Harlem and Amsterdam (07/04/13)

Canal in Harlem, which is located about half an hour from Amsterdam

A landmark clock tower by the canals in Amsterdam

During our visit Vlad Putin was in town prompting protests

Return to Paris (05/04/13)

A part of the jardins français modeled on the English gardens of the eighteenth century  during the reign of Louis XVI

Paris from atop the Eiffel Tower on a foggy day looking north, with the Montmartre in the background with the famous Basilica of the Sacré Cœur

Eiffel Tower

Locks symbolizing love on a bridge in Paris - they come by and chop them all off every few months (photo cred goes to Megan for this one)

Kilchurn Castle on Loch Awe (28/03/13)

The ancestral home of the Campbells (and probably for that reason covered in sheep dung), Kilchurn Castle is located on the tip of Loch Awe

Rail tracks running north from the east of the castle

Castle Stalker (28/03/13)

Castle Stalker is a four story keep on Loch Laich which is only accessible during low tide and then with difficulty. Built in 1320, it was once in the possession of the Macleans of Kingairloch until it was lost due to Hector Maclean's excessive gambling

Loch Ness (27/03/13)

Castle Urquhart and in the background Loch Ness on a very foggy day

Stac Pollaidh (27/03/13)

Perhaps the highlight of our recent trip, Stac Pollaidh provided some beautiful views and some exciting scrambling

The view to the north east of Stac "Polly" was stunning - the mountain in the centre is Beinn an Eoin

To the northwest is the sea and a partially frozen lake

Loch Lurgainn and to the left is Sgurr an Fhidhleir

A panoramic view from on top - from the left the edge of Beinn  an Eoin, then Sgurr an Fhidhleir, then  Ben More and then to the centre right is the sea

Stac Pollaidh from the road - you can scramble the entire length of the summit

Ullapool (26/03/13-27/03/13)

The view from the beach facing south from Ullapool

Ullapool which is situated on Loch Broom is a beautiful little fishing town from where my grandfather used to fish

The harbour is smaller than it once was but the fish and chips in the town are still amazing

Falls of Measach (26/03/13)

The Falls of Measach situated in Corrieshalloch Gorge - worth a visit on the road to Ullapool

Glenfinnan Viaduct (26/03/13)

Glenfinnan Viaduct which is located on the West Highland Line  and is most famous for being the bridge to Hogwarts in Harry Potter - built from concrete it is more pleasing from a distance

Isle of Skye and the Old Man of Storr (26/03/13)

View from the Old Man of Storr - The Storr is one of many very interesting rocky pinnacles overlooking the Sound of  Raasay

The Needle and the surrounding landscape

The Old Man of Storr is located on the far left of the picture - we stopped to cook lunch and while eating two Eurofighters passed within approx 500m

Loch Moidart and Castle Tioram (25/03/13)

Castle Tioram  is located on a tidal island in Loch Moidart, and is the traditional seat of Clan MacDonald of Clan Ranald

Castle Tioram with a better view of Loch Miodart

Taken on a trail on the coast of Loch Miodart which runs up into the surrounding hills

The descent from the trail with Loch Moidart in the background

St Andrews (02/03/2013)

Cathedral at St Andrews, founded 1158

View of St Andrews from atop St Rule's Tower - in the background is  St Andrews Castle

St Andrews - note the cathedral and St Rules Tower

Scotland vs Ireland 6 Nations (24/02/13)

Ireland on their way to score the first try of the game at Murrayfield

West Highland Way [Glencoe] (23/02/13)

The view from Kingshouse Hotel

Bauchaille Mountain in the background

On the way to the summit of Aonach Eagach

Small Detour to Paris (15/02/13-19/02/13)

The Eiffel Tower. Beautiful? The English author William Morris, when  asked why he frequently took lunch on the tower, responded: "this is the only place in Paris where I can avoid seeing the thing!"

A cat contemplating the meaning of the graffiti scrawled on the wall of his home

What 3 hours of modern art can do to a person

Northern Ireland (08/02/13-10/02/13)

Annalong Harbour in County Down. A beautiful wee village  on the east coast near Newcastle

A view of Carlingford Lough and Warrenpoint. Beyond Warrenpoint to the left of the picture is the Republic of Ireland

Isle of Cumbrae (02/02/13)

A derelict boat in Millport Harbour on the Isle of Cumbrae 

The same boat with the town of Millport in the background. Cumbrae has been a popular tourist destination  since the early twentieth century

Sunset on the Isle of Cumbrae where you can rent a bike for the day and cycle around the Island

When visiting look out for the painted faces which mark famous geology. This fella is named "Indian's Face"

Oban and the Isle of Seil (19/01/13)

Connel Bridge from the point by Dunstaffnage Castle

Oban Harbour from where my granddad used to fish, and the unofficial capital of the Highlands

Oban's famous fish and chips with plenty of tartar sauce

View from the Bridge Across the Atlantic on the way to the Isle of Seil, the bridge has a pub nearby  named "Tigh an Truish" meaning "the house of trousers" where during the 1745 Jacobite Rebellion islanders stopped to change from their kilts into trousers due to the ban on traditional attire

Isle of Seil, a small island on the east side of the Firth of Lorn