Travel with Neil visits The Highlands
Sun, rain, rainbows and stunning colours. Welcome to the Highlands of Scotland.
Finally, the world is opening up for people like me, who absolutely love travelling. The opportunity to discover amazing places and meet fascinating people. It’s been a long wait.
Of course I am in turmoil, because like most other people, I actually worry about our planets future, the future my daughter faces even though she’s an adult now, and the young children I see around with their parents. All I can do is try to be more efficient at home and hope the industries that facilitate the amazing travel opportunities open to us, work to make the process much less destructive to our planet.
But why do I love travelling? Simply because the new and interesting is what fires my creativity. As a British citizen, I live on an island and in the grand scheme of things, a relatively small, but incredible island. The most difficult proposal as a creative, is to make the normal, the mundane, interesting. Ask me to create some amazing images of my home town and I’ll pull a face like I’ve sucked on a fresh lemon. Northamptonshire is a beautiful county with an abundance of history, but Northampton town, like many other provincial towns, is tired, in need of renovation, in need of a cause, to make it proud of itself again…
And so I travel, to inspire and refresh my soul.
Neil looks out from Glen Dogherty Viewpoint in the Highlands of Scotland
It’s been a few years since I visited Scotland. The last time I was there was to visit a couple of editors on a portfolio show. I stayed in Edinburgh and saw a few sights, but I’ll be honest, I know there’s more to Scotland than the old city with it’s obvious tourist traps.
Many moons ago, I was on assignment for a magazine following the three peaks yacht race. The final leg of the journey was in Scotland and the scenery took my breath away. If you haven’t done it in such a short period of time, it’s hard to describe just how different the mountains and scenery are between Englands Lake District, Snowdonia in Wales and The Highlands of Scotland. But there is and it’s distinct. This time, I headed to Inverness, to photograph something I’ve been wanting to shoot as part of a small series of images to do with power and structure.
Just north of Inverness is the harbour village of Cromarty on Cromarty Firth. Within the Firth is possibly one of the most strange sights you’ll see, especially if you’re a townie or English village dweller. Moored in the firth, waiting, are oil and gas rigs. Not just a couple, but 10 to 12 of them. And they’re huge. Some are there to have refurbishments, some are waiting to be scrapped. But when you see them moored next to the tiny village of Cromarty, the polarity between the delicate, beautiful harbour village and the harsh unyielding behemoths of the oil and gas industry stops you in your tracks. You can’t help but stand and stare.
But why did I enjoy shooting oil rigs quite so much? I’m most fond of shooting people and places, but I’ve always had a fascination with architecture. The ‘Power’ series I’m working on contains quite a few architectural subjects. When I was younger I wanted to be an architect, I think it was because of the roll neck jumpers and cool specs. Unfortunately, mathematics turned out to be my Achilles heel… And so I stick to photography, which occasionally affords me architectural and engineering wonders.
But back to appreciating Scotland as a destination. I’ll be honest, I was staying for three nights and it wasn’t long enough. Most of the first day, arrival day, was spent getting settled in and finding my bearings. That left me two whole days to get the images for my power project and then explore further afield.
After flying into Inverness, I’d hired a car to get me around. It seemed a bit overkill for my first night there, as my hotel was literally 100m from the front of the airport. So, I was driven half a mile away from the airport to collect the little Audi, only for me to head right back again and park the car just meters from where I’d stood not half an hour earlier.
Sadly, due to my short time frame, I didn’t get to explore much of Inverness city itself, which is a massive shame, but also gives me a reason to go back…
I’d picked possibly the best time to visit the Highlands area, end of Autumn, because the colours on the trees and the heather on the hills were absolutely stunning. Yellows into golds, reds, ambers, ochre. We’ve all seen the pictures, but in real life, it truly stops you in your tracks. The times I was driving through the countryside with my mouth agape, lost for words, were numerous…
The harbour village of Cromarty is picture postcard perfect. Tiny fisherman cottages, quaint village stores and the smallest harbour with little boats bobbing to the rhythm of the tide. During the busy months, there’s also a small ferry that crosses the firth between Cromarty and Nigg.
It was incredibly peaceful wandering around the village. As well as getting the shots I wanted, it was pure bliss to just sit on the harbour wall, enjoy a fresh pastry and coffee and just exist in the moment. It was my ideal version of meditation. The closest sound, was the small waves lapping against the wall, then there was the bird life, calling and chattering away. There was the slightest of winds brushing across my face and then in the distance the metallic noises of the marine and energy industry.
For my second and last full day, I decided to do a little tour around. Starting in Inverness, I drove half an hour to Loch Ness for a coffee stop and some Nessie spotting… didn’t see her. Thankfully, the views of the great Loch more than made up for not seeing any monsters. From there I headed North and West simply enjoying the drive through spectacular Highland scenery. Along the route I had to stop and breathe in the enormity of space. The air is so fresh and sometimes you can feel like the only human for miles.
I took in the views across the fields of Achanalt with it’s winding stream bisecting the landscape, and then along to the relatively small Loch a Chroisg. Possibly one of the finest views going is the simple to access Glen Docherty Viewpoint. It’s elevated position affords you sensational views through the valley and down to Taagan and Loch Maree. The weather standing there changed so often, that within 20 minutes, I’d experienced warm shafts of sun, rain and sleet. I was elated and I’d thoroughly encourage you to experience the views for yourself.
The one thing I was surprised not to have encountered on my journeys, was that most recognisable of Scottish bovine, the Highland Cow. I had to make that right!
Not far from Inverness airport, is Culloden Battlefield and visitor centre. Again, I was kicking myself that I didn’t have more time to explore this historical site. This is the location of the Battle of Culloden, the climax of the Jacobite Rising, where the Highlanders fighting for Scotland and Prince Charlie, faced defeat at the hands of the British Army in April 1746. But although I was disappointed not to have the time to explore the site, just off one of the footpaths I did find what I was looking for, that hairiest of beasties, the Highland Cow.
My short trip complete, I’ve vowed to return as soon as possible to uncover more of what the Highlands of Scotland has to offer.
A Highland Cow at Culloden Battlefield and visitor centre.
