By way of something different I couldn’t help but notice the number of old baths dumped on land or outside a property. I guess some are repurposed, cattle troughs for example, but there is probably another explanation. From Fionnphort at the western tip of the Ross of Mull it’s a four hour round trip to the nearest recycling centre just outside the town of Tobermory in the north east corner of the isle!
Here are links to Parts One and Two in this series.
There are so many facets to these isles, to the point that trying to capture the spirit of the place with just a handful of images can’t possibly do it justice.
My wife and I have visited the Scottish Isles and in particular the Isle of Mull for over thirty years. However living on the South coast of England and travelling by car, means a minimum of two days on motorways, other stretches of tarmac and ferry crossings to reach our final destination. We take pleasure in the journey but we would probably visit more often if it wasn’t so far away. However being the distance it is does make it that much more special.
Admittedly accessibility is arguably the same for many people which does help to keep the number of visitors down. As a consequence places like Mull and Iona remain wild, beautiful and peaceful in equal measure.
In Part One of this short series I featured Iona Abbey. In this entry I will share a series of images captured during our week long stay back in the Spring. Apart from location they have little else in common but I hope they help to convey why and how much we love coming to this part of the world.
A gate into the beach at Fionnphort with Iona in the far distance
Uisken beach, Ross of Mull
Typical Croft House, Isle of Iona
Looking across the Sound of Iona, from Iona with Mull on the horizon
Redundant telephone box on the Ross of Mull
White Strand of the Monks, Iona ….. quite possibly my favourite and most magical place on the isle.
Please shut the gate, Near Kintra, Ross of Mull
Be Ye Man or Ye Be Woman, Be Ye Going or Ye Be Coming
Be Ye Early or Be Ye Late, Aye Tak Time to Shut the Gate
Ardalanish beach – looking out to the Paps of Jura, Isle of Mull
Petrol station – they are few and far between
The Paps of Jura on the skyline from Ardalanish beach
Highland cattle at Fionnphort – even they like a visit to the beach!
I shall finish with a Gaelic saying which was on inscribed on a wall in the Abbey which read;
‘Am fear a thèid a dh’l, thèid e trì uairean an.’
It means –
Those who come to Iona will come, not once, but three times.
As this was our second visit to Iona I very much hope this saying will come true, and that we will return on another day.
(A note for fellow photographers – I wanted to travel light this holiday so all these images were captured with the Leica Q3)
Age and an adversity to risk stop me from venturing very far up into the hills these days. I know if I did such walks would reveal some wonderful vistas of this majestic area. Yes, there are great viewpoints from the high passes which can be reached by car, but somehow it’s not quite the same as a day out fell walking followed by a pint and a pie back in the village pub nestled in the valley below.
Looking back I sometimes wish I had been a little more adventurous when age and fitness were on my side, nevertheless a less challenging walk along the shoreline of Derwentwater still comes with many rewards. There are scenes which are simply beautiful. Some might argue they truly encapsulate what the Lake District is all about. Big skies above the hills which are reflected in a large stretch of water. Assuming of course the air is still and the water calm.
These images taken of Derwentwater a few weeks ago on a rather lovely morning are well known scenes which have inspired many an artist and photographer. Witnessing for yourself the majesty of the landscape and nature at its finest, is very gratifying and good for the soul.
alan frost photography 