Duntrune Castle from Ardnoe Point, Argyll, Scotland.
Crinan Canal Sea lock I, Crinan, Argyll, Scotland.
Duntrune Castle from Crinan, Argyll, Scotland.
Crinan Canal Sea lock II, Crinan, Argyll, Scotland.
Moine Mhor (The Great Moss), Argyll, Scotland.
Duntrune Castle in rain, Argyll, Scotland.
Ruadh Sgeir Lighthouse with Jura, Argyll, Scotland.
Ardnoe Point and coastline toward Tayvallich, Argyll, Scotland.
Crinan Harbour in rain, Argyll, Scotland.
Loch Crinan from Benan Ardifuir, Argyll, Scotland.
Creag a Bhanan with Ardfern beyond, Argyll, Scotland.
Fish Farm, Loch Craignish, Argyll, Scotland.
4,000-year-old Ormaig Cup and Ring marks on the west slope of Creag Mhor overlooking Loch Craignish, Argyll, Scotland.
Cluster of cups with single rings on Ormaig East Rock, Argyll, Scotland.
The largest rosette on Ormaig East Rock, Argyll, Scotland.
Date of walk: 16/08/18
Contemplating which route to take through the wild landscape between Crinan & Ardfern. The only paths through here are made by deer.
Standing by the 4,000-year-old Ormaig rock carvings
Diametric typography.
Camp by a croft, Kirkton, Argyll, Scotland.
How do the ruined croft houses, etc. make you feel? I ask because when I’ve asked Highlanders and Islanders I’ve been told, It’s progress, and they seem to see nothing significantly negative about it.
It seems like a tragic loss to me. As an outsider, I may be romanticising how tough life was like in the crofts but there’s no doubt the Clearances marked the end of a way of life even if it coincided with wider economic, environmental and social changes. They always make me think of the sound of children playing and laughter by the hearth. I can’t begin to imagine how it would feel if you had worked a croft like this all your life which would create such an intimate connection with a particular patch of land and are then forced to leave.
I think you are both ‘correct’. The Clearances were cruel and often heartbreaking, but most of the ruined houses date from more recent times, and were abandoned for modern, cosy and convenient bungalows, so they are not missed. I have spent many holidays in the Highlands and Islands, your photos a great reminder of the beauty that emerges when the clouds lift. (You may say rain has beauty but I really don’t like getting soaked, especially feet).
Wet feet are the worst and were the standard state of affairs on this bit of the journey!
So atmospheric, makes me want to go back to Argyll immediately, despite the torrential rain. Had to smile, you’ve got so used to talking about lochs, you’ve forgotten about locks!
Haha, thank you for your charming way of informing me of my lochitis typo, now corrected!
Moody, beautiful and fascinating – all in one day. Lovely stuff.
Quite and all of it unknown to me until I walked up to it
Lovely photos thank you, particularly of the cup and ring marks and the soft rain! Also I recognise that tent at Kirkton 🙂
Thanks Rory. That tent has been around!