fforma exhibitiona

fforma exhibition now on at Y Tabernacl, Queens Road, Aberystwyth.  Please go along and visit if you can.  It's open until the 21st of December.  There are six of us exhibiting and there's a variety of prints, photographs and paintings on show.  A good opportunity for a Christmas present or two! www.fforma.org.uk     

Loch Coruisk, July 2011

The Bella Jane

Another trip to the North of Scotland, this time a little later in the year than is usual for me.  I was a little apprehensive as to how the weather would behave as traditionally, the best weather in the North of Scotland tends to be during the months of May and June.  Anyway, as it was I needn't have worried as I had a blissful week of warm sunny days on the whole.  Searching for a new photographic location is always in my mind whenever I head North.  Coruisk wasn't exactly new to me as I'd visited the place about 10 years previously with a camera.  At that time though I only owned the humble 35mm SLR.  This time, it was a trip for my medium format camera.  I still have the original negatives from 10 years ago, but somehow I don't think the smaller format does this kind of landscape the justice it deserves.  Besides, I have a little more experience as a photographer now than I did then - I hope! 

Loch Coruisk

Reaching Coruisk is not difficult if you're based on or near the Isle of Skye.  You can either drive or take the stagecoach bus to Elgol.  Once there, you have the option of taking either the Bella Jane boat as I did, or the Misty Isle boat.  Both operate regular trips from Elgol pier, although it's worth checking the times to be on the safe side, as these can change depending on tide times, the weather etc.  Another option perhaps for the more adventurous and intrepid walker is to take the boat one way only to Coruisk, and then walk back to Elgol.  This is a rather long and arduous journey on foot, but an enthralling and  beautifully scenic walk awaits those brave enough to tackle it.  More details about walking around Coruisk can be found on www.walkingbritain.co.uk and www.walkhighlands.co.uk . 

My trip to Coruisk was a two way trip by boat.  For one thing, I didn't have the time to walk back, and for another, the prospect of carrying a heavy camera, tripod, rucksack and waterproofs was not entirely an appealing one!  I was fortunate enough to have a reasonably dry day with only a few brief showers.  The trip out and back was as exciting as the 4 hours or so that I spent in Coruisk itself.  Plenty of wildlife was on hand to see, including seals, birds and a brief glimpse of Dolphins!  Most of my time was spent around Loch Coruisk itself.  This is only a short walk from the boat landing stage.  However, it is frequently wet and muddy, and the path although quite distinct for the most part, is uneven and rocky in places.  As a consequence, walking boots are strongly recommended.  Once you arrive at Lock Coruisk itself, there's plenty of opportunity to photograph.  I found that I had little difficulty in keeping myself occupied with my medium format camera, and as a consequence, I probably shot approximately 6 films.  All in all, it was a very enjoyable trip which proved fruitful with the camera.  I will keep you posted as to when I put some of my black and white images on my website, so watch this space!  Please visit the following links for more information on Elgol and the Isle of Skye in general:-

www.isleofskye.net/elgolshop/
www.isleofskyeaccommodation.com
www.isleofskye.com

Inverie, Knoydart

Friday 11th June 2010

I woke to a rather damp morning, but that didn't deter me - I was determined to make that trip to Inverie. As I was staying in the Lochcarron area, I had quite a long drive to catch the Armadale to Mallaig ferry, so an early start was essential.

The last time I had visited Inverie was around 30 years previously with my parents. My memories of that trip are somewhat cloudy; my main recollection being the excitement of the boat trip itself as opposed to the destination. Natural enough I suppose - I neither had the wisdom nor the maturity at that age to truly appreciate what I had been introduced to. One thing I do remember though is being lifted ashore, as I was too small to bridge the gap between the boat and the pier!

Anyway, 30 years later and things are different. I have inherited my father and my paternal grandmother's love of wild places - known within my family as the hereditary "wandering bug," and of course, the camera and my love of photography has become an intrinsic part of this.

I arrived in Mallaig with plenty of time to spare before catching Bruce Watt's boat to Inverie. Bruce took over the running of the boat from his father in 1974, and his excursions are extremely popular with walkers, birdwatchers and tourists alike. The journey over took around 40 minutes, and despite the persistent drizzle, the sea was calm. As Inverie grew ever closer, vague recollections of my first visit 30 years previously filtered through my mind. There was something oddly familiar about the deciduous woodland which served as a backdrop to the row of little white cottages strung along the shore. After landing, I immediately set off on foot with my camera in tow to explore the village and surroundings. The drizzle only persisted for around 10 minutes after our arrival, it was as if my prayers had been answered and I had been granted a reprieve from the rain. I managed to shoot around three black and white films - more than I had dared hope for. I will hopefully soon put the results of my labour on my website - fingers crossed that the films have some decent images on them!

Inverie itself is situated on the north side of Loch Nevis. It currently has a population of around 60 permanent residents. It's remoteness is largely due to the fact that there is no motorised road access - the only access is either by boat, or for the more intrepid traveller, a 20 mile hike! Despite it's remoteness, Inverie has a true sense of community - something that has now sadly become somewhat of an alien concept in many rural villages across the UK. It boasts a village shop, school, pub and campsite. The Forge pub is definitely worth a visit. I had the pleasure of eating my lunch there. More information can be found on their website at http://www.theoldforge.co.uk/ The campsite is also of interest. The facilities are basic but adequate for the camper who cares little for home comforts! The most interesting feature is the compostable toilet - check out the photo! Any ideas as to the purpose of the hanging wellies gratefully received! Inverie tea room and pottery is another welcome sanctuary from the elements. A warm log fire and good food awaits you!

During the late 1990's, Inverie was at risk of military occupation. As a result, in 1997, the Knoydart Foundation was set up. Their aim was to preserve the beauty of Knoydart for its people. This has proved to be a success, and as a result, Inverie has maintained its prosperity as a community.

The return trip to Mallaig was most enjoyable. This took around 1.5 hours due to a visit to Tarbet to pick up and drop off passengers. Tea was served along with a good opportunity to chat. All in all, a good day's wandering and photographing was had in what is one of the most stunningly beautiful landscapes in the UK.

More information on Bruce Watt cruises can be found at http://www.knoydart-ferry.co.uk/