Scotland - on the shores of Loch Shiel

As I have mentioned in my previous post: Scotland - the Road to Glenfinnan, we went to visit the shores of Loch Shiel as a kind of a joke because of "Highlander" the movie. But that is not the only movie that has made this place famous. Some of the scenes from Harry Potter movies were filmed there as well. The movies aren't the only thing that makes Glenfinnan interesting, though... In August 1745 Prince Charles Edward Stuart ("Bonnie Price Charlie") has landed on the shores of Loch Shiel starting the second Jacobean Rising that has ended tragically for Scotland at Culloden in April of 1746.  In 1815 the Glenfinnan Monument has been erected to commemorate the start of that event as well as in tribute to the clansmen who fought and died in the Jacobite cause. For those who would like to learn more a lot of information can be found on the web.  Now, for the scenery, I am going to leave that for you to judge:

I was paying attention to the little things that surrounded us, while we were hiking to the viewing point, so here is a little macro as well ;D

I am sure you will agree with me, that it is a beautiful place, well worth hours of driving from Edinburgh. I just wish we've had more time to spend exploring this area, though we did take a little nature walk and I will share some of the pictures in my next post.  Hope you enjoyed!!

Kasia

Scotland - Exploring exploring and more exploring

What can you do when you are in Scotland for only 5 days.... there is one thing you have to do.... visit Glenfinnan.  So yes it's the birth place of the fictional immortal highlander Connor MacLeod, and of course the viaduct as also featured in Harry Potter movies.  But that's all fiction, historically speaking this is the place that Prince Charles Edward Stuart raised his standard at the start of the Jacobite Rising in 1745.  The monument erected in 1815 commemorates this event.  The area is, for the lack of a better word, spectacular.

From Glenfinnan and the Loch Shiel we decided to visit another famous historical spot, Rob Roy MacGregor's grave.  This time we chose a different route, and that's where the problems started.  The landscape turned from spectacular to amazing in a few miles.  We practically had to stop every five or ten minutes, because the fast moving storm clouds and peeking sun, created jaw droping, breathtaking vistas that could not be passed by.

Finally we arrived at the site of Balquhidder Church, and the graveyard that was Rob Roy's resting place.  It was late, the sun was setting, and the absolutely silent.  Another beautiful place.  We must have been completely blind, because we could not find the grave, which later on was pointed out to us.  We must have walked by it a few times with out even noticing it.  Dumb tourists.

Of course all these images were done with the new Fuji X-Pro1.  In truth though, it's the moment and the beauty of the landscape that matters over all.