Sarah, Darrly and I jumped in my car and did a tour of Glen Lyon last Friday. It was a cold day but we still didn’t expect to hit as much snow as we did when nearing the top of the hills.

Sarah will be along with her pictures soon, if she can get her internet working…

YIEAHY! at last I have the internet back, woohoo! So Glen Lyon. Was great to get out and about in the day time for a change and a lot better than the team meeting I was meant to go in for!!!  It was a beautiful day too, bright sun, cold air, deep mist hugging the hollows and frost sitting in the shadows. We headed up an increasingly narrowing road into the hills, stopping for photos and pack lunch on the way. The higher we got, the more beautiful it became with that wonderful Scottish light hitting off the light snow. We really do live in a amazingly beautiful country, and can’t see why anyone would want to live anywhere else.

Anyway, half way up Ian decided to tell us that he wasn’t sure we had enough fuel to get back down, just to add to the excitement. So with watching fuel gage, aware that none of us had a mobile signal, we turned onto the Ben Lawyers Road and into the snow. What a wonderful view we got, but think the driving was a bit taxing and it wasn’t exactly easy to park on the snowy one tack road. But what we did manage to shoot was well worth it. All in all a very satisfying photo trip.

The Ben Lawers Road

Bothy Ruins

The fog had hit hard but the sun started to break through – the ideal time for some snaps!

Rocks in the fast flowing Braan

Photo wise i decided to keep the ISO low at 100 and use the tripod, choosing the shutter speed, leaving the aperture to be decided by the camera. The River Braan was full and fast so the shutter was kept about 1sec to capture the movement but without whiting all detail out. Main problem was getting a different shot in such a well photographed place. The main falls are so often shot, as is the viewing hall and hermits cave. So settled for some more detail shots of the smaller falls and some of the low cloud snaking through the trees of Craigvinean Forest.

Low cloud in the Craigvinean forest

Although the ground was muddy and there was a dusting of snow we continued over trees, down paths and ignoring fathers idea of direction until we passed through a clearing, where a selection of bouders overlooked a rather Scottish looking, baran, mist filled clearing. Very atmosphereic in the winter weather. Then it was on to Rumbling Bridge, which we could hear well before could see as the river was so full and fast. However didn’t get many shots as the spray from the falls was pretty intense and couldn’t get down to usual vantage points due to high river and very slippery stones. So after a wee trip along the riverside we headed back to the car, taking the main path, which was also strewn with fallen trees and debris. So although cold and covered in mud by the time we got back, it was a good outing and was very glad to be out and about with the camera again.

Boulders overlooking the Misty Clearing

First thing I noted was the sign warning of closed areas due to storm damage from the recent high winds, courtesy of Hurricane Bawbag (gotta love the way Scotland names things), but I didn’t think much of it as an area has been closed for years due to a land slide.

The land slide was not the issue here at all. Many trees of all ages have been knocked over and in turn have taken others with them.It’s not surprising when you see how shallow their root systems are!

The area to the bridge crossing was also closed off but I could clearly see a safe enough path over – the one fallen tree was nowhere near where I was going) – so i ducked under the cheap tape barrier and captured this:

The bairn was greeting a lot so we bailed out early. Too early for my 5 year old so I took her to the North Inch in Perth to cycle around on her new birthday bike.

Here she is doing 384mph!

I’ve spotted them a few times running along the fence just metres away from my back door and have had the zoom lens on stand by just in case.

Yesterday there was a break in the horrible weather and the sun actually came out – and so did the squirrels – here are the results!

A Small Door But It Goes All The Way Back And Gonna Get Bigger

Anyway when we got there the Red Rooms was already quite busy, but we managed to squeeze in. Their menu isn’t huge but it is well balanced with veggie and meaty choices, and also do fresh soup. To be good and stay wheat/ yeast free I went for the baked potato with cheese – M.S on the other hand went for Cheesy pasta, in a small portion (for the delicate eaters, there is a small portion available on most dishes). Although maybe not our most exciting choices it was lovely, well cooked and well presented. The staff were polite and friendly and beside us were a couple of older ladies which were obviously regulars and the staff treated them like royality. All very enjoyable, in the open, airy surroundings – another good choice!

The main Dinning area of the Red Roms