[Closed] Scotland - It's a beautiful place.

I watched that in a hotel in Glasgow on Thursday night. An excellent programme, and really beautifully done.

Shoosh!

Not all of it is.
Bathgate.
QED.

Have you been to Glasgow?

Loch Maree - my fave place on the planet; it's just 15 mls east of the home-stead.

[img] [/img]

Thanks for the heads-up there George, will settle back to watch this later, on iPlayer.
Tried to do the track to the west end of the loch about a year ago, 'challenging' would be an appropriate description... It's part of K Wilsons route 42, point 4 - point 1; I think it had eroded somewhat since he recorded it!

[img] [/img]

Scotland - It's a beautiful place

Aye, but full of c**ts!

😉

Loch Maree - my fave place on the planet; it's just 15 mls east of the home-stead.

I love the view over the Loch Maree as you approach Kinlochewe from the east.

Are you in Gairloch then?

Born 'n' raised in Opinan Steve, 9 mls south of Gairloch on the coast, now stay not too far from yersel', in Bonaly...
Would love to live there still, but little meaningful work, within my 'skills' envelope, negated that. Most of the immediate family still there - twin sister runs the 'Farm & Garden' store in Gairloch with bro' in law if you're passing (good prices on Montane stuff, tho' that might be family discount!)

mansonsoul - Member
Have you been to Glasgow?

In fairness to Glasgow there are far worst cities in the UK.

Born 'n' raised in Opinan Steve, 9 mls south of Gairloch on the coast

Know it - nice little beach there and some caves in the cliffs if I recall correctly. I'm usually in Gairloch a few times each year and always take a trip out to the beach at Redpoint. We've been considering buying a holiday place up there - serious considered one in North Erradale earlier in the year.

I've been to lots of places across the world but the Gairloch area is still my favourite so far.

It's SHITE being Scottish! We're the lowest of the low, the scum of the ****ing earth, the most wretched, miserable, servile, pathetic trash that was ever shat into civilization. Some people hate the English, I don't. They're just ****ers. We, on the other hand, are colonized by ****ers. We can't even find a decent culture to be colonized by. We are ruled by effete arseholes. It's a shite state of affairs to be in, Tommy! And all the fresh air in the world won't make any ****ing difference!

full of c**ts!

Your euphemism for midges, Kit?

Just watched the OP programme, great to get views of the other side of the islands (never like the twirly, pipey folk music backgrounds they put on though. Pumping bass driven rock next time please!). Geographically, it has the usual paradox, can often be the grimmest place on earth, but being there on a nice day - oh yeah 8) Of course, being there in the right clothing improves every day.
Hoping to do a few epic rides there next year (torridon, slioch etc.) - might buzz you at the time Steve in case you'll be visiting...

Yup it is stunning.

I was going to quote Trainspotting too but TJ beat me to it.

"can often be the grimmest place on earth, but being there on a nice day - oh yeah"

Absolutely spot on

I'm walking my dogs around the Lochan at Glencoe. The sky is as clear as a clear thing, the water's so still the stars are reflected in it, and I can just about see without a torch. It's stunning.

just watched this - it is a very attractive part of the country.

thanks for posting that

Well, if we're doing Slioch....

[img] [/img]

Scotland is a beautiful place (outside the towns mostly) but, like everywhere else, there's some rough too:

Ardrossan
Bathgate
Methil
Glenrothes
Cumbernauld
Dundee
Cowdenbeath
Lochgelly
Livingston
etc

We stayed at Big Sands, nr Gairloch in the 'summer'. It's a fantastic area.

[url= http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2144/2535599237_d9e9f9dc42_b.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2144/2535599237_d9e9f9dc42_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2270/2536419206_689c2bc058.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2270/2536419206_689c2bc058.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3201/2920188568_41806181fe_b.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3201/2920188568_41806181fe_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url]

Good excuse to post this again? 🙂

Prizes for guessing where
[img] ?t=1260351670[/img]

Love Scotland - have at least one holiday up there every year without fail.

Its nearly as nice as the lake district

Aristotle, I think I stayed there ages back. Is it still 4 farmhouses and a phonebox? It was rotten weather when we were there which made it pretty bleak but you could see it would be cracking in the right weather.

[i]Ardrossan[/i]

shudder...that's worse than Sheffield!

>Prizes for guessing where<

Achiltibuie / Summer Isles?

Well, if we're doing Slioch....

I'll see your slioch, Colin

[img] [/img]

And raise you 1 sunrise from my old room window

[img] [/img]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/robgarrioch/4170847947/in/set-72157622549006919/ ](photostream)[/url]

The LH hill is Baosbheinn (OS grid NG 869 657), Beinn Alligin on the right.

