Today, we embarked on a hike alongside Loch Katrine, a stunning freshwater loch nestled in the heart of the Trossachs region. Despite its proximity to Cameron House, our hotel, the journey took us nearly an hour, a reminder that not every destination in Scotland is easily accessible via motorway. However, the scenic route offered ample opportunities to appreciate Scotland's natural beauty. Along the way, I was captivated by the serene reflection in a tranquil little lake. I couldn't resist capturing this moment, and among the shots I took, this one stood out the most to me – Alexandria, Scotland, UK
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After conquering Conic Hill, we embarked on a leisurely stroll along the shores of Loch Lomond. This serene scene perfectly encapsulates the ambiance of the area on an overcast day—a quintessential Scottish experience – Loch Lomond, Alexandria, Scotland
On the second day of our stay at Cameron House, we were determined to hike up Conic Hill near Loch Lomond, despite the rainy start and heavy clouds. Although the weather made the landscape appear a bit daunting as we began our climb, we persevered. Despite the challenging conditions, we enjoyed stunning views of the countryside and the lake below. The muddy paths and slippery rocks made it tough, but reaching the summit felt great. From there, we could see the entire Loch and the Trossachs National Park around it. On our return, we had a little picnic near the car, went for a pint of lager at the local pub, and took a final stroll alongside the lake before returning to our hotel for a relaxing late afternoon and early evening. We finished off with a great dinner at the hotel grill – Loch Lomond, Alexandria, Scotland.
Impressions in black and white of a leisurely hike from Cameron House, just outside Alexandria, to Balloch Castle and back, with the serene Lake Lomond as our companion on a rainy, overcast day. It's the quintessential Scottish experience—one we anticipated on our journey through Scotland – Cameron House, Alexandria, Scotland, UK
Our hotel, Cameron House, is ideally situated for exploring both the Loch Lomond area and Glasgow. On our first morning there, Helen, our guide whom we had already met in Edinburgh, joined us along with Andrew, our driver for the morning, and took us to Glasgow, Scotland's largest city, with over 650,000 inhabitants. Since the city's landmarks are spread out, Helen drove us to the main sites to help us get our bearings before exploring on foot in the afternoon.
We began at Glasgow Cathedral, a stunning example of medieval architecture dating back to the 12th century, and Necropolis, the historic cemetery located on a hill east of the cathedral. Its impressive collection of monuments, mausoleums, and sculptures includes a prominent statue of John Knox, seemingly overlooking the cathedral as if guarding the Scots against reverting back to Catholicism. Glasgow is also home to world-class museums, but on our first morning, we limited ourselves to visiting The House for an Art Lover, a unique building in the Art Nouveau style designed by the famous Scottish architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh in 1901. Additionally, we visited the Riverside Museum, which boasts one of the world's finest transport collections. As we explored Glasgow, the Victorian and Edwardian buildings lining the streets reminded me of Liverpool in the early 2000s, before it became the European City of Culture. Similar to Liverpool at that time, Glasgow felt like a large city in need of restoration and modernization. Finding decent postcard shots of the city proved challenging, but amidst the worn-down streets, there were glimpses of its former grandeur, like the tower of Glasgow University waiting to be rediscovered – Glasgow, Scotland, UK In central Scotland lies Stirling, a city renowned for its rich history and cultural significance. It served as our final stop on the way to Cameron House. As we approached Stirling, we were immediately struck by the sight of Stirling Castle atop Castle Hill, dominating the skyline. Our Michelin Guide informed us that this fortress has witnessed pivotal moments in Scottish history, including the Battle of Stirling Bridge and the coronation of Mary, Queen of Scots. Although we admired the castle from the outside, we chose not to explore its interior. Instead, we decided to wander through the charming streets of the town, marveling at its medieval architecture. One notable stop was the Church of the Holy Rude, surrounded by a cemetery offering panoramic views of the city and its surroundings – Stirling, Scotland, UK
