The Storr

The Old Man of Storr was on the definites list for this trip. I had been as far as the base of the Old Man some years ago, and we had aborted a walk there this August as the cloud base dropped to eyebrow level.

Today was different. A cold and frosty morning produced blue skies in the north, with great views of the Storr from the first of the Storr Lochs after leaving Portree. Mercifully, there were only two other vehicles in the car park when I arrived, so I looked forward to a peaceful day out.

I was certainly not prepared for the scene of absolute devastation caused by the timber harvesting that is taking place, removing every tree in site. One wit mentioned they will need to strike out the word "woodland" in the woodland walk leaflet and information board. You do wonder whether the market value of the timber is worth the impact on the landscape.

But the walk is definitely worth doing, as The Storr is a landscape seen nowhere else that I have ever been. I clambered up to the base of The Old Man, but only briefly before continuing through the piles of fallen rocks of The Sanctuary ("You are advised not to proceed past this point") to get to the top of the overlooking cliffs. This photograph is the view from there. Direct into the the sun so the light was far from perfect, but the view is stunning. The pinnacles themselves, the Storr Lochs, the Sound of Raasay and the Isle of Raasay - including Dunn Cann which featured in yesterday's blip - and of course the Cuillin.

I've said it before, but this is indeed God's country.