Scottish Bothies

Am planning a car camping trip to Durness for a couple of nights. My car camping kit is going to seem quite nostalgic - Force Ten Classic tent and Trangia stove. Though great design will stand the test of time. :) I want to visit Cape Wrath lighthouse. My late father was stationed there for two weeks when he was a supernumary keeper.
 
patw said:
Superb photo @Digimonkey , I bought a large canvas print similar to the photo you have posted.It was taken up in Wester Ross.I ordered it from a landscape photographer on the Internet based in England. He replied saying instead of having it posted to Glasgow he could bring the print to me as he was heading up to Edinburgh for a few days (great personal touch I thought ).It was good to meet the guy who was a keen hill walker himself, he told me about his day on the mountains when he took that photo and the fear of being struck by lightning. We talked about the great outdoors for a few hours and I thanked him for the 20% discount he offered me on any further purchases. I wished him well as he left for Edinburgh.
The print still hangs proudly on my living room wall and I don't think I'll ever tire of looking at it.
Click to expand...

@patw - thank you for your compliment. That is indeed a lovely picture you posted. It illustrates an unfortunate truth about Scottish landscape photography - the best light is to be found - 1) just before 2) during or 3) just after a storm or heavily changeable weather. Great for snaps - bummer if you are the guy with the camera. I have taken pictures in many places around the world over the years - both professionally and personally - but there is something really special about the light in the Highlands. Particularly in Spring and Autumn. Low angled, modelling light that throws the contours of the landscape into sharp relief. See attached - again copyrighted images - cheers - I.

Rannoch3.jpg Rannoch2.jpg Rannoch1.jpg
 
thegallus1 said:
Am planning a car camping trip to Durness for a couple of nights. My car camping kit is going to seem quite nostalgic - Force Ten Classic tent and Trangia stove. Though great design will stand the test of time. :) I want to visit Cape Wrath lighthouse. My late father was stationed there for two weeks when he was a supernumary keeper.
Click to expand...

The last time I was camping was at Durness, in a Vango F10 cooking trout on the Trangia stove caught from the limestone lochs. That was 20 odd years ago...and seems like yesterday
 
Digimonkey said:
Hello all - the subject of mountain bothies turned up last night in the conversation on sotd. Mostly with @Blademonkey - sparked by my mentioning Essence of Scotland - Highland Bothy soap and how it seems very unlikely to smell 'authentic' to the bothy experience. If you are interested - here are some pictures of actual bothies - for those who don't know - a bothy is a rough and ready mountain shelter. Free to use by anyone and looked after by the Scottish Mountain Bothies Association. Locations are as follows - 1,2 & 3 - Guirdil, isle of Rum. 4 & 7 - Staoineag - west central highlands. 5 - Loch Chiaran - west central highlands. 6 - Meanach - west central highlands. 8 - Lairig Leacach - west central highlands. I hope some might find them to be interesting - they are copyrighted and I trust this will be respected. Best Regards - I.
Click to expand...
High qualitiy and professional made photographs. My deep respect. Never been in Scottland but this images makes me want to visit this country one day. ;)
 
Last edited:
Digimonkey said:
Pete - there is no one route for the TGO - they give you a selection of starting points and finishing points - it's up to you to work out the stages in between. The one I was on was from Glenelg to Dunnotar Castle. It's a serious proposition - you have to submit highly detailed route plans for invigilation by the TGO - including bad weather alternatives for each day. There are two basic route planning problems everyone faces - firstly - you need to find a way across the Western Highland mountain chain then you either need to find a way round or go over the top of the Cairngorm. You need to send food ahead to pick up en route - normally two or three re-supply points - as you simply cannot carry enough food for two weeks. Effectively you end up managing weight loss - the amount of calories used everyday is staggering. It's normally a team endeavor - four being the maximum. Lastly - more people want to take part than get to do it - they do a ballot for selection. If that sounds like fun to you - start here - http://www.tgochallenge.co.uk/ There are loads of resources to be found online but you will find the basics on the TGO site. Hope this helps - I.
Click to expand...

The thing that's always baffled me about the TGO Challenge is not the idea of backpacking across Scotland - that's a great idea - but who in their right mind wants to do it at the same time as a bunch of other people?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom