Beauty of a Loch in the Scottish Highlands along with hills

One of the most famous attractions of Scotland (and the Scottish Highlands) are the numerous Lochs that are present all through (Loch is the Scottish/Irish name for lake). These are formed in different configurations, with some forming along a natural fault in the earth, and others forming on the sides of hills. Typically most Lochs are not very wide, being long and narrow. Many of these Lochs have been kept unspoiled, with the natural outdoors look, and look very beautiful. So, typically you have Lochs along with hills / mountains being very beautiful.

Water of a Loch along with hills in the Scottish Highlands (More photos here)

The calm waters of a Loch along with the hill right next to the Loch. The hill (as in previous photos) is covered with scrub / sparse vegetation, and with the rock of the surface of the hill showing. The whole appearance of the hill is that of a beautiful natural outdoors look. If you look closely at the water, you will see the surface of the water seems disturbed for part of the surface, and looks totally calm for the rest of the surface. There is no sign of civilization here, just nature and the unspoiled look of the lake.

The narrow section of a Loch between a hill and the shore on the other side (More photos here)

This photo is one of my favorite photos, showing the absolute beauty of the Scottish Highlands. There is the hill with sparse vegetation (showing the rugged nature, since the greenery on the hills is sparse, and it is mostly rocky) and with a Loch right next to the hill. The Loch can be pretty long, but the width of the water is pretty narrow, which is something that I have seen in most of the Lakes that I saw in Scotland. It looks exceedingly beautiful; we had stopped at the side of a highway, and could see this wonderful sight, just standing there at the shore of the lake and enjoying the view, the wind and the calm. 

Low mountains and hills in the Scottish Highlands, with their scrub

The Scottish Highlands is a beautiful part of Great Britain. Its region of great rugged outdoors, hills and mountains, lochs, and abundant greenery make for a beautiful location to which a large number of tourists want to visit. In addition to a large number of lakes, there is the incredible weather, and castles that dot the region in different places. Some of the places will seem like any other town (although the surroundings will be far more beautiful) while others will seem far more isolated and yet beautiful. For example, the photos below have been taken from a highway passing through the region, showing some of the hills (covered with scrub) in the region.

Hills in the Scottish Highlands, covered with scrub (More photos here)

2 hills in the Scottish Highlands, both covered with scrub. Most of the hills in this region are covered with Scrub, not even grasses or lush vegetation (maybe because of the local weather and soil conditions - if anybody knows the answer, please mention so in the comments). The weather overhead is not yet rainy, but it could change at any instant and become darker and start raining.

Sheer cliff and rocky face of one of the hills in the Scottish Highlands (More photos here)

The sheer cliff face of a hill in the Scottish Highlands. The top part of the hill is covered in sparse vegetation, but it looks like the impact of weather or some more sudden event caused the erosion of the cliff face and fall of the side of the hill. This kind of cliff face, although not very high, is something that is treasured by climbers who like this kind of challenge (this particular one would be more used for training rather than for any serious activity).

Passing through the mountains of the Scottish Highlands

The Scottish Highlands are a rugged area of Scotland, famous for its mountains and lakes (Lochs). Some of the places are now well settled, so they can hardly be called rugged, but there are large chunks of area that are rugged, and beautiful. Many of these places are easy to visit, with highways passing through them; you just need to step off the highway when you are near a Loch or a mountain and you can see the full beauty of nature in the Highlands. In the following photos, you are actually seeing nature close to the highway which passes through, although if you were not seeing the highway, you would not be easily able to make out that this place is connected to civilization. The presence of lakes also provides a place to enjoy water sports, which can also be seen.

Multiple hills in the Scottish Highlands with wires in front (More photos)

Hills in the Scottish Highlands. These seem sufficiently rugged, with almost no habitation on the hills. The dark clouds overhead complete the notion that this is an outdoors place, as nature intended. However, then you have wires passing in front of the view, which provides proof of the presence of civilization all around you along with the highway on which you are traveling on.

