Photos, videos and docs of Ecobird, with the keywords: "Scotland"

Lonely Cottage

nobody@ipernity.com (Ecobird) — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 19:25:19 +0000

Ecobird has posted:

In a very secluded but beautiful location at the foot of Aonach Dubh and beside Loch Achriochtan lies a white cottage named Achnambeithach. Built around 1900 it was for many years home to the Elliott family. Watty was a shepherd who also helped to rescue many people lost or in difficulty on the mountains. Helped by other shepherds and local people and with little equipment he saved lives long before there was a mountain rescue team in Glencoe. His two sons, Walter and Willie followed in hi footsteps and when Hamish McInnes formed the Glencoe Mountain Rescue team both sons joined.
Walter in time was awarded an MBE for his rescue work and his knowledge of the land proved invaluable to rescue teams over the years

I understand that members of the rescue team live in the house nowadays and it has long been a base for rescue teams to gather prior to heading off to search for missing people or those who are hurt. We have ourselves witnessed rescue teams from all over, including the RAF and Glencoe Mountain Rescue gathering at the house and watched helicopters with sharp eyed pilots searching the difficult terrain. On one occasion we heard that sadly it was a body that was recovered.

In this picture you can still see traces of snow on the peaks, but light across the mountain on a warm day adds to the quiet beauty of the place

Those who know me will know I have always said my first sight of Glencoe took my breath away. I am therefore adding a song called Breathless by Chris Stapleton featuring Pink

www.youtube.com/watch?v=OP2tJ6Cvg8A

In the same vein I have added Berlin and "Take My Breath Away"

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bx51eegLTY8

The End of the Line

nobody@ipernity.com (Ecobird) — Sat, 30 May 2026 17:20:37 +0000

Ecobird has posted:

Strathpeffer Railway Station

Situated 4 miles west of Dingwall on the strath of the River Peffer, Strathpeffer became a popular destination following the discovery of sulphurous springs in the 1770's, the village developing into a Victorian Spa resort.

With the spa facilities gaining in popularity it became clear that better transport links were needed, but objections from a local landowner meant that the first Strathpeffer station had to be built at Achterneed on the main line on outskirts of the town in 1870.

Strathpeffer station was opened on June 3rd 1885 as a branch line from Fodderty junction, on the Dingwall and Skye line, thus bringing the station into the heart of the village. At this time the original station was renamed Achterneed.
The branch saw the arrival of many more visitors including a weekly Strathpeffer Spa Express and sleeper service from London in 1908 - 1909. Victorian villas and grand hotels sprang up and the Highland Railway Company opened it's own Highland Hotel in 1911.

The beginning of World War 1 began the decline of the spa and the railway line and
Strathpeffer station closed to passengers on 23rd February 1946, finally closing completely in March 1951

Today Strathpeffer station has been beautifully restored and repurposed, now housing the fascinating Highland Museum of Childhood, a cafe and community shop and several other small businesses including a beauty salon

Owned and managed by the Old Strathpeffer Railway Station Trust it is popular with visitors for it's heritage appeal, cafe and museum, and is a central landmark in the village.

I was particularly happy to find and purchase something to deter the midges that had been plaguing me on our visit!

I have added the Traveling Wilburys and "End of the Line" as a link

www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMVjToYOjbM

Bay Watch, Machrihanish (PiP)

nobody@ipernity.com (Ecobird) — Sun, 22 Jun 2025 13:37:48 +0000

Ecobird has posted:

Machrihanish is a village five miles west of Campbeltown, Argyll and Bute. An attractive location, Machrihanish Bay looks westward out onto the Atlantic and from this seat by the shore you can watch the seals playing in the bay. There is a colony of harbour, or common seals here, along with grey seals. Machrihanish also has a Seabird and Wildlife Observatory which is open to the public as well as a Marine Environmental Research Station.

