#caledonian forest

[evenstar]

[Caledonian Forest and Conifer Woods]

[wwtravels]

Caledonian Splendor

By Linda Tancs

Once upon a time, a vast woodland known as the Caledonian Forest covered much of Scotland. Formed at the end of the last ice age, its remnants are still visible in places like Glen Affric, considered one of the most beautiful places in Scotland. Thick with trees, its mix of Scots pine, birch, oak and Douglas fir is a big reason why the glen is protected as a National Nature…

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[thegreenplan8-blog]

Top 10 Biodiversity Solutions (Pt 1)

Top 10 Biodiversity Solutions (Pt 1) 5 Ways to be more biodiverse and to help nature fight back!

                               Biodiversity – the planet’s biggest problem                                 (Photo credit – WorldIslandInfo.com) The top environmental issue of 2019 must be biodiversity.  So what is it, and what can you do to help save the Earth? Biodiversity is the variety of life that Earth has to offer.  From the vast number of species of plants and animals to the genetic…

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[spodzone]

There’s no better place to start a holiday than the Nice Place(TM), even if it does involve getting up and on the road at 4am for a 165-mile drive up north.

The sun rose over Loch Beinn a Mheadhoin as I approached:

The rising morning sun dispelling the last dull light of pre-dawn, showing the tree colours to optimum advantage.

First hints of the sun rising behind distant hills, silhouetting trees small on the ridge

The fine tendrils of birch tree branches silhouetted against the sky, sunrise tinging the clouds bright orange and purple-blue.

The Caledonian Forest at Glen Affric was its usual beautiful self – still not cold enough for morning mist in the trees, but brilliant morning sunlight and heavy rain caused a wonderful vibrant double rainbow while I was down by the river.

My very favourite old Scots Pine trees amongst hte heather, Glen Affric Caledonian Forest Reserve.

A beautiful characterful birch tree covered in lichen and moss, branches like arms spreading in all directions.

Fast-flowing cascades in the River Affric.

Fast-flowing cascades in the River Affric.

The beginnings of a rainbow against a dramatic rain and hail cloud contrasting with bright morning light.

A stunning vibrant rainbow and secondary bow over the Caledonian Forest at Glen Affric, bright morning sunlight catching one of the Scots Pine trees and distant birches along the river.

An interplay of textures and lines: partial reflections of birch trees in a puddle amongst the heather and grass

Stunning bright morning light catching the burnished brown bark of a Scots Pine tree

Two of my favourite birch trees amongst the heather in moody dull morning light.

An unusual composition – enjoying subtle tones of morning with clouds passing by, a loose distribution of trees (birch, Scots Pine) amongst the heather on the outskirts of the Caledonian Forest reserve, Glen Affric.

Subtly catching the bright morning sun behind one of the Scots Pine trees lining the banks of the River Affric.

Favoured old characterful Scots Pine trees enjoying a hint of morning light among the heather.

For a change, I took a long walk a couple of miles along the side of Loch Beinn a Mheadhoin, to be rewarded with a gorgeous view of Sgurr na Lapaich covered in pure white snow, across the water.

Bright pure white snow catching the morning light on the undulating slopes of Sgurr na Lapaich across Loch Beinn a Mheadhoin

Bright pure white snow catching the morning light on the undulating slopes of Sgurr na Lapaich across Loch Beinn a Mheadhoin

A different morning stroll: around the back of Loch Beinn a Mheadhoin, looking back toward Sgurr na Lapaich

Other views from the morning:

The River Affric flowing among the lower slopes of Sgurr na Lapaich

A small clump of granny Pine trees in the Caledonian Forest reserve

A sign of clear pure air: lichen growing on fine filaments of a pine tree branch twigs.

A late-Autumn dusting of snow on the mountains above Glen Strathfarrar from Struy.

Autumn Holiday Day 1: The Nice Place There's no better place to start a holiday than the Nice Place(TM), even if it does involve getting up and on the road at 4am for a 165-mile drive up north.

[scotianostra]

Eagle’s Crag.

Eagle’s Crag, Glen Alladale, a three-bedroom cottage offering a lovely sense of privacy that is part and parcel of what the perfect Highland retreat should be. It sleeps 8 and costs from £1,550 per week someone has it booked up for Xmas, next years Xmas week will cost you  £1,898.57! https://alladale.com/accommodation/eagles-crag/

[spodzone]

The Nice Place(TM) It’s been a bit of a dream, a life-mission of a bucket-list item, but the other week I flew over some of the Caledonian Forest at Glen Affric - the drone’s maiden flight, as it happens, and a new way to admire the trees from a different angle. A scene I hope to revisit more often as flying skills evolve.

[spodzone]

For about 13 years I have been of the opinion that it has not been a year without at least one trip to Glen Affric.

My favoured time is autumn, late October, to catch the trees in the Caledonian Forest reserve at their most colourful.

Arriving before sunrise, the light is all dull  and the scenery a moody shade of gloomy – the last vestiges of moon stars remaining in the cobalt blue sky.

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Transition time: the first light of the morning, barely hinting at the possibility of dawn on the horizon, with a crescent moon in the cobalt blue sky. All is dull, below, in the Caledonian Forest.

Two of my favourite old gnarly crooked Scots Pine trees braving the elements in the Caledonian Forest, Glen Affric.

One of my favourite scenes at Glen Affric – two ncie birch trees amongst purple and green heather. Sadly this shot has been marred in recent years by the installation of a large wide path cutting right through the heather between bench and trees; this photo used to be easier to compose but now I’m too conscious of having to position the frame to avoid the path just below; it’s becoming too much of a trick-shot for my liking.

  Slowly, over the course of an hour after the posted sunrise time, the sun will gradually rise behind Meall Dubh beyond Loch Beinn a Mheadhoinn, casting a beautiful light on the forest:

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Vibrant orange and red tones as the first proper bright light of dawn illuminates clouds over the forest, Glen Affric.

Is it wrong to count treees as personal frends? Anyway. These two really should be. Something about their age and poise and crowns is immensely appealing.

Having arrived so early, it is a delight to bask in the first proper warm sunlight of the day:

One of my favourite birches – always think it should be called “Dancer” for some reason – basking in the first warm rays of sunrise amongst the heather.

Autumn at Glen Affric For about 13 years I have been of the opinion that it has not been a year without at least one trip to Glen Affric.

[andrewridley]

Glenmore National Forest, Cairngorms, Scotland