Hill in the Scottish Highlands with scrub and other vegetation (More photos)

This is a view of a hill in the Scottish Highlands. Even though these hills are not very high, they do not have thick vegetation. The vegetation in this region of the Scottish Highlands is mostly scrub, and on this mountain you can see scrub and exposed rock.

On a highway passing through the Scottish Highlands (More photos / Prints)

Who would not want to travel on such a road ? A lovely road passing through the Scottish Highlands, with trees, greenery and mountains on one side, and a stream on the other side (this point is actually a bridge). One can keep on driving easily on such a highway (as long as one does not run into any emergency, in which case it could take some time to get help).

Boats in a Loch in the Scottish Highlands (More photos / Prints)

With so many lakes in the Scottish Highlands, recreational facilities are also available in plenty. I don't know which Loch is this, but there are many boats here. On the other side of the loch are houses and other such buildings, and a lot of greenery above the buildings.

Photos at and near the Eilean Donan Castle in the Scottish Highlands

The Eilean Donan Castle is one of the most beautiful castles in Scotland, and one of the most visited ones. It is an incredibly beautiful castle, although most of the castle that can be seen right now is a reconstruction. The castle was destroyed in 1719 to prevent it being used for rebellion, and was reconstructed in the 20 century along with the bridge. It is now one of the most photographed object in Scotland, and if you search, you will some incredibly beautiful photographs of the castle, especially at night and with water all around. The road leading to the castle moves along the side of a mountain, with a great view. It also means that you can start seeing the castle from a long distance, with great views.

Caravan parked at side of highway near Eilean Donan Castle in Scotland (More photos)

The road leading to the castle is very beautiful, on the side of the mountain side. As you get closer to the castle, you will be able to see the castle from a distance, since it is on an island, but closer to the shore. This was a small side clearing on the road, enough to be able to park next to the road, and from where you get such a great view of the castle in the distance. If you look in the front of the caravan, you would be able to see the structure of the castle.

Tourists on the bridge coming back from Eilean Donan Castle in Scotland (More photos)

In the previous post, I had put a photo of this bridge but without any people on it. I like this photo better, it shows some people crossing the bridge with one of them pointing to something. It looks more natural to see people crossing the bridge, highlighting the stone structure of the bridge, The water that you see seems to be under the bridge, but it is in the distance, not under the bridge. Far in the distance, on the other side of the Loch, is greenery on the slope of the mountain.

Eilean Donan Castle on the shore of Loch Duich in the Scottish Highlands

The Eilean Donan Castle is a very beautiful castle, located on the shore of Loch Duich. It is actually located on an island, named Eilean Donan, which is located very close to the shore. The castle was part of many protests and fighting over the years, and was finally destroyed many centuries back to prevents its use in rebellions. It was only in the first half of the 20th century that the castle was restored back to the condition in which it is seen today and a bridge was constructed to connect the island to the mainland, and over the years, the castle became a tourist highlight. Right now, the castle is one of the most photographed castles in Scotland and is also among the most visited.

Flag of Scotland in front of the Eilean Donan Castle in the Scottish Highlands (More photos )

This photo shows the Saltire (the Scottish Flag) in front of the Eilean Donan Castle, in a small stretch of green right in front of the castle. The rest of the grounds seems a bit brownish, but this is because this entire stretch of brown is the land that gets covered by water when the water level is high. Right now the water level was so low that even the bridge was over dry land, with no water below it (and when you see photos of the castle, there are times when the water level was much higher). In the background are hills with trees and green cover on the hills.

Bridge connecting the Eilean Donan Castle with the mainland (More photos)

The stone bridge connecting the Eilean Donan Castle with the mainland (with the highway pretty close by). At this point of time, the water level was so low that the area under the bridge was totally dry, while at other points of time, the water level was much higher and there was some amount of depth of water under the bridge. The bridge looks real wonderful, looking like typical stone bridges from older times. 

