Magical Places
Celebrating places of beauty & magic
Occupying the upper portion of Great Britain, this ancient land is characterized by clans and tartans, lochs and legends, and a colorful rugged beauty unlike anything I've seen before.
Scotland's towering hills have stood for centuries; yet amidst this permanence is constant motion: clouds swiftly rolling across the sky...waterfalls cascading down the hillsides...golden grass rippling with every breeze
Aptly called "God's Country", Scotland's fierce beauty touches the heart and stirs the soul...
Glencoe
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Lovely magical Glencoe
Scotland's hills are moss-covered rock - with waterfalls appearing as silver threads meandering down the hillside
The grass of this land is so unique: vibrant green with golden, reddish and purplish hues...and all these colors shine through with every breeze
This hill is called "The Saddle", off A87.
Scotland is a hiker's paradise. Exploring this land on foot is irresistible, and once you head out you won't want to turn back!
Aonach Dubh, one of the 3 sisters in Glencoe.
Scotland's terrain is so colorful and varied...
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Aonach Mor
Aonach Mor is one of Scotland's highest peaks
Gondolas take you up up up...
Even after hopping off the gondola, you have yet to hike up a winding footpath... (bundle up because it's windy as hell!)
Still climbing...
Looks like you could just reach up and touch the clouds...
View from the top
It was a cloudy day, but such is the dramatic beauty of Scotland
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Scenery Along A82/A87
Driving along, you are dwarfed by magnificent hills... Humbling, yet comforting at the same time
You can see the highway snaking its way through the massive hills...
Pull over and hike some more! How can anyone resist??
Scotland is a driver's heaven - even in the most remote areas, the roads are perfectly paved (how do they manage that??)
It takes seemingly forever to get from place to place - every 5 minutes the scenery beckons you to pull over and enjoy!
Over the rainbow
After a sudden, intense downpour this most beautiful vivid rainbow appeared...
I was so thrilled to be there when it happened!
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Eileen Donan Castle
Entrance to Eileen Donan Castle, built in the early 1200's. A stone footbridge takes you over to the castle; inside are exhibits dating from the Viking era to the 19th century. (Another dramatic cloudy day - a stretch for my 100 speed film!)
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Isle of Skye
The ever-beautiful Isle of Skye deserves its own map, since there are so many scenic spots worth mentioning.
Though you can explore the island in one day, you won't want to - best to stay at least one night!
Cuillins Hills
This is the natural curve of the terrain; I applied no special effects to this photo
Cuillins Hills in the late afternoon sun
One of the hundreds of lochs (Gaelic for 'lake') in Scotland.
At times you'd think the country was more water than land!
Mealt Waterfall at Kilt Rock on the eastern coast of Skye
This lovely cone-shaped peak is called Glamaig, in the southern region of Skye
Old Man of Storr (A geological formation on the eastern coast)
Strange as it may sound, the energy of this area was strikingly similar to the American southwest...
Duntulm Castle and surrounding scenery on the northern tip of Skye
You can see in the distance the Outer Hebrides Islands
Looking through a 'window' of Duntulm Castle
I felt like I was peering out at the magical Isle of Avalon...
Neist Point at the westernmost tip of Skye
The picture is dark, I know, but it does capture some of the drama
Sunset of the coast of Skye
Urquhart Castle
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Entrance to Urquhart Castle, on the shores of Loch Ness
The castle is sprawling, with walkways connecting the remaining pieces
Another view of this ancient miniature city
Looking out over Loch Ness
No sight of Nessie! Maybe next time...