After 3 nights in Edinburgh we left for our next destination: Cameron House in Alexandria at Loch Lomond. We were scheduled to stay there 5 nights. For starters we’d explore Glagow from there and do some hikes in the neighbourghood. But first we had a couple of stops on our way from Edinburgh to Cameron House on our schedule. The first one was just outside Edinburgh: Rosslyn Chapel. The chapel is famous for its intricate stone carvings, rich history, and connection to various legends and mysteries. It dates back to the 15th century and is renowned for its elaborate Gothic architecture. The chapel gained widespread attention after being featured in Dan Brown's novel "The Da Vinci Code," which sparked interest in its alleged connections to the Knights Templar and the Holy Grail – Rosslyn Chapel, Roslin, Scotland, UK
On our first day in Edinburgh, we passed by West Bow a couple of times. It's a historic street nestled in the lively Grassmarket area of Edinburgh's Old Town. West Bow itself boasts a row of vibrant, colorful buildings that catch the eye of every passerby. Although I took some straightforward pictures of the street on our first day, none seemed to truly stand out. It wasn't until the second day, upon our return, that I noticed the gleaming hood and roof of a car, reflecting the kaleidoscope of colors from the surrounding buildings, creating a much more captivating composition – West Row, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
I found it challenging to capture Edinburgh Castle in a single photograph. Trying from various angles and locations, I often encountered large crowds or less-than-ideal lighting conditions. Nonetheless, this image represents one of my better attempts. Perched dramatically atop Castle Rock, the iconic fortress symbolizes Scotland's rich history and heritage. With a history spanning over a millennium, Edinburgh Castle has served as a royal residence, a military stronghold, and a symbol of Scottish power. Today, it remains one of Scotland's premier tourist attractions. During our visit, we were particularly impressed by the Crown Jewels of Scotland, including the crown, scepter, and sword. The sword, in particular, held by King Charles III during his coronation, left a lasting impression. Despite its popularity among tourists, Edinburgh Castle is definitely worth a visit – Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
After an excellent sleep at the Balmoral Hotel in the center of Edinburgh, we enjoyed a guided tour by Helen, a charming local guide. With her, we learned about the historical significance of Scotland's capital city as we made our way up to Edinburgh Castle, situated atop Castle Rock. From there, we were treated to stunning panoramic views of the city. We were told that in Scotland, you shouldn’t bother too much about the weather, and right they are… In one day, we enjoyed sunshine - actually, we got a little sunburned - hail, rain, and heavy overcast weather. Actually, on this panoramic view from the castle, you can see the rain falling down on the other side of the river Firth of Forth – Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.
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WELCOME TO MY PHOTOGRAPHY BLOG AND PORTFOLIO. MY GOAL IS TO DOCUMENT THE WORLD AROUND ME, FROM THE SMALL DETAILS OF EVERYDAY LIFE TO THE GRAND LANDSCAPES THAT TAKE OUR BREATH AWAY. WHETHER I'M AT HOME OR TRAVELING TO NEW PLACES, I AM ALWAYS ON THE LOOKOUT FOR NEW AND INTERESTING SUBJECTS TO PHOTOGRAPH. MY PHOTOGRAPHS ARE A VISUAL DIARY OF MY EXPERIENCES AND A WAY TO SHARE THE WORLD AS I SEE IT WITH OTHERS. I HOPE YOU ENJOY EXPLORING MY COLLECTION AND DISCOVER THE BEAUTY OF THE WORLD THROUGH MY LENS.
About me:
Before: Healthcare Exec. Based in Brussels; Heidelberg; Los Altos Hills, CA; The Hague, Geneva, Nijmegen, Groningen
Now: Non-Executive Director in the Healthcare Industry based in Ghent. A travel buff with a passion for photography, photography books, Leica, wine and Asian food. Last but not least: proud grandfather of William, Nicholas and Mateo. |