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カメラ大好きなんですけど。。。ほかにもいろいろ書きます!
by kamera-no-zou-san
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I'm writing about my life and my interest in nature and photography. Please feel free to leave a comment.

このブログは、私の生活と趣味 (自然と自然のフォトグラフィー) のこと書きます。

日本語でも、英語でも、コメントを書いて下さい。 (^_^)

Unless otherwise stated, all photos on this blog are mine!

I can also be found on the forums at Amateur Photographer

Also here →Flickr
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The Far North (Part 2) - Ben Hope & Ben Loyal
This time we can look at two of Scotland's most northerly mountains, Ben Hope (927 metres / 3040 feet) and Ben Loyal (763 metres / 2509 feet). Scottish mountains over 3000 feet are known as 'Munros' after Mr Munro, who first listed them. Mountains between 2500 feet and 3000 feet are known as 'Corbetts.'

Travelling from Tongue, we followed the A838 across the Kyle of Tongue. The road rises up quickly into desolate moorland, known as the Moine. Geologically this area is very special - from the Moine across to the west coast and down to Ullapool the land has been designated a 'Geopark' - but as I know next to nothing about Geology, I'll not go into detail. ;-)

Atop the moor is a ruin known as Moine House. This was built as a shelter for travellers, as the journey across this exposed land was never easy, not even after the road was built. In 1907, James Hall said that rather than shipping convicts to Botany Bay in Australia, they could be sent up here instead. Clearly the place had a reputation for harsh conditions. The road was constructed in 1830 by sinking foundations into the boggy land. At a few points you can see that even the modern road is sinking slightly... You can just see the gables of Moine House from the Tongue Youth Hostel. From Moine House the view is quite stunning, taking in Both Ben Loyal and Ben Hope:

Moine House Panorama

Continuing over the moor, the road starts to drop, offering jaw dropping views of the hills and mountains spreading down to Assynt. The road then drops steeply into the hamlet of Hope. Hope sits at the end of Loch Hope, and as the name comes from a Gaelic word for bay, you can start to imagine the layout of the area. A small road is on the left, signposted for Altnaharra. This is the road which leads to Ben Hope, and the Dun Dornaigil broch. Initially the area is very much like Perthshire, with farms, the loch and Ben Hope in the background:

Loch Hope & Ben Hope

The very pleasant (albeit single track, unclassified, and not newly laid) road takes you alongside the loch, all the way past Ben Hope, and around to Altnaharra. The scenery varies quite a lot, initally farmland, then more typically Sutherland (rocks/sheep/heather) then open plateau, before finally going through wooded areas as you reach Altnaharra.

There is a car park clearly marked with the start of the easiest walk up Ben Hope, and there were already several cars in it as we drove past at around 10am. As it is the furthest north of the Munros, it is a popular final climb for people who attempt to climb all the Munros. I had hoped to walk up it during our holiday, but the weather wasn't ideal, as the top was mostly in cloud, even when the lower slopes were clear. I'll have to start my Munros another time. We continued down to the Dun Dornaigil Broch. Brochs are unique to Scotland, and are fascinating buildings. The picture below explains more about the buildings:

The Far North (Part 2) - Ben Hope & Ben Loyal_b0077235_133778.jpg


You can see the Dun Dornaigil Broch in the following pictures:

The Far North (Part 2) - Ben Hope & Ben Loyal_b0077235_1363279.jpg


Dun Dornaigil Broch & Ben Hope

Actually, although I was going to write about Ben Hope AND Ben Loyal, I'm going to do them seperately - this is long enough already!!
# by kamera-no-zou-san | 2007-09-11 17:39 | Life
The Far North (Part 1)
People often ask me at work - "Where should I go in Scotland, what should I see?" I always reply, "How much time do you have?" Time is the most valuable thing in any trip to Scotland, as whilst the distances aren't great, the travelling times can be considerable. Case in point, our recent holiday to the far north - Sutherland to be precise.

On a good day you can be in Inverness 2 1/2 hours after leaving Edinburgh (by car). If you leave at 9/10am, then expect to be in Inverness for lunch. The easiest way to get there is to cross the Forth Road Bridge (paying £1 for the toll) and head up the M90 to Perth, where you can pick up the A9 which will take you right up to Thurso. But then Thurso isn't really the kind of place you'd pick as a destination... ;-)

From Inverness you can go one of several ways to reach the best bits of the highlands. You can go south west and explore Glen Affric, west for Beauly and the remote glens that way, north west to Wester Ross and Ullapool, or pretty much north to Tain in Easter Ross. Tain lies on the Dornoch Firth, which you can cross by following the A9 (all the way to Thurso, if you really wanted to). If you chose to do that, you would pass Dornoch, Golspie and Brora before reaching Helmsdale. From Helmsdale you could take the little road (A897) through Forsinard to Melvich on the north coast. However, the best route (my favourite!) is to avoid Tain (nothing personal, just the way the alternative road goes) and head past Balblair on the B9176. Turn left onto the A836 and head through Bonar Bridge, past Carbisdale Castle (now a youth hostel) and arrive in Lairg.

Lairg is a vital town in the north - it is known as the Rome of the Northern Highlands (as all roads lead to Lairg). Get on the wrong road here and it's a long way back...

If you want the best views you'll be continuing on the A836 through some open land. Just keep going striaght and you'll arrive in Tongue. Just 240 miles from Edinburgh, but another world altogether. Time? Having stopped in Inverness for a leisurely lunch, it is now around 5pm. 34mph average, and a clear run in fact. Still, not to worry, as you have (if you are well organised and on the ball) already booked Room 4 at the Tongue Youth Hostel. You can check in and relax.

What's to see? The view is as follows...

The Far North (Part 1)_b0077235_2253669.jpg



The Far North (Part 1)_b0077235_2255920.jpg


That's Ben Hope, Scotland's most northernly 'Munro' in the second picture. It is just across the Kyle of Tongue (the water you can see in the first pic) from the 'Queen of Scottish Mountains' - Ben Loyal. You can see this superb mountain (2509ft) from the window too.

Here's a picture of Ben Loyal, to whet the appetite for the 2nd installment of the holiday report: Ben Hope and Ben Loyal.

The Far North (Part 1)_b0077235_2292888.jpg

# by kamera-no-zou-san | 2007-09-06 18:30 | Life
What's New?
I've decided my blog needs a major overhaul. I don't know how long it will take. I don't even know what I'm doing! For the time being, it will be very plain, like a blank canvas for me to play around with.

The other thing I intend to do is to write a bit more, something like a guide to Scotland, based around places we have visited and pictures we have taken. So instead of featuring all the usual things like Edinburgh Castle and Eilean Donan, you'll see sheep in the middle of nowhere and some cottages off the beaten track. Of course, as we live in Edinburgh, there'll be a 'My Edinburgh' flavour too, snaps and info about places in Edinburgh which we enjoy, which might not be very well known, or might be famous.

Watch this space!
# by kamera-no-zou-san | 2007-08-18 01:33 | Life
So this is summer...
salisbury crags

Taken from just behind our home. Edinburgh really does look good in the sun.
# by kamera-no-zou-san | 2007-08-05 04:07 | Photos
夏かな。。。?
三日前から天気が良くなった。 At last!
# by kamera-no-zou-san | 2007-07-31 18:11 | Life