Visitors at 2 different castles in Scotland

The castles in Scotland have a great infrastructure in terms of visitors entry, facilities for visitors, ticketed entry, and so on. There are provisions for food and drink, well maintained outdoors (even though the actual castle building may be in ruins). The overall effect can be very beautiful. Some of the most famous castles in Scotland are Edinburgh and Stirling Castle, but there are other castles that also attract a large number of visitors, also because of their setting. A couple of such castles are the Eilean Donan Castle and the Urquhart Castle, both on the shores of Lochs and with an overall beautiful setting.

Tourists at Urquhart Castle in Scotland (More Photos / Prints)

Visitors at the view point near Urquhart Castle. The castle is located on the shore of Loch Ness, and it is a big complex. There is a visitor entry right at the highway, and once you have crossed the visitor's entry, there is this viewing platform (where there is also a telescope that be used for getting a closer look at the ruins of the castle) from where you can get a great view of the castle, the lake, and the mountains at the other end of the Loch. In the photo, one can see many tourists using the same location to get a great view of the entire castle and the background.

Eilean Donan Castle and visitor entry outside the castle (View more photos)

The beautiful entrance to the Eilean Donan Castle on the shore of Loch Duich in the Scottish Highlands. The Eilean Donan Castle is connected to the mainland by a small bridge, a small portion of which can be seen in the photo. Right before the gates of the castle (and before the bridge) is the visitor entry gate, where tickets are checked. Right outside the gates are some benches and a sitting area, and one can see some visitors sitting on these benches - these are some beautiful locations to relax and enjoy.

Urquhart Castle - A beautiful castle on the shore of Loch Ness in Scotland

Scotland is famous for many castles, spread all over. There were a number of clans spread over the region, and there were a number of battles in the medieval ages for supremacy and power. One of the major castles (besides the major ones such as Stirling Castle and Edinburgh Castle) was Urquhart Castle, located on the shore of Loch Ness. The castle is now in ruins, but the spread is still very beautiful, with the castle and the backdrop of Loch Ness, mountains in the distance and incredible greenery near the castle. The castle is located right next to the highway, making for easy access; and with a proper visitor center, it is a delight to go to.

The plaque highlighting some influential people at Urquhart Castle in Scotland (More photos / Prints)

This is a plaque at the visitor center at Urquhart Castle. The plaque highlights some of the critical people who are important and influential and who have been here - namely, St Columba of Iona, Sir Andrew De Moray, Sir Donald MacDonald, and Sir John Grant (chief of Clan Grant).

Replica of wooden trebuchet at Urquhart Castle, on the path (More photos / Prints)

A trebuchet was one of the most powerful siege weapons, used by attacking armies against castles. The trebuchet could throw all kinds of projectiles over castle walls as well as attack castle walls (along with the catapult); one of the more horrific uses was in terms of throwing diseased bodies over the walls with the intention of causing disease among the defenders.

Photos from Urquhart Castle (along Loch Ness)

Urquhart Castle is a fabulously beautiful castle located on the shore of the Loch Ness, close to Inverness in Scotland. The castle is essentially ruins now, but its location, and the incredible greenery all around the castle is superb. It is located on the A82 and is very accessible. Right next to the castle, one can get boat rides of Loch Ness, and the whole experience is superb. The castle was in prominence from the 13th to the 16th centuries, and was destroyed in 1692 to prevent its use during rebellions.

View of Urquhart Castle and the path leading to it (More photos at this link)

This is the approach to the ruins of the castle from the road and the visitor center. The place is incredibly beautiful and with the great Loch Ness right next to it, it can look pretty romantic.

Tourists on a stone bridge crossing the moat at Urquhart Castle  (See more photos at this link)

This is a small bridge. It is over a moat that no longer exists of course, and it is speculated that the moat was built in the middle ages, but there is really no correct dating of when the moat was made. This bridge has to be crossed by every visitor who comes to see the castle.