Fall Scottish Trip, Part 2

Hunting for Fall Colours (since we’re in the UK)

Urquhart Castle

One of the reasons to take a late trip to Scotland was to hunt out fall or autumn colours. The latest we’d stayed previously was about the tenth of October, about the time the trees were starting to turn. This trip that date was our first day in Scotland. Hopefully, we thought, we’d see the trees and plants turn from green to red, yellow, brown, etc. We’ve succeeded beyond our hopes. The yellows, golds, browns, and even some reds have graced my camera lenses. In this photo essay, I’ll take you to an isolated and lonely glen, into the Highlands, up to one of the highest village in the Scotland, to an inn surrounded by colourful mountains, and a few more places where Scotland shows its colours. I hope you enjoy the journey as much as we enjoyed the hunt.   

Glen Lyon (Gleann Liomhann). The glen is the longest enclosed glen in Scotland—25 miles from Fortingall (supposed birthplace of Pontius Pilate) to Loch Lyon. The glen is the traditional home to clan MacGregor, Menzies, Stewarts, and others.  

The first part of the glen is very tight.

Named the Roman Bridge, this packhorse bridge was really built in the 1600 or 1700s. 

Fall colors even invade the Glen Lyon kirkyard.

Bridge of Balgie has the only tearoom in the glen.

The deepest part of the glen opens up.

The Spittal of Glenshee. The Spittal of Glenshee is the head of Glenshee. It’s a small village with a hotel, golf course, small kirk, and one of Scotland’s few ski areas.

Behind the kirk at the Spittal of Glenshee is a 3000-4000 year old standing stone.

The Old Manse at the Spittal of Glenshee kirk.

Braemar and Deeside. At 1112 feet elevation, Braemar is one of the highest Highland villages in Scotland—beaten only by Tomintoul (in the Highlands) and Wanlockhead (in the south). It’s also home to the Queen’s Highland residence, Balmoral Castle. Braemar is at the top of the River Dee valley which extends to Aberdeen on the east coast, thus the name of the area is Deeside.

A Highland croft near Braemar contrasts the green of a crop with the brown of the heather.

Braemar Golf Course or Gold Course

Trees above Braemar.

Near Ballater in Deeside the pine forest turns into a birch forest.

Five Sisters of Kintail. An area of mountains in the northwest Highlands is known as Kintail. Three of the five main mountains are Munros (Scottish mountains over 3000’). Nestled in the valley between the Five Sisters is the Cluanie Inn, originally built in the late 1700s as an Arms House for British officers. The inn was refurbished in 1990 and has a whisky bar with more than 200 malts.

The Cluanie Inn

Other Colourful Spots.

Autumn reflections along the River Doe.

The ivy turns a bright red on this house in Pitlochry.

The fall colors are outstanding on our golf course, St Fillans.

NEXT: We travel north and the hunt for fall colors continue.