Day/post 16 A Remarkable spell of weather!

Just as I finished my last post the weather changed as promised and we have had (as everyone will know) a brilliant week or so of blistering hot sunshine!
Excitement mounted this time last week as we deliberated about a trip to Skye...with a  forecast too good to ignore we packed up the car and headed off last Thursday.
Skye has been a regular destination for us for the past 21 years and as we have found,once experienced in  good weather, the Black Cuillin mountain range are an addictive and powerful force drawing us back time and time again.
Our days out have always been dictated by the weather and over the years our increasing experience of being in that particular landscape has never altered our respect and concern for it's unpredictability. Last week however our only concern was for avoiding getting sun burnt and running out of water. Rare and welcome concerns.

Heading up towards Sgurr Sgumain , John pointing out the Cioch

Sun coming up over Sron na Ciche

Looking back down to Glen Brittle

Blaven in the distance

Views to die for, from the summit of Sgurr Alasdair

Sgurr Dearg and the Inaccesible Pinnacle on the skyline

The neck of the great stone shoot, the decent route off Sgurr Alasdair

Coir a Ghrunnda

Views across to the Thearlich -Dubh gap, Sgurr Dubh Mor and Sgurr Dubh Beag

Knowing that we would only have two and half days actual walking and climbing I deliberately didn't pack any drawing materials...a slight regret when we sat and soaked our hot and weary feet in the cool of the  fairy pools but at least I did have my camera.
I have had a long held fascination with the Cuillins. From the first time I set eyes on them I knew we had to venture up and into them. The initial point of intrigue was the enormous scale, firstly of the moor land leading into them and then the massive bulk of mountains themselves.
I have always been so overwhelmed and intimidated by this landscape that it wasn't until relatively recently that I even attempted to represent it in some way on canvas.My attempts have been fleeting and I am still not sure if I really want to commit to surfaces something so majestic and immense.

Fairy Pools    76x76cm   Oil &Wax on canvas

 Without great expertise my efforts will always remain somewhat feeble in comparison to the real thing.

That amazing turquoise grey/blue again.....

Fairy Pool magic with Sgurr  an Fheadain and Waterpipe gulley in the distance

One lonely cloud

Posing for the camera, coming down from Coir a Tarneilear

Bidein  in the distance

Sgurr an Fheadain 

The unique element about Skye and its mountains is (not surprisingly) the quality of the light.The light reflecting  from the surrounding sea makes the atmosphere appear airy and ethereal. For us it's a 6 hour drive from home and on days like we had last week it truly feels like a  beautifully wild and remote place.