Arrival

The view across the Sound of Raasay to Skye and the profile of the Quiraing in the pink of the post-sunset sky. This was the view from the kitchen window of the house in which we were staying.

It was a long drive up from Cumbria, after an early departure to be sure we wouldn't miss the last ferry from Sconser. We needn't have worried, the roads were clear, and there was plenty of time for stops along the way and for one unscheduled detour. I was tempted to blip Eilean Donan castle - surely one of the most photographed places in Britain - where we stopped for a cup of tea and a stretch of legs for Gus. But I preferred this photo of the view that was to transfix us for the next 5 days.

Alison and Sue anticipated precisely the ferry we would catch, and we arrived to beaming smiles, dinner in the oven, and a rambunctious Rowan who was delighted to see his friend Gus.

The special quality of Raasay and this house were immediately apparent, relaxation was instant, the only background noise was the ascending/descending notes of the willow warblers outside. The telescope was soon set up and trained on the water in the bay. S and A had enjoyed two days of perfect weather before we arrived, and the night before this was taken there was a vivid sunset.