Walking in Gleann Eanaich

Part 3 of the trip Cairngorms - February 2017. Go to part 2. Part of my Scottish winter series.

With an afternoon flight back home to get to, we looked in our OS maps for somewhere easily accessible where we could walk for the morning. Our last day in the Cairngorms turned out to be the best weather by far - no winds and glorious sun.

The maps indicated a path leading in to the valley of Gleann Eanaich from Whitewell - we figured we would walk as far as time allowed before turning back.

A photo taken from behind as Chris walks ahead. The sun is directly ahead causing Chris to be mostly silhouette with brightly lit edges of his body. The surrounding countryside is fresh with evergreen trees and a snowy mountain in the background.

Chris Natt ― 2017/02/14
1/180s at f/6.7, 35mm, ISO 100, Nikon D800

Our initial target was Loch Mhic Ghille-chaoil - but we soon realised that was far too ambitious for a morning stroll. Still - the weather was glorious, and we loved just wandering about in the valley.

A sunny valley early in the morning. There’s a bit of mist in the background and several layers of mountains visible.

2017/02/14
1/500s at f/11, 44mm, ISO 100, Nikon D800

A wide photo in morning sunlight. In the background there’s a hump of a snowy hillside. In the foreground there’s brownish grass with tall trees littered about.

2017/02/14
1/250s at f/8, 26mm, ISO 100, Nikon D800

The first part of the walk was through light woodland - before emerging in to a stunning valley. The snowy hills were very tempting, but we weren’t equipped for winter walking any more, and didn’t have the time - tempting for another trip though!

A small stream in a sunny valley landscape. There’s patches of snow on the right bank.

2017/02/14
1/350s at f/9.5, 24mm, ISO 100, Nikon D800

A wide panorama of the Gleann Eanaich valley. There’s snow on the upper parts of the mountains and in the valley it’s mostly brown.

Sgòr Gaoith rising sharply on the right - where we’d visit in March.

2017/02/14
1/2000s at f/5.6, 24mm, ISO 100, Nikon D800

Chris stands on a high path taking a photo of the Gleann Eanaich valley in bright sunlight.

Chris Natt ― 2017/02/14
1/1000s at f/5.6, 24mm, ISO 100, Nikon D800

All-in-all a very successful morning and end of our first winter trip. The first of many to come.

Part 3 of the trip Cairngorms - February 2017. Go to part 2. Part of my Scottish winter series. Shot at Gleann Eanaich in the Cairngorms.