In this image there is a fisherman's cottage beyond the swathe of wildflowers to the left of the shot and on the far right is the old lifeboat station

Fishermen's Rest

nobody@ipernity.com (Ecobird) — Sun, 08 Jun 2025 20:32:46 +0000

Ecobird has posted:

Captured at Carradale harbour, Kintyre, Scotland, overlooking the Kilbrannan Sound. From the harbour itself to the right of here there are views of the west coast of the Isle of Arran This must be a pleasant spot for local fishermen and visitors to the area to sit and take a break to enjoy the view.

Nowadays there is still a fishing fleet working out of the harbour, largely dealing in shellfish, but from the 1830s until the second world war this was also a daily stopping point for steam boats on route from Campbeltown to Glasgow

Timeslip - Secrets of the Stones!

nobody@ipernity.com (Ecobird) — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 17:41:08 +0000

Ecobird has posted:

The Nether Largie Standing Stones are to be found in the middle of a field in Kilmartin Glen and to this day theories abound as to their purpose. What is known is that the stones were put in place in the glen some 3,200 years ago, yet from the engravings on them the stones would appear to date back a further 1,500 years!

There are 5 larger stones, with two pairs of them in the north and south of the field with the biggest in the centre standing almost 3 metres high, forming an X shape . The larger stones have ring and cup engravings on them which has led to the belief that they formed a sort of lunar observatory for studying the rising and setting cycles of the moon and other solar alignments.

There is no shortage of Bronze Age and Neolithic remains in this area, such as cairns, forts and standing stones such as these and you have to think they were of great significance to the settlers back then, but they have taken the secret of their purpose to their graves.

Nowadays people believe it is is good luck to camp in the field next to them although touching them brings about bad luck. This makes me wonder how far we have come and if we are not indeed more superstitious than our long ago ancestors

Information from 'Hidden Scotland'

Best viewed large if possible please

As it was though to be a lunar observatory I have added a song by the Waterboys
The Whole of the Moon'
www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBW8Vnp8BzU

Lucky II Me

nobody@ipernity.com (Ecobird) — Thu, 05 Sep 2024 18:30:23 +0000

Ecobird has posted:

Captured at Tarbert, Loch Fyne, Scotland on a beautiful day. The colourful fishing boats in the harbour caught my eye and I loved the reflections.

Tarbert is a town on the isthmus that separates Knapdale from Kintyre.

I have added a song by Tom Grennan called 'Lucky Ones'

www.youtube.com/watch?v=wg_Qy_s0dOY

I think it is probably best viewed large. Please click on the photo or press z.

Katrine's Curves

nobody@ipernity.com (Ecobird) — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 22:46:16 +0000

Ecobird has posted:

Captured at Loch Katrine in the Trossachs, Scotland

Drumlanrig

nobody@ipernity.com (Ecobird) — Tue, 20 Aug 2024 22:41:12 +0000

Ecobird has posted:

Captured at Drumlanrig, Keir, Scotland, close to Drumlanrig Castle. I loved the sweeping curve of the wall and the way the light caught the bridge. Surrounded by trees it looked quite attractive

Swinging!

nobody@ipernity.com (Ecobird) — Thu, 15 Aug 2024 22:37:14 +0000

Ecobird has posted:

The Alena is leaving Neptune's Staircase and heading towards Loch Linnhe. In the picture you can see the A830 road bridge and the railway bridge over the Caledonian Canal have been swung open to allow her to pass through them. On the far left is the edge of the signal box that controls the railway bridge.

Neptune's Staircase, designed by Thomas Telford is a series of eight locks and is the longest staircase lock in the country.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neptune%27s_Staircase

Happy Days! HBM!

nobody@ipernity.com (Ecobird) — Mon, 12 Aug 2024 10:59:18 +0000

Ecobird has posted:

Ed's Diner, Inverness. We were very excited to find this Amercian Diner in Inverness. On our first visit there were even small jukeboxes on the table and 50's art work on the walls.

It reminded me of Fonzie in 'Happy Days' and you could almost expect him to walk in slicking back his hair!!