Edit; can't see your picture at work Grumm - where's it taken? 😈

>Prizes for guessing where<

Achiltibuie / Summer Isles?

Nope fraid not 🙂

think we are averaging twice a year in the highlands at the moment

hopefully if plans go right then we'll be an awful lot closer to them permanently 🙂

i effing love scotland

[url= http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3410/3442544218_0807128dba.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3410/3442544218_0807128dba.jp g"/> [/img][/url]

grumm - colonsay or there abouts?

mrmichalewright, that cottage at the end of the loch looks like a decent place to lay your hat.

indeed, although not in midge season

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

Some of my photos.

My lucky friend walking her dog, less than 15 minutes stroll from her house...

[IMG] [/IMG]

Can't wait to get up there for Christmas and Hogmanay! 😀

Wish I could live somewhere that remote, just a shame my work doesnt allow it 🙁

Wish I could live somewhere that remote, just a shame my work doesnt allow it 🙁

We stayed at Big Sands, nr Gairloch in the 'summer'. It's a fantastic area

One of my favourite campsites that.

Some great pictures on this thread. Here's some of my offerings:

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]
One of the best motorcycling roads on the planet.

[img] [/img]
On the beach at Big Sand

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

All this makes me want to finish early & go for a walk.... tonights ride round GTress may not entirely satisfy.

May this thread goan and on!

algarvebairn

have you actually been to Dundee before you slate it? Every city has its rough bits, but as a Non-Dundonian, half english half Scot, I think Dundee has a hell of a lot going for it and I have lived here for 5 years.

Really p*sses me off the rest of Scotland's snobbery towards Dundee.

oh and heres some pictures of Stac Pollaidh, or is it Mars?
[img] [/img]
[img] [/img]
[img] [/img]
[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]
[img] [/img]

2 of mine pics from Scotland, cant get enough of it.. Really need to move! 😀

puts finger in ears, covers eyes and shouts STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT

i wanna go now

sod it, hogmanay it is

now where to camp?

organic355,

yip i've been to Dundee. I'm not in the habit of of voicing uninformed opinion. I confess I haven't been down every street but the bits Ive been to have been well rough. My wife got her handbag nicked in the town centre and I got myself a kicking when I was up at a football match a couple of years back.

But if you like I'll change my post to:

Dundee (except the nice bits which are undeniably overwhelmed by the rough bits)

'ken where you were there, didmatt...

[img] [/img]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/robgarrioch/4048971945/in/set-72157622549006919/ ](photostream)[/url]

robgarrioch : Aye, its the stunning Isle of Skye. I keep finding myself going over the last 4yrs. Went in Feb this year with our bikes, didn't really get much biking done! It was abit rough to say the least!

[url= http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/next-time-youre-in-skye-mini-mtb-track-pics ]This thread[/url] may interest you for your next trip didmatt.

I live in a grim part of Scotland but have easy access to places like this:

Skye:
[img] [/img]

CMD Arete - Ben Nevis
[img] [/img]

Tiree:
[img] [/img]

Tiree:
[img] [/img]

Loch Leven:
[img] [/img]

Stob Ghabhar Summit towards Ben Nevis:
[img] [/img]

Gosh, I have so few decent photos of my own country 🙁 I really need to see more of it.

Couple of mine:
[url= http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1262/1439119027_a9353694f6_b.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1262/1439119027_a9353694f6_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url]

[url= http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3257/2871487394_6419711486_b.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3257/2871487394_6419711486_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url]

puts finger in ears, covers eyes and shouts STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT

x2! Averaging about 3 trips a year hauling up from the South West, would leave tomorrow if I could work out how to make a living, but those pics are inspiration to keep on planning and dreaming, so thanks for that - no really. 🙂

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

Went a couple of years ago with the family, in August.
It rained every day!!!!!!

Still had a great time however! 😛

If they could just tow scotland down to the south of france it would be a tropical paradise!!!

Scotland - It's a beautiful place

Certainly one of the most beautiful countries on earth- every time I go hillwalking there I always end up wondering why I left. Trouble is you can't eat scenery. That's why so many of us have to leave to make a living.

It's such a shame that the weather is SO BAD though. On a 10 day camping trip to The Highlands and Skye in August, it rained every single day.

A relative of mine lives in Stirling and the weather seems a lot worse (wetter and greyer) than it does in Manchester.

I have had some fantastic days climbing the rock and the ice, but the weather does seem to be generally terrible for human outdoor enjoyment.

Average annual rainfall in Stirling and Manchester is the same at 75-100 cm per year.

[i]Trouble is you can't eat scenery.[/i]
why would you want to eat scenery when there's so much cholesterol available up there? It's the national dish 😉

Average annual rainfall in Stirling and Manchester is the same at 75-100 cm per year.

