The narrow spine of Rubha na Cille, the headland of the hermit’s cell, near Tayvallich is characterised by these stacks and pillars of rock, giving the land an almost unearthly feel. This manipulation is deliberately low-toned to emphasise the strangeness of walking through the landscape.
I was in Fife for a course last week and managed to make a flying visit to the Abbey before it closed. It being Fife, the beggars took my money before telling me the place was closing in five minutes. Anyway, a quickly-snatched photo on the phone, no less, gives you an impression of the sheer quality of the Norman architecture here. I shall return.
A grab on the phone when picking up a coffee in Glasgow on Friday.
Found lurking in the drafts folder. Hope you like it.
Out for a frosty walk yesterday, this was the view of the pretty Loch Buic in Knapdale. No beavers present at the time of taking this, but there were a family of five whooper swans feeding halfway down the far shore.
While my son and grandson were skimming stone a wee bit downstream from here on our recent holiday to North Wales, I made some photos of the ancient bridge. This is the one I like best.
Coupling Joan to her train at Llanfair Caereinion.
No 12 “Joan” is an engine on the Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway. No 12 “Joan” is also named for my maternal grandmother, Joan Mildred Simmons (nee Henzell) and was one of a number of steam engines which were used to haul sugar cane to the factory on Antigua. I visited the WLLR on their recent steam gala and was lucky enough to ride on the footplate on a scheduled service.
To find out more about this rather wonderful heritage railway, visit www.wllr.org.uk. To enjoy the trains, visit the railway!
Fingal’s Cave, Staffa
Viewed from the approach with Staffa Trips last week.
Okay, I’m still getting used to using Lightroom and the tobacco filter on the sky might be a little heavy, but I’m pleased with the seawater.
Keills Port South Quay
At the end of the peninsula south of Tayvallich lies the little-used Keills Port. This slipway is the still-operational South Quay and maintained by Argyll and Bute Council. The gated road to the quay is a public road its full length and, contrary to the signs, it is possible to turn a vehicle at the quay end. That said, the best approach is on foot or bicycle to maintain the tranquility of the place. This was once busy with traffic from the Isle of Jura, which lies across the sound. Seals and otters can be seen here and the slipway itself is covered with sea pinks in the spring.
The quay was built in 1821 on the orders of the Parliamentary Commissioners for Highland Roads and Bridges and is attributed to Thomas Telford.
