Time for some new places to explore.
It’s easy to get overwhelmed with options for hiking and exploration when you’re in the Highlands, especially if you’re near Glencoe. But we did resolve to try and check out some new, to us, places.
Staying at Taynuilt, near the southern shore of Loch Etive, we went west and north up the A828 towards Benderloch. Lisabet had found a cafe book shop here we could stop at for a brew and meander. But additionally, there was a long beach here along Ardmucknish Bay. I had also located a pretty looking forest further along the A828 from Benderloch, known as Sutherland’s Grove, that could then check out afterwards.
Turned out to be an absolute corker of a day.
All photos taken on my Google Pixel 9 Pro XL. RAWs developed in Lightroom, merged in Photomatix, edited and finalised in Photoshop.
My Lisabet, in her happy place, waltzing along a windy Benderloch beach. Up above the crags of the northern side of the bay is Lochnell House, a battlemented mansion originally built in the 15th century, and fully restored after a fire in the late 1800s.
Along the northern part of the bay, these beautiful crags and formations are revealed. They are largely metamorphosed sedimentary rocks, primarily of Dalradian origin dating back to the late Precambrian era, formed over 541 million years ago.
After enjoying the sand, wind and expansive views, we drove further along the road to stop at Sutherland’s Grove, part of Barcaldine Forest. We quickly took the longest of the prescribed trails and soon veered off it completely. Still, it meant we got incredible views like this, across the forest to the Kingairloch mountains.
Another corker of a view towards the Kingairloch mountains, with Loch Linnhe just coming into view.
After the unexpected detour, we finally found the reservoir at the top of the trail and followed the returning path back down towards the gorge. This is the Abhainn Teithilburn gorge, a mind-bending place where giant slabs of moss-covered rocks drop down to the river at weird angles, confusing your brain.
Above the gorge, moss-covered tree roots and soft light provide an enchanting scene for me to photograph.
Now at the bottom of the gorge, with beautiful autumn colour on fire above.
Near the end of the trail, the gorge empties out into a little forest river, but I clambered down to shot this beautiful formation as a leading line back up the gorge.