Ben Hope with iridescence

[EmmaKTunskeen]

A late report and a quick one. The end of October saw us up in Sutherland, and fancying a return to Ben Hope for me and a first visit for E.

An early morning start, so we had the hill to ourselves, but for a bat (appropriately for the time of year) which was flitting about foraging at the crags above the parking space. Up we went past the waterfalls, enjoying the easy path, and watching to see if the wispy, indecisive cloud was going to thicken or go.

For now though, we were well below it, and turned to watch it rolling over the hills behind us.

033 Glorious autumn Strathmore and Ben Hee

I was looking forward to the views of Foinaven and Arkle, and today they had a show to put on for us in a few minutes time. Meanwhile, it was just about rising and letting the hills appear.

023 Loch Hope pano - F Cranstackie and BS behind

032 Quinag

And then, glory be, here was a beautiful iridescence to keep us company.

011 Iridescence on Foinaven

No Brocken spectres today, but we did have a good fogbow at the top.

037 Fogbow

038 E and disintegrating fogbow

We grabbed a front row seat, our second breakfast and enjoyed what the racing clouds and gaps had to offer.

048 Arkle and Foinaven pano from summit

052 To BMA in distant centre

054 Ben Griam Mor - Scaraben - Morven

039 Ben Loyal

A young couple appeared, and sat themselves down for Ben Loyal views. They looked pretty stunning in the magical light, themselves!

042 Young couple silhouette

And after a bit more enjoying all these familiar faces and wonderful shapes, down we went.

049 Arkle Foinaven Cranstackie memories

055 Time to go - Ben Klibreck l - Ben Hee r

056 E descending

057 Chambered cairn cairn

058 Angles

More folk were coming up now, and they'd have perfect, clear views though without the light show. All in all, good day for Hope

060 Allt a Mhuiseil

062 Peregrine where bat was in morning

063 Bat peregrine and midge heaven

065 Mares tail selfie

066 Rowans

067 Gneiss

069 Very gneiss

070 Waterfalls with summit above

Always make me laugh, this sign:
072 Memories of 2016

073 Bye bye Ben Hope

077 Dun Dornaigil Broch Strathmore and Hope

076 Dun Dornaigil Broch and Strathmore River

079 Ben Hope from the road

080 Over Loch Meadie to Ben Loyal

082 Ben Klibreck from road

[jmarkb]

Lovely photos! The "iridescence" is a segment of a very "smeared out" rainbow, formed by small droplets of drizzle. As the size of the water droplets gets smaller, a rainbow's appearance changes from clear narrow colour bands with large raindrops, to broader pastelly bands with drizzle and finally to almost pure white in a fogbow.

[EmmaKTunskeen]

Lovely photos! The "iridescence" is a segment of a very "smeared out" rainbow, formed by small droplets of drizzle. As the size of the water droplets gets smaller, a rainbow's appearance changes from clear narrow colour bands with large raindrops, to broader pastelly bands with drizzle and finally to almost pure white in a fogbow.

Ah, that's how it changed to fogbow, thank you. Incidentally, I realised today I hadn't replied to your"Moonies" question on Fhidhleir, and I'm ashamed to say it's because, while I thought the stones looked like litte fellas in flatcaps, Euan thought they looked like little figures mooning.

[jmarkb]

I realised today I hadn't replied to your"Moonies" question on Fhidhleir, and I'm ashamed to say it's because, while I thought the stones looked like litte fellas in flatcaps, Euan thought they looked like little figures mooning.

Aha, that makes sense! So happens I visited them again only last week.

[EmmaKTunskeen]

I realised today I hadn't replied to your"Moonies" question on Fhidhleir, and I'm ashamed to say it's because, while I thought the stones looked like litte fellas in flatcaps, Euan thought they looked like little figures mooning.

Aha, that makes sense! So happens I visited them again only last week.

Ah, lovely