Annual rainfall doesn't tell the whole story.

It seems more 'dreek' in Stirling (and the Highlands).

:'(
I want to go back up there...

Epic steve you are nearly right, but your motorbike road is nowhere as nice as mine (willy waving).

It is a jaw droppingly beautiful place. I love it.

I used to go climbing and walking for a week every Easter around Glen Coe, not been for probably 19 years. All my old pics are prints unfortunately.

>I have had some fantastic days climbing the rock and the ice, but the weather does seem to be generally terrible for human outdoor enjoyment.<

You've not been reading Samuel Johnson have you? 😉

The weathers not all bad - Tiree for example gets more hours of sunshine than anywhere else in the UK. Went there for 15+ years on the bounce and only had one really bad week to speak of

It's dreich - as in Loch

No such thing as bad weather... just bad clothing

Epic steve you are nearly right, but your motorbike road is nowhere as nice as mine (willy waving).

Lets see it then!

The bit I posted has lots going for it - no traffic, no police, great scenery, good road surface etc., some great corners.

I came to work on the motorbike today and would love to just point it north and head up there.

Proof positive! (about 10 mls further west from your pic steve)

[img] [/img]

Oh well - if its turned into a photo thread 🙂
[img] [/img]
[img] [/img]

Proof positive! (about 10 mls further west from your pic steve)

I'm pretty sure I've taken photo's from that spot or somewhere very nearby.

[i]would leave tomorrow if I could work out how to make a living[/i]

What do you do that you couldn't do up here? I'm not taking the mickey, it's an honest question.

Oh, and another photo, this time from the campsite at Applecross.

[img] [/img]

All of these photos are getting me REALLY excited 😀
I don't really care about the rough parts of Scotland, I'm not going to be going there!!

OK - photos are good.

[url= http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2588/4171760621_674e0def81.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2588/4171760621_674e0def81.jp g"/> [/img][/url]

[url= http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2720/4163063923_926d9a08b3.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2720/4163063923_926d9a08b3.jp g"/> [/img][/url]

[url= http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2703/4094056120_17ba1a07b2.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2703/4094056120_17ba1a07b2.jp g"/> [/img][/url]

[url= http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3280/2800615641_5b449ee023.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3280/2800615641_5b449ee023.jp g"/> [/img][/url]

and of course...
[url= http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2461/3679066475_303c7baf4d.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2461/3679066475_303c7baf4d.jp g"/> [/img][/url]

Love it, may we please have locations as well please!

I would give my right arm to move up to Scotland (not city though, although i was born in Glasgow), lived in England since a year or so old, as has most of my relatives now.

Going on hols next year to Tulloch Farm just down the road from Roybridge, fantastic part of the world, i may even sneak my bike onto the car without her knowing and have a cheeky run at Nevis Range or over at Laggan....shooosh.

The only thing stopping me uproot my family is work, if i could find something similar to what i do , i would be there like a shot.

Ardrossan

shudder...that's worse than Sheffield!

I'll see your Ardrossan and raise you a Slough, or a Hounslow...

Airdrie / coatbridge

I'm going for the nuclear option - double strike - sighthill - both glasgow & edinburgh options.

duckman : My photos,
1st was taken looking back on Kinnlochleven with the Pap of Glencoe in the disance, taken somewhere on the west highland way. [url= http://www.multimap.com/s/PcBd1UTm ]multimap link[/url]

2nd was taken on the Isle of Skye, just below the old man of Storr which is in the north east of the island between Portree and Staffin. [url= http://www.multimap.com/s/Na6U3VQC ]Multimap link[/url]

Skinflats.

I rest my case (whatever it was).

Duckman, my photos are:

1) Nevis Range at Relentless 24 2008
2) Beach near Applecross
3) Fisherfield Hills, looking to An Teallach
4) Arisaig looking to Eigg and Rhum
5) Swindon ;o)

the photos don't tell the whole story - taken under rare climatic conditions

shite weather most of the year round, and bastard midges

Some great pics in this thread. Mine was taken from near Stein on Skye btw - looking out towards Uist.

kennyp - no worries, I need people to keep asking me that. I'm a consultant I work in sustainable development, currently mostly in environmental planning at a strategic level, but have previously working in public and academic sector on various environmental management/ assessement, corporate social responsibiity/ strategy stuff. Have been researching for some time possibilities in the highlands, just haven't quite figured out what/where and how I can blend that with the other stuff that I actually really want to do - build/ renovate own home, get a bit of land.. you know dreamy stuff... 🙂

If it didn't rain it would not be so green and lush - and if it wasn't for the midges it would be overpopulated.