For Lance's 50th birthday we went to Sutherland, at the
very north of the Scottish mainland. The weather wasn't very good, but we had a
great time anyway!
Barnhill Cottage, Elphin. A lovely
cottage with marvellous views
The view from Barnhill Cottage. The mountains are Suilven, on the left,
and Canisp (marked). Due to the weather we only
managed to climb one mountain on this visit to the cottage: Canisp
This is the view back to Barnhill Cottage from the top of Canisp. Elphin is a very small
and remote village: no television or radio, no telephone and very intermittent
mobile phone reception. You couldn't want a better place for a relaxing
holiday!
Another view from the top of Canisp,
this time looking southwest: Suilven lies below us
(on the right in this image). Suilven is a magic
mountain that dominates the view from Elphin. It is a
mountain of many moods, as the next two images will show
Taken from the door of Barnhill Cottage on two different evenings. Suilven is a magic mountain
As the mountains were attracting the rain most days we opted to
walk, or as in this photo cycle, near the coast. This view is of the Summer
Isles taken from near the village of Polbain, on the Rubha Colgeach peninsula
On another day we visited Corrieshalloch
Gorge, Britain's deepest, steepest gorge, with a magnificent waterfall to boot!
On yet another day we visited Handa
Island, a seabird reserve
Lots of seabirds
Including everyone's favourite: Puffins!
Off you go!
And so we get to the birthday boy
A master chef prepared my birthday meal
And, of course, the cake!
The Guest of Honour: a baby wagtail!