Summer In Lochaber
Photographer Barrie Marshall finds a warm, sunny day in the Highlands is a thing to treasure
The third seasonal visit to this stunning part of Scotland
ACCORDING to the locals in Lochaber, last year was one of the wettest on record. But memories of that have been banished with the scorching sunshine of the past few months.
From Muck and Knoydart, all the way to Fort William and beyond, life in Lochaber is in full swing.
Be it sunbathing on its beaches, tour ships visiting or the many flora and fauna now on show, it is an engrossing time of year.
The more remote corners of Lochaber are great stops in good weather.
On a beach at Ardtoe, strange-looking seaweed has washed ashore like a prop from a sci-fi film.
In Cona Glen, a lime-green, hairy, dotted caterpillar the size of your pinky lumbers across the path of an emperor moth at full tilt.
Meanwhile, on the shore by Mingary Castle, a perfectly transparent, shiny pink jellyfish is stranded by the tide.
In good weather, it’s always great to jump a boat to the Inner Hebrides, or maybe pay a visit to remote Knoydart.
As the warmth beats down, it’s wonderful to see a herd of cows sunbathing as you walk over Eigg; ewes panting in the shade of a tree near Inverie; or a herd of grey Atlantic seals strewn across a rocky islet off Arisaig on a hot morning. Just don’t disturb that grumpy-looking sheep on Muck!
It can sometimes feel like the Mediterranean as you walk past the many small tortoiseshell, common blue and speckled wood butterflies – and the odd gigantic golden ringed dragonfly as it whizzes past your head!
OK, occasionally it does rain in Lochaber – but it’s always memories of that scenery in the sunshine that linger.
Roll on autumn… but not just yet.