Image Details
Standing on a rocky promontory in Scotland's remote Loch Assynt, on a storm filled day, and loomed over by the dark mass of Quinag, the ruined towers of Ardvreck Castle have haunting aspect.
It was a wild day and Isabel and I were returning to Gleinn Leireag about one hour's drive north of here. As the castle came into view I could see that, despite the gale, shafts of sunlight would occasionally break through the storm clouds. Deciding to take a landscape photograph I wondered if fortune would grant me a shaft of light falling on Ardvreck.
I got out of the car, picked my viewpoint, set up the tripod and camera and prepared to wait. The wind was fierce, shaking the tripod; I had a slow film (Kodachrome 25asa) and couldn't afford a fast shutter speed. I needed some more luck, a lull in the wind combined with a shaft of sunlight on Ardvreck.
The shafts of sunlight kept on coming, but frustratingly not where I wanted, so I just kept on waiting. Then it happened! Regardless of the wind I just took as many shots as I could! Then it was over. I waited again.
Once more the castle was bathed in sunlight and I took another succession of shots. I continued to wait, but the storm clouds were closing up and eventually it seemed clear that that was all I was going to be granted that day.
Once I had the film processed and I got round to examining each frame minutely it was clear the wind had been defeating me; there were clear signs of camera shake, that is, all except two frames, one of which is displayed above. This is luck pure and simple; I doubt I will ever see that scene in that kind of light again.
North-west Highland Place Names
The landscape of the North-west Highlands and the Gaelic language are intimately connected. Other languages have contributed to the richness of our place names, notably Norse, but the North-west Highlands have for centuries been a Gaelic landscape. In listing the meanings of place names I have relied on authoritative sources wherever possible. For further information about sources please refer to North-west Highland Place Names in the main menu.
Ardvreck; A small peninsula in Loch Assynt on which a ruined castle sits. Gaelic, Àn aird bhreac - the speckled headland.
Assynt; From the Norse Asaint or Asaint meaning ‘ridge end’.
Loch Assynt; Named after the parish of Assynt – see Assynt.
Quinag; From the Gaelic cuinneag, meaning a churn or a pail, referring to its shape.
Images; Copyright © Gordon C Harrison All Rights Reserved. No reproduction without permission.
Moral rights asserted in all countries and under any acts that may require such assertion.