of Skipness. Wild daffodils and rhododendrons were in abundance, and Skipness Castle, with its glorious wooded grounds, was magnificent. 

Roadside Forest

Gate House

Skipness Village

Skipness Castle

Castle Interior

Tower View

Into The Mystic, Claonaig Quay

All images copyright 2013, Kathy Neudorf

Loch Gruinart and Sanaigmore Bay

Like so much of Islay, these northern destinations are a study in contrast. Loch Gruinart is a wetland wildlife preserve, while just down the road, Sanaigmore Bay opens onto the ageless Atlantic. It is also guarded by the most dramatic rock formations I've ever seen. In between are rustic homesteads, rough moors, and the Outback Art Gallery. Oh, and did I mention sheep?

Our visit to Loch Gruinart also included an evening stop at Kilnave, where once again we were enchanted by the historic beauty of Islay's heritage. The Kilnave Chapel and Cross are 'newer' than the Kildalton ruins, dating from the 14th Century. This beautiful spot has an exquisite water view, the perfect place to experience an island sunset.

Kilnave Chapel And Cross

Chapel Exterior Wall

Interior View, Kilnave Chapel

Loch Gruinart Overlook

Loch Gruinart Wetlands

Hurry Home

Gated Stream, Sanaigmore

Rocky Approach, Sanaigmore Bay

Weathered Rocks, Sanaigmore Bay

Port Nahaven, Port Charlotte And A Wee Dram At Ardbeg

I looked forward to photographing picturesque seaside villages in Scotland, and Islay had them in spades. I love the look of the historic homes; the way they cluster on the cliffs, braced against wind and tide. At the Port Charlotte Hotel I had my first taste of Haggis, and enjoyed it a lot. We also stopped at the Ardbeg distillery for afternoon tea - not the whiskey one might expect, but if a wee dram is required, Islay's eight distilleries can certainly supply that.

Main Street, Port Charlotte

Rooms With A View, Port Charlotte

Beach, Lighthouse, Port Charlotte

Ardbeg Distillery - Time For Tea!

Ardbeg Beach

Suburbia, Port Nahaven

Homes By The Bay, Port Nahaven

Kildalton And Surrounds

We stopped at Kildalton to visit the magnificent, world renowned High Cross and Old Parish Church. The history here is overwhelming; the Cross dates from the mid 8th Century, while the Church has been traced to the 1300s. I spent some time shooting the surrounding area, which is bleak and windblown but offers up superb vistas. It's also home to many farms, with accompanying sheep - so many sheep!

Kildalton High Cross

Kildalton Plain

Parish Church, With Grave Slabs

Pastoral Landscape, With Sheep

All images copyright 2013, Kathy Neudorf

Home For The Holidays, Finlaggan

The lovely coastal village of Bowmore was home base during our stay on Islay. It was full of old world charm, with now familiar buildings, ocean and wind. A few things were foreign to my North American sensibilities, like turning off the power at electrical outlets and hanging out laundry to dry. Islay residents use their resources wisely. From Bowmore we traveled to Finlaggan, an important historical landmark dating from the 13th century. Notice all that blue sky? So much for the myth that Scotland is gray and gloomy. We had sunshine every day!

Bowmore Beach, Bruichladdich Across The Bay

Washing At Izzy's

Seaweed And Stones, Bowmore

Ruins at Eilean Mòr, Finlaggan, With The Famous Paps Of Jura

The Navigator And The Historian Walk Finlaggan Path

Onward To Islay

Most of our time was spent on Islay (pronounced Eye-la), a beautiful, untamed island in the Southern Hebrides. Visiting Islay is like turning back the clock; steeped in legend, its history spans many centuries. The countryside is wild and rugged, and the wind is a relentless companion. We began our Islay adventure with a walk through scenic Bridge End, followed by a drive on the Oa, where we were transfixed by twilight views of Carraig Fhada Lighthouse and the Old Church Cemetery at Kilnaughton Bay.

Dry Stone Wall, Bridge End

Pond, Bridge End

Old Church Cemetery, Kilnaughton Bay

Carraig Fhada Lighthouse, Kilnaughton Bay

Crinan, County Argyll

Crinan is a beautiful little village on Scotland's West Coast. It is perhaps best known for its canal, which stretches for nine miles and features several locks. The sea breezes are bracing, the views spectacular, and we enjoyed a delicious lunch at a very historic hotel. Who could ask for more?

Safe Haven

The Navigator And The Historian Walk The Canal

Crinan Flats

Stairwell, Crinan Hotel

Waterfront Cottage

All Images copyright 2013, Kathy Neudorf

A Wee Scottish Journey

 My trip to Scotland was amazing - we arrived in Spring, as the last gusts of Winter still blew, but the promise of Summer was in the air. Our journey began and ended in Glasgow, with many fascinating stops along the way. I could live in this place, and hope to return one day. To describe it all would take way too long, and the sights and sounds often left me speechless, so I'll just let the pictures do the talking.

One of our first destinations was Inveraray, County Argyll, ancestral home of Clan Campbell. These days it's probably best known for its perfectly preserved Castle. 

 

Inveraray Castle

Garden Vista

Castle Grounds - Note similarity to the Scottish Flag

War as Decor

Wild Daffodils

Inveraray Bridge From Castle Grounds

Kitchen Aids

All images copyright 2013, Kathy Neudorf