Isle of Foula, just off the southern coast of the Shetlands
Here are some pictures of a trip through the Scottish Isles. Starting in the Shetlands, we travelled down through to the Orkneys, then through the Hebrides, criss-crossing “The Minch” as we wend our way, dodging the worst of the weather to end in Dublin.
Lerwick, Shetland Islands
Coastal formations on the western coast of Shetland Islands.
Coastal formations on the western coast of Shetland Islands.
Various lichens cover the rocks all around here, western Shetland Islands
Coastal formations on the western coast of Shetland Islands.
Isle of Foula, just off the southern coast of the Shetlands
Isle of Foula, just off the southern coast of the Shetlands
Isle of Foula, just off the southern coast of the Shetlands
Isle of Foula, just off the southern coast of the Shetlands
What's that darling? Fair Isle, where the wool is pulled off the sheep (not shorn). Famous for their wooly jumpers
Fair Isle coast, an island of only 50 inhabitants.
Fair Isle coast, an island of only 50 inhabitants.
Coastal views, Fair Isle
Coastal views, Fair Isle
Coastal views, Fair Isle
Kirkwall, Orkney Islands
St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall.
Within St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall.
St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall.
Fields on the Orkneys, you would think it was in the south of France. This area is inhabited since Neolithic times. The islands are low lying and fertile.
coastal triptych, Orkney Islands.
Moss on the beach, Orkney Islands
Coast, Orkney Islands
Ring of Brodgar, Orkney Islands
Plants from Inverewe Botanic Gardens, a truly extraordinary place on Loch Ewe.
Plants from Inverewe Botanic Gardens, a truly extraordinary place on Loch Ewe.
The ridged leaves of an oak, Inverewe Gardens, Loch Ewe
Loch Ewe.
Dawn
Walking through the fields and fens of the Isle of Rum
Walking through the fields and fens of the Isle of Rum
Walking through the fields and fens of the Isle of Rum
The castle on the Isles of Rum, a rich man's indulgence.
Piling through the waves!
Trekking around Loch Nevis and Loch Morar (the deepest, fresh water loch in Scotland)
South Uist lighthouse walk
South Uist lighthouse walk
The "leap", it is said a fellow leapt this gap to save himself from the wrath of the local sherif who's wife he had slept with... I don't think it ended well.
South Uist lighthouse walk
South Uist lighthouse walk
Trekking around Loch Nevis and Loch Morar (the deepest, fresh water loch in Scotland)
Trekking around Loch Nevis and Loch Morar (the deepest, fresh water loch in Scotland)
Trekking around Loch Nevis and Loch Morar (the deepest, fresh water loch in Scotland)
Trekking around Loch Nevis and Loch Morar (the deepest, fresh water loch in Scotland)
Trekking around Loch Nevis and Loch Morar (the deepest, fresh water loch in Scotland)
Tobermory, Isle of Mull.
Tobermory Lighthouse walk
Lighthouse, Tobermory.
Isle of Mull, Tobermory
Iona Sanctuary
The chapel of the Iona Sanctuary.
Iona Sanctuary, cloister
Iona Sanctuary, cloister (detail)
A wet, boggy day on the Isle of Islay.