I took this while on a boat with the amazing Stu after another delightful day exploring Scotland. I can’t wait to go back. It’s a very special place to me.
This is the rather awesome freshwater Loch Coruisk (right) on Skye which drains into the saltwater Loch na Cuilce via what must be one of the shortest rivers around, Scavaig River, at only a few hundred meters long.
Where Allt Coir’ a’ Mhadaidh turns into the River Brittle you find the Fairy Pools on the Isle of Skye. It’s a series of hugely varied waterfalls and their associated pools which carve their way down through Glen Brittle towards the sea. The water is an amazing blue/green color, most of the way, picking up darker tones in the more deep and shadowed areas. Well worth a visit, even when conditions are not ideal as it makes for a “refreshing” hike… or swim if you’re so inclined.
It’s always fun to see how much dolphins love boats. I’ve lost count now of how often I’ve been on the water only to look down and there they are frolicking alongside. I wonder what it is that they love so much… is it the feel of the waves created by the boat? Some sort of race? Maybe fish get scattered which they then go to feed on..?
A few weeks ago I shared a different version of this image. Why share it again? It’s an interesting example of how AI in art is progressing. In this case I expanded the canvas and had the AI fill in the newly created blanks… rather successful I’d say! Can’t wait to see how it continues to evolve.
Just over the ridge here, from the sea loch, Loch na Cuilce, is the freshwater Loch Coruisk… translated that means “Cauldron of Water”. A fitting name indeed. It’s fairly inaccessible by foot, do-able for the experienced walker/climber if you fancy a rather questionable section called “the bad step” although that’s not recommended in the wet… which is most of the time in Scotland! 😀 So, the only real way to get there is by boat, which Stu and I did. It was such a quiet, serine place which contrasted with the harsh rock of the Black Cuillin mountains. They have their own micro-climate what I always love. Plenty scope for fast changing conditions which is ideal. It’s also one of those awesome locations with a mix of wildlife to add to the experience. Dolphins, Eagles, and more.
The landscape on the Isle of Skye was so interesting. Towards the south, you have a super cool Gabbro area with rough, jagged peaks. Then up in the north here, it turns to a mix of mafic volcanics, mafic sills and Triassic/Jurassic/Cretaceous sediments where parts of the softer land are slipping into the sea, leaving the more solid formations jutting out above.
Random interesting Scottish rock formations no.234…
“For rarely human eye has known
A scene so stern as that dread lake,
With its dark ledge of barren stone.
Seems that primeval earthquake’s sway
Hath rent a strange and shattered way
Through the rude bosom of the hill,
And that each naked precipice,
Sable ravine, and dark abyss,
Tells of the outrage still.”
Quite the review of Loch Coruisk from Sir Walter Scott in the 1870’s. Not to be missed it seems. So, during our second day on Skye, Stu and I took a boat over to that remote freshwater loch which sits in amongst the Black Cuillin. That’s the igneous mountain range from this image. It was a great adventure in search of the mythical Kelpie with, as you can see, some epic clouds. On the return journey we were accompanied by a pod of dolphins which was pretty awesome in its own right. Then, to top it all off, there were multiple double rainbows as we drove towards our next destination… quite the day!
The landscape of Skye, especially on the north and east coasts was fascinating. As the land slips towards the sea, it creates so many interesting shapes, just like this one…
