October light

[HalfManHalfTitanium]

A wet week in October in the Highlands, who would have thought it.

However, there was occasional sunshine between the showers, and some beautiful effects of light and shade. So I thought it was worth posting up the best photos from the week, from across Perthshire and Argyll, as a single TR.

My first day was Sgairneach Mhor and Beinn Udlamain, in rain and low cloud, so no pics of that day. The next day I set off for Stob a'Choire Odhair, a hill I have often admired from Rannoch Moor. This is looking back to Victoria Bridge.

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The school at Clashgour. Was it a gentler era back then? - or was it all rickets and Hitler?

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Looking back from the school towards Beinn an Dothaidh

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Hello

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Log outside the school door

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Stob Ghabhar

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A nice cairn on the summit of Stob a'Choire Odhair

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A break in the clouds on the way down and sunshine on Bridge of Orchy

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Light on Beinn Achaladair

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Taken from the same spot, a glimpse of Coirein Lochain

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Slopes of Beinn an Dothaidh

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A wider view

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Scabious near Allt Toaig

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One of many waterfalls and one of many old walls

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Some nice heather and lichen on the way down, on one of walls near the Allt Toaig and the school. This area carries a strong sense of its departed population, atmospherically described in dogplodder's TR "Where are the children now in the glens of the Black Mount?" - https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=38867

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Late afternoon light on the Abhainn Shira and the slabby west ridge of Beinn nan Aighenan

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Fading light

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The next day, MWIS forecast heavy rain and, more worryingly, dangerously high winds on the tops. So I spent the morning in the civilised surroundings of the Mill bookshop and cafe in Aberfeldy. But then the sun came out and I visited the charming gardens at Bolfracks

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Glen Lyon hills above the gunnera

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Cioch Mhor and Meall Tairneachan from the gardens

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Autumnal scenes

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Then I went on to the Croftmoraig stone circle

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And the shores of Loch Tay near Kenmore

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After that I did the short walk up to the Falls of Acharn. Fungi were much in evidence

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This whole walk was a delight. I did it in reverse from the WH route, and I was pleased I chose to do that. I think it is nicer to go uphill through the woodland, and downhill on the track

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Note the brown-stained waters from the recent rain, like something Augustus Gloop would fall into

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Doing the route this way round saves the Hermit's Cave and its secret view of the Falls as a final treat

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Peaty waterfall

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Meall Greigh from the entrance to the Hermit's Cave

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Bucolic scenes on the way down

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Arcady, Perthshire

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Back down on the road in Acharn. Tescos has a lot to answer for

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I would also really recommend adding to this walk the short stroll along the riverside path to the loch shore. This gives wonderful views across the water towards the Lawers range

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The road along the south side of Loch Tay was very scenic

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The next day followed the same pattern - wet and windy in the west, marginally better further east. I drove over to Blair Atholl and walked up the superbly-constructed path on Carn Liath

Loch Moraig

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Summit of Carn Liath, a breezy spot

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After that I went on to Killin where the river was in full force after the recent rains

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The following day I explored part of the old kingdom of Dalriada, and some remnants of even earlier times.

Loch Awe and Kilchurn Castle

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Crinan canal at Cairnbaan

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On the woodland path to "the most extensive prehistoric rock carvings in the UK" - the Achnabreck cup and ring marked rocks at Cairnbaan

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Some fine examples!

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The area around the carvings is beautiful

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Lochgilphead from the carvings

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Oystercatchers photobombing the bottom right corner at Lochgilphead

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Lochgilphead again

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In the old churchyard at Kilmartin, a few words tell a sad story

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An array of standing stones and burial chambers, all in a small area

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Like a sacred grove from The Golden Bough

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Spooky lights, don't know how that happened

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I went on to the Ben Cruachan Inn at Lochawe to meet friends - our base for the next few days. This is the view of the loch from the pub

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Pass of Brander from the playground at the Cruachan power station visitor centre

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Lunch with a view of the Calmacs

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Dessert with a view of tartan

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We walked up to the Cruachan dam, engineering on an epic scale

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Views over Loch Awe

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We descended to the pub via the dam service road, with many interesting things to see along the way.

