This was the day I was looking forward to the most...heading into the highlands to explore.
The road north snaked through some incredibly picturesque valleys like Queens View & Loch Tay with towns like Pitlochry, Aberfeldy & Kenmore to name but a few.
Just before reaching the mountains is the 'Skyfall road' which Bond and M used to get to a country retreat.
Glencoe
This mountain is right next to the only main road going north (to the west of the country) and is a sight to behold. There are many creeks and rivers in the area and lots of opportunities to pull over, follow hiking trails and take in the views.
As I arrived, the rain was coming towards me through the valley which made for some moody atmosphere.
Not five minutes later, the rain passed overhead and blue skies returned!
Just behind Glencoe, still heading north..
Glenfinnan Railway Station & Viaduct
A short journey north led me to the station and viaduct. Opened in the late 1800's, it is a very unique structure as it is built from concrete that is not reinforced, is the longest concrete bridge in Scotland and curves between two large hills. It is part of a functioning passenger rail route linking the far highlands with Fort William.
It has become so much of a tourist attraction that there is an official timetable of when the train leaves the station to when visitors can expect the train and in which direction.
The main carpark has a path that leads right up to it. From there, the public can access three of the most used view points- This view is the closest to the carpark with a slight incline.
This view is just after passing under the arches and a moderate climb away from the previous location.
Finally, this amazing view is a short, moderate hike up into the hill behind with the loch in the background which many people don't use. I was there all by myself for two of the crossings.
For some reason, I assumed I could record video on the drone, then exit the DJI app and use the camera on my phone at the same time to record the sound of the engine. So I did exactly that without even thinking..
However, upon reviewing the drone footage just after it left frame, it cut off as the train approached the bridge.
I have idea if it's a setting that I didn't turn on or off(?) but I really wanted the shot and I wasn't satisfied with what I had so I waited around a little for the next train.
It meant compromising time for other locations in the area but here are the shots I was waiting for!
On the way out, I took a reverse shot from the road.
Fort William
This town came to be when tourists first started going to visit the canals in the early 1800's and is now the largest town in the highlands. Many roads intersect here so is a natural-ish hub for travellers before heading into the wilderness.
Here is a pano shot of Fort William with Ben Nevis in the background
To get home, there was a main road heading east from Ben Nevis so I ended up doing a loop around the mountain, driving all the way down the side of Loch
That's all for now! Such a long day but lessons were learned..full of exploring and driving but well worth it!
Take care everyone, stay tuned for the sixth part coming soon!
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