A Year of Recovery
May
Ardgour | Ardnamurchan | Moidart | Morvern | Sunart
Cappuccino Calm
Sailean Dubh, Ardtoe, Ardnamurchan
Ardtoe is a great place to go to watch late-Spring/early-Summer sunsets as the Sun dips below the horizon directly behind the Small Isles of Eigg and Rùm. Before doing so, it can cast soft, warm light in to Sailean Dubh. It did just that on an early-May evening when, during a chat with the local crofter, the emergence of coffee coloured light prompted the ending of the conversation between us, to allow me to capture the sea, the rocks and the sky being painted with beautiful golden-brown hues.
Samalaman Sunburst
Samalaman Bay, Glenuig, Moidart
Another good place to go to watch the Sun set behind the Small Isles in late-Spring is Samalaman Bay near Glenuig. If you head west through the woods from the beach, you will come to a rocky foreshore with a view that opens up to reveal Eigg and Rùm on the distant horizon. I found a spot where a small pool and the lines in the rocks drew my eye out to the islands. On seeing some gaps in the clouds, I set up my tripod and composed this shot. Then, it was just a case of waiting until, as hoped, the Sun burst through one of the gaps to illuminate the scene.
Beyond the Channel
Loch Moidart, Ardmolich, Moidart
If you have driven from Acharacle to Glenuig, you may recall the view of Loch Moidart that you get as you come down the north side of Drynie Hill. It was particularly striking on this May evening when I was heading over that way just after sunset. So much so, I just had to stop and capture this image of An Sgurr on the Isle of Eigg sitting beyond the hillsides that form the North Channel of Loch Moidart, all silhouetted against the intense orange of a dusk sky.
Caisteal nan Con I
Bagh Caisteal, Killundine, Morvern
Caisteal nan Con (Castle of the Dogs) stands in a commanding position on a rocky outcrop on the west shore of Morvern, overlooking the Sound of Mull. It is a picturesque ruin with the remnants of a rectangular tower house being its main feature. When I was looking at it, I quite liked how both it and the outcrop seemed to form a symmetrical triangle. Therefore, I framed this shot with the tower house in the middle, using some seaweed to provide some foreground interest and complete the image.
South Sanctuary
South Channel, Loch Moidart, Moidart
Castle Tioram may be a popular place to visit, and quite rightly so, however I often stop about a kilometre before the Castle to take in the view shown in this image. On a beautiful May evening, I had hoped for a dramatic sunset, but instead, it was quite subdued. Nonetheless, I was treated to some lovely gold colours contrasting against the blue hues of the approaching Blue Hour. Meanwhile, a sailboat nestled safely between the Sgeir nan Ròn and the shoreline of the South Channel of Loch Moidart completed the scene just perfectly.
Sunset on Spring
Kentra Bay, Ardnamurchan
My favourite view of the Small Isles of Eigg and Rùm is the one you get when you look through the entrance of Kentra Bay from Arivegaig. The distinctive shape of An Sgurr on Eigg, set against the backdrop of the Rùm Cuillin such a dramatic sight. I was there on the very last day of Spring when the sunset provided an amazing orange backdrop to their silhouettes and two boats moored in the Bay and white tufts of bog cotton provided some lovely foreground interest.