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Farmageddon

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Pass of Brander

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Had to snap this, even though the rain was pouring down. Boris Johnson says the UK will make "a titanic success" of Brexit, perhaps this is his lifeboat

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The line of light is not a divine ray, just the camera lens is still wet
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Oban

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The next day we walked up Ben Challum in wind and rain.

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But the weather gods relented on the way down and we got some views - this is looking back as the cloud cleared off the summit ridge

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Ben Lui group

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Ben Vorlich

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Stob Binnein

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Beinn Ime

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Cloud clearing off An Caisteal

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Some mountains are attractive and full of character

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Others are just big

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Hello again

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Crianlarich hills

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a view from a bridge

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The last walk of our trip was Beinn Eunaich - this is the track near Castles Farm

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Chair of the reception committee

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Junior members

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Dalmally Horseshoe from the path

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Flower of Scotland

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Natural bridge in the stream

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Loch Awe and Kilchurn Castle from the corrie below Lairig Ianachain

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Beinn Chochuill from the Lairig

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Beinn Eunaich was a small landmark for me. My 95th Munro, which means I am one-third of the way through the list.

I am unlikely to ever climb all the Munros, and it is not really an objective of mine.

But Munro’s list encourages me to explore different parts of the Highlands - my favourite thing about the Scottish hills is their extraordinary variety. So here’s to the next 95!

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[Grisu]

Impressive documentation of your week! Blue sky can be so boring compared to these scenic pictures! Scotland simply at its best, thanks!

[allymacp]

Dude some of these images are incredible, superb work! Those fauna pictures really are something and a wonderful document of your adventure. Best of luck on those next 95!!

[Hillbeback]

Hi Tim,

Shame you didn't get very good weather this time in Scotland however you still managed to climb some Munros. Good photos to add to your report It doesn't always have to be lovely blue skies to make a good image.

Hopefully next year if you are heading back up here we will be able to meet up and add a few more to your total of 95.

The weather forecast continues to be disappointing here. Looking forward to some clear, frosty days.

Moira

[HalfManHalfTitanium]

Hi Tim,

Shame you didn't get very good weather this time in Scotland however you still managed to climb some Munros. Good photos to add to your report It doesn't always have to be lovely blue skies to make a good image.

Hopefully next year if you are heading back up here we will be able to meet up and add a few more to your total of 95.

The weather forecast continues to be disappointing here. Looking forward to some clear, frosty days.

Moira

thanks so much Moira!

Hope Spain was good!

Tim

[HalfManHalfTitanium]

Impressive documentation of your week! Blue sky can be so boring compared to these scenic pictures! Scotland simply at its best, thanks!

Thanks very much! Glad you enjoyed the photos - I managed to avoid the raindrops on the camera lens (mostly...)

Thanks!
Tim

[HalfManHalfTitanium]

Dude some of these images are incredible, superb work! Those fauna pictures really are something and a wonderful document of your adventure. Best of luck on those next 95!!

Thanks very much! - cheers!

Tim

[Bridge]

Wonderful pictures!

[HalfManHalfTitanium]

Wonderful pictures!

Thanks very much! (The scenery and effects of light did make it easy for me I must admit)

Tim

[maxie23]

Tim.

Cracking report.
What an interesting week you had.
Love the photos, Autumn is a fantastic time for colour changes and contrasts..
Very deep comment, 'The school at Clashgour. Was it a gentler era back then? - or was it all rickets and Hitler?'
Or was it tongue in cheek ?
Keep up the good work.

Regards.

Robert.

[HalfManHalfTitanium]

Tim.

Cracking report.
What an interesting week you had.
Love the photos, Autumn is a fantastic time for colour changes and contrasts..
Very deep comment, 'The school at Clashgour. Was it a gentler era back then? - or was it all rickets and Hitler?'
Or was it tongue in cheek ?
Keep up the good work.

Regards.

Robert.

Cheers Robert! - thanks very much!

Can’t remember if I meant it tongue in cheek or not... I guess life was probably simpler in some ways - and an awful lot harder in others!

Tim

[EmmaKTunskeen]

Wonderful! I'm stuck at home in excruciating pain from shingles in my thigh, or at least I was until I went on this virtual wander. Thoroughly enjoyed Argyll and co in Autumn light through your lens, and glad you had such a cracking week.