Getting to know the local area better.
On this particular day we had prepared a contrasting variety of places to visit: Castle ruins, the inside of a mountain, and the village we were staying in.
At the start of the day we enjoyed a beautiful little walk to, and around, Kilchurn Castle, which sits on a tiny peninsula at the northeastern leg of Loch Awe. Taking in the sights and sounds of the castle ruins and the surrounding mountains, we then did more “touristy” stuff and went on the Hollow Mountain experience. This was rather fascinating, and I implore you to check the link to learn about how Ben Cruachan provides energy for Scotland.
After this we made our way back to the village we were staying in, Taynuilt, to have a mosey around and see what delights it offers.
All photos taken on my Google Pixel 9 Pro XL. RAWs converted in Lightroom, merged in Photomatix, and edited and finalised in Photoshop.
I was rather fortunate to be able to nab these reflections of Kilchurn Castle in Loch Awe with Beinn Donachain (651m / 2,137ft) on the right. The castle was originally built in the 1400s as the base of Clan Campbell of Glenorchy.
I utilised my Pixel 9 Pro XL’s ability to do “long exposures”* in order to smooth out the water for this composition. A solitary tree branch pointing towards the mountains in the distance: On the right is Beinn Eunaich (989 m/3,245 ft), on the left is the shoulder of Monadh Driseig (646 m/2,121ft), and rising in the middle Beinn a’ Chochuill (980 m/3,220 ft). * In reality, the Pixel is actually shooting a burst of shorter exposures which are then aligned and averaged together. The end result is the same.
Using my Pixel’s 5x lens I zoom in nice and tight on Beinn Mhic-Mhonaidh (796 m/2,612 ft), using two trees as a framing device.
An ultra-wide perspective of the front of Kilchurn Castle, with the slopes of Ben Cruachan in the distance and some beautiful wispy clouds above.
Walking back to the car park, the loch was providing superb reflections that I just had to nail. Here, I utilised the dry shore and the bridge carrying West Highland Railway line as zig-zag leading lines deeper into the composition towards the mountains.
Taynuilt #
Back in Taynuilt, we learned there was a small 44 m high drumlin in the village with a beautiful monument set on its summit. Welp, this is the view as you approach the monument. Not bad, eh? The monument, styled in my mind like the Machrie Moor stones on Arran , is claimed to have been the first monument to be erected in Britain to commemorate the death of Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar.
The little drumlin helps you get above the roofs of Taynuilt and capture all the views beyond. This is looking north across Loch Etive towards Beinn Duirinnis ( 556 m/1,824ft).
Heading back into the village a bridge crosses over the West Highland Railway line, offering a perfect leading line all the way towards the unmistakable shape of Ben Cruachan .