Inversnaid Falls

Most of the woodlands and forests of Scotland were destroyed during the Highland Clearances of the 17th and 18th centuries. These falls are part of an area above the eastern shore of Loch Lomond where the oak and beech woodlands are being restored.

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Scots Pine Woodland
- Ben Shieldaig (Mountain) near Loch Torridon

I traveled around hundreds of kilometers of The Highlands looking for an example of this. This is the only pristine patch of Scots Pine Woodland that I found, although I think there is probably more further north. It is a beautiful place. I was amazed to find that it gave me the feeling of being in the Australian bush. To an extent this was probably due to the appearance of the beautiful ecological patterns apparent in the vegetation - which you don't generally see to the same degree in altered landscapes. Perhaps also because so many of the trees were so old. But also I think because it was so rich with the sounds of birds and insects and carried the complex smell-scape that diverse natural ecosystems have. Most of the other woods and forests in Scotland were sadly depauporate by comparison.

View from the summit of Sgurr nan Ceathreamnahan

It was a tough trek getting to the top, but well worth the effort. The only thing harder that getting to the top of these steep Munros is pronouncing their names.

Ecological mosaic burns - heather heathlands - Grampians Mountains

These mountains are patterned with a mosaic of burns. They appear to be carefully arranged to ensure that no one area is too regularly burned, and so that each burnt strip is no wider than about 50 yards. Australian Aborigines once did the very same thing to maintain diversity in landscapes and ensure the productivity of native ecosystems.

Scottish wildcat - Loch Lomond National Park

Very few people have ever seen one of these. They're very rare and like the Australian dingo, are threatened by interbreeding with the domestic variety. It was intent on catching something in the grass - perhaps a frog - so much so that i was able to creep close enough to touch its tail! Then it shot of like a flash. I logged the siting with the Scottish Wildcat Association.

Scotch Thistle

It's regarded as a noxious weed in Australia, but I have to admit that it is a beautiful flower.

Fish trap - Isle of Sky

I'm pretty sure that this is an old fish trap. Similar systems were used by Aboriginal people in Australia. A net would have been placed across the gap to catch fish as the tide went out.

Seals - Isle of Mull

I'm not sure whether they are common seals or gray seals

Pipe band at the Balloch highland games