Herb Riddle's photos

A friendly bee takes to the pollen in this Geranium flower in our garden. This is only one of the 270 species that live in Britain. They are in the order Hymenoptera. See PiP (adjacent photo) for flying bee. Best full screen (naturally) Enjoy the day.

We had just arrived at the abbey car park and only yards away was confronted with this view. A very nice fence where some thought had been put into the shapes of the wood. Then I wondered which church this could be as I could not find it on my plan of the abbey. Minutes later I was to discover that what I saw here was just the top of the giant abbey bell tower as the whole structure was deep in the hidden valley beyond the trees. Have a good weekend.

A river idyll here on the Lochay at Killin in the Scottish Trossachs. Not the ideal weather for such a photo one would have thought but it works well for me as I find the trees and their reflections frame the centre of attraction just perfectly. Best full screen Enjoy the day.

Another shot of this railway station, this time with a part of the extensive harbour workings too. Have a great day.

I am on the stony shores of Kyleakin on the Isle of Skye looking at this fine bridge where on the right hand side we see Kyleakin Lighthouse built in 1857 on the small Island of Eilean Bàn . The Island is used as a stepping stone for the bridge as it crosses the mouth of Loch Alsh to the Isle of Skye from the mainland. In fact what some people think is the start of the bridge on the mainland is actually the Carrich Viaduct link constructed at the same time as the bridge itself (just out of frame on the right). Best full screen. Follow PiP for bridge details. Enjoy the day.

Another bench from Glen Lyon, Scotland HBM, enjoy the week.

A look down onto this bridge from the Cnoc Trail on the Isle of Skye itself. The Isle of Skye is connected to the mainland by a road bridge. Connecting the mainland village of Kyle of Lochalsh to the village of Kyleakin on Skye. The bridge construction started in 1992 built by the Scottish company Miller, but designed by a German engineering company DYWIDAG Systems International in collaboration with civil engineering firm Arup. The main bridge is a concrete arch, supported by two piers. This connect Skye to the small island called Eilean Bàn, the rest of the bridge is level across to the mainland. The total distance across is 1.5 miles (2.4km). The main arch is about 35m high (30m clearance for boats on high tide). Apologies for slight camera shake at handheld 300 (450mm) and slow shutter speed. (You would think I would know better by now ! (˚◡˚) ) Enjoy full screen

Another look at this reservoir and its dam (Lawers Dam), from the far end of its 2km length. Best full screen. Enjoy the day.

Some years after the repainting of this old Edwardian style wrought iron fence it is still very attractive. It sits on top of a small almost ornamental bridge in our local Alexandra Park. HFF and enjoy the weekend

A look at this popular Munro which hides its more famous neighbour Ben Lawers. We are on our way to Glen Lyon here and have a rare spot of blue skies I could not resist the Silver Birch trees. Being near the NT carpark for the most popular route to the two mountains, there is a steady trail of Munro Baggers (a group of people who feel the need to climb every one of the 282 Munro’s in Scotland. Munro = mountain over 3000ft) passing me by here. Beinn Ghlas is in fact 1,103 (3619 ft) and Ben Lawers 1,214 m (3984 ft) Enjoy full screen

Taken on a quite Sunday. This station acts as the main station on the Scottish Mainland for passenger traffic to the Isle of Skye. That, until a few years ago used to be from near the harbour (on the left here) via ferry to Kyleakin but nowadays all traffic goes via the big new Skye Bridge. It is also the terminus for many train specials that come from Aviemore and 'The boat of Garten' heritage station. Some of these would be pulled by steam locos. The train is one of our Class 158 Express Sprinters–a diesel DMU (Diesel Multiple Unit). Not that most of the single track line it will travel along allows any fast speeds at all. The train shown here runs to Inverness via what is known as the 'Kyle Line' and takes approx. 2 ½ hours. Enjoy the day.

Another capture of these falls that never fails to delight. The fifteen second exposure turns the fast spray into a silver silk curtain. Enjoy full screen

Sometimes a little effort can bring great rewards. We see such an example here with this bench overlooking Loch Voil from Balquhidder in Stirlingshire. It is described as a small narrow fresh-water loch of 3.5mi (5.6km) with an average depth of 39ft (12m). It lies in the beautiful Balquhidder Glen. Notably, the area is steeped in history, particularly as it relates to the infamous 17th century Scottish outlaw Rob Roy Macgregor. See PiP. HBM, enjoy the week.

A walk in the park can be rewarding. Azaleas are flowering shrubs in the genus Rhododendron and are part of the family Ericaceae.

. A look at this stark reservoir on the edge of the Ben Lawers mountain range. It is retained by the Lawers Dam as shown in the PiP. At 2km long it is not so very big but has a wild attraction. The water is piped to the Finlarig Power Station (part of the Breadalbeane Hydro-electric power scheme) on the edge of the much larger Loch Tay a few miles lower down the mountain. Best full screen. Enjoy the day.

Stood on the Loch’s southern end near the village of Killin. If we could see further (14 miles) we would see the northern end village of Kenmore. Our walk will take us left from here (west) for another half mile or so before returning back to the village via the banks of the River Lochay. Have a good weekend.

Another look at this tree (from the opposite side) seemingly growing out of solid rock, this time in monochrome. As you can see here it does sit on a bit of soil and I presume its roots are well embedded in crack within the rocks. Nice full screen Enjoy the day.

A new day brings us to the village of Balquhidder and Loch Voil. A look around this old nineteenth century church grounds also reveals an old church dedicated to St Angus (main photo). As we look here at the old stone cross it is hard to imagine on the other side sits the grave of one of Scotland’s most famous hero’s. Rob Roy McGregor –outlaw turned folk here. PiP 1 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rob_Roy_MacGregor PiP 2 shows the more modern nineteenth century church still in use today. Enjoy the day.