Autumn 2007 in the Scottish Highlands
What to see
Written by Gilbert Summers of Extra Mile Scotland - A celebration of the good things in Scotland
Summer 2007 was pretty poor – but don’t believe the stereotype of Highland weather – we did have sunny days sometimes! This has been a year for that special variation, when it rains at one end of the glen and is sunny at the other. You’ll notice this at places like the White Sands of Morar, on the road to Mallaig. You can be dazzled by the sheer brightness of the sand and sea but if you look eastwards, the big hills are dark with cloud. It’s the same at, say, Gairloch in the north-west. You can be enjoying your round of golf by the sea while the Torridon hills are catching all the weather!
In fact, it’s this interplay of light and shade which makes the Scottish Highlands such a dramatic destination, for landscapes and nature. So here’s our list of some of the special viewpoints where it’s well worth stopping with camera at the ready. They’re all easy to find.
Highland viewpoints . . .
White Sands of Morar, on the road to Mallaig
Get a wider angle on the beachscapes between Morar and Arisaig by finding the viewpoint by the Morar rail station (up the steps near the level crossing) where you’ll see the sands and the islands of Rum and Eigg on the horizon. Time it right and you can get the Jacobite Steam Train in the foreground.
Blaven from Loch Slapin, Skye
The Isle of Skye has plenty of places where you just have to stop and go ‘wow’. The spiky ridge of Blaven is an outlier of the main Cuillin ridge, much photographed with the sea-loch in the foreground. The pale rock by the water hereabouts is the famous Skye marble
The Struie, near Bonar Bridge
A reminder that the western seaboard does not have the monopoly on panoramas. You’ll find the Struie by going north from Alness, climbing steadily till you overlook the Kyle of Sutherland, and much of the eastern edge of the Highland hills.
Cairngorms from Loch Morlich, above Aviemore
OK, so Loch Morlich in summer has the air of seaside resort about it with much splashing and sailing going on, but it’s still a great view up to the long plateau of the Cairngorms.
Slioch from Loch Maree, near Kinlochewe
Close to Glen Torridon (which has plenty of great views), but on the Gairloch road the big bulky peak of Slioch dominates the end of Loch Maree. The old Caledonian pines frame the scene, if you get the angle right.
The peaks of Inverpolly from Knockan, beyond Ullapool
The mountains hereabouts are a weird lot, all eroding sandstone sitting on even more ancient bedrock. Small wonder the area is designated as a Geopark. Fine views from the main road between Ullapool and Ledmore.
Highland viewpoints – enjoy them whatever the weather or season!
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