My last few posts have featured the beautiful landscape of Aberdeenshire. At times we have found a riot of autumnal colour; at others, a very early fall of snow that has muted the colours to near monochrome. As I’ve said before, we never come north here in winter so the latter has been a particular delight for us.
Today, the weather remains cold and there is still snow on the mountains and in the higher valleys of the Cairngorms. We went in search of this today up Gairnside to the north on a cloudy morning and found a great, cold emptiness that was beyond anything we’d expected. Under snow, the gently rounded mountains and moorland offered unique patterns and forms and their own particular sense of bleak remoteness that was beautiful but forbidding. It was easy to sense the battle for survival in the harsh conditions of winter.
Today, the weather remains cold and there is still snow on the mountains and in the higher valleys of the Cairngorms. We went in search of this today up Gairnside to the north on a cloudy morning and found a great, cold emptiness that was beyond anything we’d expected. Under snow, the gently rounded mountains and moorland offered unique patterns and forms and their own particular sense of bleak remoteness that was beautiful but forbidding. It was easy to sense the battle for survival in the harsh conditions of winter.
We go home on Saturday to a very different landscape. In the densely populated south of England, even under snow, such forbidding remoteness is largely unknown. We are cosseted and live in a gentle landscape with neighbours close by and help easy to summon. When we hear that the snow gates on the A939 Cockbridge to Tomintoul are closed, we will understand more fully!
l'hiver est presque là... tes photos sont très belles!bises
ReplyDeleteMerci Elfi. Ici en Écosse, l’hiver est déjà arrivé je pense! Samedi prochain nous reviendrons à la maison au sud d’Angleterre ...
DeleteWow beautiful photos! Reminds me of Rob Mcfarlanes books and Nan Sheperds about the Caingorms.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Louise. It was an extraordinary day’s exploration yesterday and one we won’t easily forget. We have driven this road many many times in summer but never in snow. The remoteness was reinforced spectacularly by the snow.
DeleteRobert Macfarlane’s Landmarks I have read and very much enjoyed but Nan Shepherd’s writing on the Cairngorms is new to me. I have downloaded it to my Kindle as it sounds unmissable and will enjoy it when I get home. Many thanks for the recommendation.