Scotland 2025, Part 1

For the third year in a row (and the fourth time overall) I was able to spend a week or so in Scotland. In January! And, for the first time, it was specifically a trip for photography. I wanted foggy, cold, moody Scotland weather in my pictures and brought along a bunch of Ilford FP4 and HP5 to help facilitate that.

First up, Stirling. I spent an afternoon in and around Stirling Castle, at the Church of the Holy Rude and the graveyard that surrounds it. There’s a pretty killer view across the town where you can see the William Wallace monument up on a hill.

It was heavy overcast and foggy much of the day, which made for some atmospheric graveyard shots.

In the next few days I rented (ahem, hired) a car and drove up Loch Lomond, around to Inveraray, and up to Glencoe. There was a lot of meandering…and a few ruined castles, like Buchanan or Kilchurn.

I try to imagine being a farmer in Scotland in the 1450s, living in the same room you were born in, tending your land, never venturing farther than the nearest town. Then, one day, a multi-room and multi-tower castle or cathedral goes up. You are…afraid? Impressed? Indifferent? I don’t know. In any case, these places must have been an imposing presence on the landscape. In a way, they still are.

The landscapes - imposing presences or no - are the highlight in Scotland. Just driving around is always a great experience; it’s even better with the fog and snow and storms. I managed to be there during Storm Eowyn (“once in a generation”) and am glad it worked out that way.

Finally, a few nights in Edinburgh. “A city so beautiful it breaks the heart again and again.” (Alexander McCall Smith)

Until next time!