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  1. the Scottish mountains

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  • Beinn a'Chaolais from Beinn an Oir.

8pm, 23/5/87

    Beinn a'Chaolais from Beinn an Oir. 8pm, 23/5/87

  • Sun setting over Oronsay, from Beinn an Oir.

9.30pm, 23/5/87

    Sun setting over Oronsay, from Beinn an Oir. 9.30pm, 23/5/87

  • Twilight sky over Colonsay, from Beinn an Oir.

10.30pm, 23/5/87

    Twilight sky over Colonsay, from Beinn an Oir. 10.30pm, 23/5/87

  • Argyllshire skyline at dawn from Beinn an Oir.

5am, 24/5/87

~ with the sun rising in the col between Beinn an Dothaidh and Beinn Dorain.

    Argyllshire skyline at dawn from Beinn an Oir. 5am, 24/5/87 ~ with the sun rising in the col between Beinn an Dothaidh and Beinn Dorain.

  • Early sun on Beinn a'Chaolais, from Beinn an Oir.

5.15am, 24/5/87

    Early sun on Beinn a'Chaolais, from Beinn an Oir. 5.15am, 24/5/87

  • Beinn a'Chaolais and Beinn an Oir from Beinn Shiantaidh.

9am, 24/5/87

    Beinn a'Chaolais and Beinn an Oir from Beinn Shiantaidh. 9am, 24/5/87

  • Glenbatrick Bay.

2pm, 24/5/87

    Glenbatrick Bay. 2pm, 24/5/87

  • Camp at Lang Aoineadh.

6pm, 24/5/87

    Camp at Lang Aoineadh. 6pm, 24/5/87

  • Sun setting over Colonsay, from Rubha Lang-aoinidh.

9.30pm, 24/5/87

    Sun setting over Colonsay, from Rubha Lang-aoinidh. 9.30pm, 24/5/87

  • Crotal [Xanthoria sp.] and sea-pink on a dyke.

11am, 24/5/87

    Crotal [Xanthoria sp.] and sea-pink on a dyke. 11am, 24/5/87

  • A natural rock-garden on a basalt dyke.

11.30am, 25/5/87

~ Bluebell, Trefoil, Sea-pink, Sea-campion.

    A natural rock-garden on a basalt dyke. 11.30am, 25/5/87 ~ Bluebell, Trefoil, Sea-pink, Sea-campion.

  • North Jura moorland.

2pm, 20/10/86

    North Jura moorland. 2pm, 20/10/86

  • Fishing Loch, Ardlussa.

3pm, 24/10/86

    Fishing Loch, Ardlussa. 3pm, 24/10/86

  • Barnhill.5pm, 23/10/86~ where George Orwell lived  for long spells between May 1946 and January 1949, and wrote 
  Nineteen Eighty-four .

    Barnhill.5pm, 23/10/86~ where George Orwell lived for long spells between May 1946 and January 1949, and wrote Nineteen Eighty-four .

  • Feolin and the Paps.

2pm, 26/9/87

    Feolin and the Paps. 2pm, 26/9/87

  • Canna and South Uist from Glen Guirdil.

1pm, 18/4/83

    Canna and South Uist from Glen Guirdil. 1pm, 18/4/83

  • Skye from Orval.

2pm, 18/4/83

    Skye from Orval. 2pm, 18/4/83

  • The Cuillin of Rum from Orval.

2pm, 18/4/83

    The Cuillin of Rum from Orval. 2pm, 18/4/83

  • Eigg from Sgurr nan Gillean.

11am, 20/4/83

    Eigg from Sgurr nan Gillean. 11am, 20/4/83

  • Ainshval from Trallval.

2pm, 20/4/83

    Ainshval from Trallval. 2pm, 20/4/83

  • Hallival and Askival from Ainshval.

3pm, 21/4/83

    Hallival and Askival from Ainshval. 3pm, 21/4/83

  • Ainshval and Trallval from the S ridge of Askival.

10am, 21/4/83

    Ainshval and Trallval from the S ridge of Askival. 10am, 21/4/83

  • Blaven and Clach Glas from Torrin.

2pm, 27/09/79

    Blaven and Clach Glas from Torrin. 2pm, 27/09/79

  • A crofter's field at Torrin.

1pm, 27/9/79

    A crofter's field at Torrin. 1pm, 27/9/79

  • A bracing day at Elgol.

3pm, 4/10/80

    A bracing day at Elgol. 3pm, 4/10/80

  • The Cuillin ridge from Sgurr na Stri.

1pm, 25/9/81

    The Cuillin ridge from Sgurr na Stri. 1pm, 25/9/81

  • On Sgurr na Stri, about to get wet.

    On Sgurr na Stri, about to get wet.

  • The resemblance between Blaven and a Vango Force 10.

2pm, 27/09/81

    The resemblance between Blaven and a Vango Force 10. 2pm, 27/09/81

  • Camas Fhionnairigh from Sgurr na Stri. 

2pm, 25/9/81

~ The bridge has long since been washed away and crossing the river can involve a long detour at times, particularly  at high tide. The black sand is comminuted gabbro - not pollution! Note the old cultivation ridges.

    Camas Fhionnairigh from Sgurr na Stri. 2pm, 25/9/81 ~ The bridge has long since been washed away and crossing the river can involve a long detour at times, particularly at high tide. The black sand is comminuted gabbro - not pollution! Note the old cultivation ridges.

  • The Camasunary bridge (on its last legs).

