Iced on Rannoch Moor

On making a good call to travel early

As usual I was booked to travel up to Scotland in late January 2024, this time for a week in Assynt. I booked into the Kingshouse for a couple of nights to break up the journey and get the metaphorical photographic eye in place. Dave Tolcher and I were due to meet in Scotland on the Thursday and as the trip approached we eagerly watched the weather forecasts. It was cold already across Scotland and it became clear from about 5-6 days out that there might be a significant fall of snow on the Wednesday that week.

Dave and I both changed plans – we booked into the Kingshouse early, me arriving Sunday night and Dave arriving earlier that day. I took an extra 3 days off work. It turned out to be a top decision. I arrived at dusk so I could see very little but Dave gave me reports of amazing ice on the moor.

The next day we headed out to play. There had been a small fall of snow overnight so the ice now had a dusting of white and it was clear skies above. For old times’ sake we went down Glen Etive to the deer enclosure where we knew there would be some shade and I made the alternative image. It was the last time I used the Actus MV in anger – I was transitioning back to the smaller Actus DB with the base tilts which was a considerably lighter proposition with the Phase. These rocks have been a fun subject over the years but they were as good as I can remember.

After tea and cakes (it is important to be civilised!) back at the hotel we headed up onto the moor. Dave had a composition in mind but the snow had covered the ice he had scouted the afternoon before. And it was starting to get very bright. I wandered about on the moor just taking in the wonderful conditions when I noticed the rock and the tracks leading up to it across Loch Bà. I realised the shadow of the rock would reflect the blue sky above and reached for the 180mm. I made the main image.

The conditions on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday were to become nothing short of epic.