We were sad when on another visit we found the diner closed up. A crying shame.

The sign says 'No Dancing In the Aisles' Well 'Ain't That A Shame'

You can listen here to Fats Domino and 'A'Int That A Shame'

www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2WV51Vt3Bw

A Castle View

nobody@ipernity.com (Ecobird) — Mon, 12 Aug 2024 11:00:02 +0000

Ecobird has posted:

Inverness Castle which I think is quite beautiful in contrast to the modern buildings on the left.

Inverness is considered to be the captal of the Highlands in Scotland

Corpach Race Day Moods (PiP)

nobody@ipernity.com (Ecobird) — Sun, 11 Aug 2024 12:38:16 +0000

Ecobird has posted:

Captured in June 2012 at the Corpach Basin on the day of the Three Peaks Yacht Race from Barmouth to Fort William, finishing here at Corpach.

The moody overcast day did nothing to detract from the excitement, and for some, jubilation as they crossed the finish line, mooring up and no doubt sharing tales of their trip before eventually going off to celebrate.

Late arrivals would be arriving for some time but will no doubt be buoyed up by the sight of the finishing line as they reached the Corpach Basin from Loch Linnhe, tired but happy with their ahievement.

Two PiPs showing the finishing line.

Sunshine at Corpach

nobody@ipernity.com (Ecobird) — Sun, 11 Aug 2024 10:25:00 +0000

Ecobird has posted:

Corpach Basin, Caledonian Canal in a very different mood from the previous images. Here it is still busy but the sun is shining and I loved the light on the water, The mood here is realaxed and peaceful

Seashells she sells on the Seashore

nobody@ipernity.com (Ecobird) — Thu, 08 Aug 2024 22:23:48 +0000

Ecobird has posted:

Captured at Dunnet Beach in Caithness, Scotland

Dunnet Beach is a two mile stretch of beach featuring sand dunes and grassy plains.

Sunset on Stones

nobody@ipernity.com (Ecobird) — Mon, 05 Aug 2024 20:11:19 +0000

Ecobird has posted:

Another from the archives, this time back to 2011 captured in front of Taigh An Clachair, the property where we stayed in Lybster. The setting sun kisses the standing stones and turns them a fiery red. The perfect end to the day.

Loch Shieldag Rocks!!

nobody@ipernity.com (Ecobird) — Thu, 01 Aug 2024 17:43:56 +0000

Ecobird has posted:

Light and shade across Loch Shieldag, A place to dream and drink in the natural beauty of this location

Kyle of Tongue Causeway

nobody@ipernity.com (Ecobird) — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 20:29:56 +0000

Ecobird has posted:

Another from the archives, this time going back to 2012 and this shows the Kyle of Tongue Causeway, Sutherland

Loch Shieldag

nobody@ipernity.com (Ecobird) — Mon, 29 Jul 2024 19:15:17 +0000

Ecobird has posted:

One from the archives, going right back to 2010. This is the beautiful Loch Shieldag, an offshoot of Loch Torridon.

Majestic Munro

nobody@ipernity.com (Ecobird) — Thu, 02 May 2024 20:16:29 +0000

Ecobird has posted:

"Beinn Dorain" in the Bridge of Orchy range, captured from the Loch Tulla Viewpoint. Standing 1076m high, (3530.ft) it is high enough to qualify as a Munro.

The river is the River Orchy.

It was a beautiful day and I loved the fluffy clouds and the play of light across the scene.

Best viewed large I think. Many thanks

The Great Pyramids of Ganavan

nobody@ipernity.com (Ecobird) — Sun, 18 Feb 2024 20:39:22 +0000

Ecobird has posted:

A beautiful day at Greenacre Bay, Ganavan,Oban with the Isle of Mull visible in the background.
Note the Great Pyramids of Ganavan that look even more impressive when viewed on full screen:-)))))))
No bench today, but please do feel free to take a seat on the beach in the shade of the pyramids and enjoy the view and the peace.