9/81

~ There being little alternative, the next thing I did after taking this photo was to cross it. Most of the wire handrail and a good number of  the treads were missing, and bridge-sag brought the water up past knee-level at halfway.  As a non-swimmer,  I think this was the scariest thing I've ever done in the Scottish hills. 

A conjunction of spring tide and spate washed it all away a few years later.

    The Camasunary bridge (on its last legs). 9/81 ~ There being little alternative, the next thing I did after taking this photo was to cross it. Most of the wire handrail and a good number of the treads were missing, and bridge-sag brought the water up past knee-level at halfway. As a non-swimmer, I think this was the scariest thing I've ever done in the Scottish hills. A conjunction of spring tide and spate washed it all away a few years later.

  • Eigg and Rum from Camas Fhionnairigh.

4pm, 28/9/81

    Eigg and Rum from Camas Fhionnairigh. 4pm, 28/9/81

  • Central Cuillin from an Dorus.

9am, 19/4/82

~ L-r:  Sgurr Dubh na Da Bheinn, Sgurr nan Eag, Sgurr Mhic Choinnich, Sgurr Alasdair, Sgurr Sgumain, an Stac, Inaccessible Pinnacle, Sgurr Dearg.


This remains, after a quarter of a century, one of my most satisfying hill-days. The Munros total was past 200, but the central part of the Cuillin ridge awaited (I'd got Bruach - Basteir - Gillean the previous day, and Eag - Dubh Mor the previous year) and I was by no means confident that I was up to soloing it.  It proved to be all a joy.

Except perhaps the screes of Sgurr Thuilm, but once the solid rock of the crest was reached it was plain sailing, up the steep but easy buttress of Mhadaidh and over its tops, back down to an Dorus, and levitating over Ghreadaidh and Banachdich in the crisp and airy spring sunshine. Lunch on Dearg, contemplating the Pinnacle, then, nothing else for it, an exploratory scramble up the long side. I found it all quite simple, and delightful,  one arm's-length pull up a little wall and the rest just a question of balance,  so on getting to the top and back down I climbed it again, with a camera round my neck this time.

A scree-y bypass of an Stac, a walk along Mhic Choinnich's roof-ridge, back a bit for Collie's Ledge, a curiously awkward drop off Thearlaich for Alasdair, and down by the Stone Chute and Coire Lagan. Wonderful, wonderful.

    Central Cuillin from an Dorus. 9am, 19/4/82 ~ L-r: Sgurr Dubh na Da Bheinn, Sgurr nan Eag, Sgurr Mhic Choinnich, Sgurr Alasdair, Sgurr Sgumain, an Stac, Inaccessible Pinnacle, Sgurr Dearg. This remains, after a quarter of a century, one of my most satisfying hill-days. The Munros total was past 200, but the central part of the Cuillin ridge awaited (I'd got Bruach - Basteir - Gillean the previous day, and Eag - Dubh Mor the previous year) and I was by no means confident that I was up to soloing it. It proved to be all a joy. Except perhaps the screes of Sgurr Thuilm, but once the solid rock of the crest was reached it was plain sailing, up the steep but easy buttress of Mhadaidh and over its tops, back down to an Dorus, and levitating over Ghreadaidh and Banachdich in the crisp and airy spring sunshine. Lunch on Dearg, contemplating the Pinnacle, then, nothing else for it, an exploratory scramble up the long side. I found it all quite simple, and delightful, one arm's-length pull up a little wall and the rest just a question of balance, so on getting to the top and back down I climbed it again, with a camera round my neck this time. A scree-y bypass of an Stac, a walk along Mhic Choinnich's roof-ridge, back a bit for Collie's Ledge, a curiously awkward drop off Thearlaich for Alasdair, and down by the Stone Chute and Coire Lagan. Wonderful, wonderful.

  • Sgurr Alasdair from the In. Pinn.

2pm, 19/4/82

    Sgurr Alasdair from the In. Pinn. 2pm, 19/4/82

  • The Cuillin ridge from Sgurr Alasdair.

5pm, 19/4/82

    The Cuillin ridge from Sgurr Alasdair. 5pm, 19/4/82

  • Eas Mor, at the foot of Coire na Banachdich. 

7pm, 19/4/82

~ The end of a perfect day.

    Eas Mor, at the foot of Coire na Banachdich. 7pm, 19/4/82 ~ The end of a perfect day.

  • Camp at Coruisk.

9am, 23/4/82

    Camp at Coruisk. 9am, 23/4/82

  • Blaven from Gars-bheinn.

2pm, 23/4/82

    Blaven from Gars-bheinn. 2pm, 23/4/82

  • Cuillin ridge from Blaven.

3pm, 15/6/83

    Cuillin ridge from Blaven. 3pm, 15/6/83

  • Rum from Blaven.

9.30pm, 16/6/87

    Rum from Blaven. 9.30pm, 16/6/87

  • Late evening view north from Blaven.

9.40pm, 16/06/87

~ Clach Ghlas in full sun on the right, then Sgurr nan Each, with Garbh-bheinn and Belig framing Rudha na Mhaoil and Raasay.

    Late evening view north from Blaven. 9.40pm, 16/06/87 ~ Clach Ghlas in full sun on the right, then Sgurr nan Each, with Garbh-bheinn and Belig framing Rudha na Mhaoil and Raasay.

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    Feolin and the Paps.

2pm, 26/9/87
    Canna and South Uist from Glen Guirdil.

1pm, 18/4/83
    Skye from Orval.

2pm, 18/4/83