So, after a couple of weeks back at work, and a decent weather forecast, I was keen to get out with the camera this weekend.  I agreed with a friend, Graham Ryland, that we would head north to my favourite area and just see what took our fancy by way of locations.  The result was a long drive around Wester Ross and south-west Sutherland, and we had a really good day out.

The above shot is perhaps a familiar one, although neither Graham nor I had managed to work out where exactly this view was taken from, until yesterday.  We had a wee rake around the back streets of Lochinver and eventually worked it out.  While it would be preferable to have a bit more dramatic lighting, or some snow on Suilven, I think it is such an excellent view, with the mountain looming large over the church, that it still worked well.  We will be back!

We basically visited the Achnahaird peninsula and then took the Inverkirkaig road north to Lochinver, dropped into the wonderful pie shop to get some pies for the family, and then up to the superb viewpoint overlooking the Assynt hills.  Then, finally in the late afternoon we headed home, via Loch Assynt.  The following shots are the best I managed to capture, and given that it was bitterly cold, with a strong wind, and the light was pretty flat and a bit hazy, the results are decent.

Today marked our dog, Broc's, 15th birthday and it was celebrated by a lovely walk this afternoon along the path to Leitir Fura in Sleat.  For 15 years old she is still energetic and enthusiastic about her walks, although she is happy to stay close by, and usually on the lead since she is almost deaf and can't hear recall commands.  As you can see from the photo, she still has a keen interest in what is gong on around her and a keen eye.  Happy Birthday!

The walk was followed by a late lunch at An Crubh, very nice as always, and then on the way home we encountered a magnificent sky, looking both eastwards and westwards, as the sun set.  Truly amazing pink clouds as you can see below.

So, after a horrendously wet and frequently windy end to 2024 the New Year has brought snow and some really lovely light this afternoon.  I took a short walk at Duirnish in the late afternoon and captured these images as the sun intermittently peeked through gaps in the clouds to the west.  The dramatic colours of the snow clouds was properly inspiring and I had a really enjoyable walk wiht my camera - a great start to the year.