Cairngorms, March 2022.
2021 turned out to be the first year in over twenty that I didn’t get to visit Scotland. With both a gallery and house move on top of the three month Covid lockdown and travel restrictions I actually only left Shropshire on one occasion and not for photography. Wales fared equally badly with my fist visit there back in December since March 2020. The plus side has been the chance to explore my own area more fully but nowhere lifts my spirits more than the rugged Scottish landscape so I was delighted to be finally heading North again on the 27th of February.
The Cairngorms from a viewpoint on Gorten Hill
The nine hour drive usually leaves me feeling a bit punch drunk as I drive a basic van with pretty poor handling and zero sound insulation. My first day on the ground of all four trips I made in 2020 saw me struggling with low energy and feeling really nauseous but fortunately this trip I had none of that. Having arrived in Granton on Spey on Sunday night the next day saw us climbing up the steep ridge to the large shelter and cairn atop Sgor Gaoithe (628m) at the Southern end of the Cromdale Hills which divide Strath Spey and Strath Avon. The weather was suitably changeable with a sudden temperature drop following a spell of rain that numbed our fingers as we struggled to operate our cameras.
Day two found us with a day of clear blue skies and very little wind, with everything feeling springlike we started the day with coffee and cake at a local garden centre before walking up a hill behind Granton that Gari had been visiting regularly. With views in all directions; The Cairngorms and Monadhliath looked tremendous despite the unsightly palls of smoke rising from numerous Muirburns. The smoke did drift across the view for a while but after sunset it settled into the valley floor and actually added some extra interest to the image.
Pine Forest Regeneration, Strath Spey.
Day three saw increasing wind speeds as the high pressure systems to the East and West of the UK clashed. Our third ascent in three days saw us up on the crags of Craigellachie which sit above Aviemore and provide great views to the Northern Corries and also South towards Kingussie and Insh Marshes. Conditions were really challenging with a strong, gusting wind carrying just the odd frustrating drop of rain straight at the lens. The contrast in the sky was ridiculous, looking unbelievable even to the naked eye. I was fortunate to capture the only splash of sunlight as it moved fleetingly across Tullochgrue in the middle distance.
No matter which weather system had one the fight we were due for some settled weather now and this lasted right through the next five days to be swept away by stormy conditions on the day I was due to head South again. Avoiding strong contrast during this time we kept ourselves occupied with river details, late light and woodland photography. We also ascended a Corbett, Ben Rinnes (841m) which gave us superb views the whole area including around a dozen distilleries. We had decided to climb it having viewed its pointed top from the top of Gorten Hill earlier in the week. It’s an easy walk up on a well made track but the light was incredibly harsh and bright so the cameras only came out of the rucksacks once we were back down in the valley and investigating some sections of the River Avon we had spotted near Glenlivet.
Plenty of inspiration to be found on this visit, I hope it’s not sixteen months until I get to go again. Thanks for watching, bye for now.
