counter hit xanga
Bridge of Orchy Hills | Scottish Landscape Art - Scottish Landscape Paintings

Posts Tagged ‘Bridge of Orchy Hills’

A short walk, but very, very good

This isn’t going to be a long drawn out blog as I’ve described this walk on several occasions in the past. It’s a short walk we do almost every winter, but it’s just so good that we have to keep on going back again and again!

Blackmount and Rannoch Moor

Blackmount and Rannoch Moor

The wee top of Ghlas Beinn on the edge of Rannoch Moor isn’t a major hill, it isn’t even a Graham and it could and I’m sure does, get over looked by many a hill walker. That said however, it is a superb little top and as they say…..it’s all about location, location, location.

Towards the Blackmount

Towards the Blackmount

As much as I like to be right up high on one of the big Munros, I do think you get much more exciting views when you’re on a small hill surrounded by bigger ones. This little top is all about this. From its meagre height of just under 600m the ground drops away in all directions with the huge area of Rannoch Moor stretching out below, whilst not far away, the higher summits of the Bridge of Orchy Hills dominate one view and the even higher summits of the Blackmount dominate the view to the west.

Passing snow shower

Passing snow shower

All you really need to enjoy this place is a temperament that doesn’t always demand the huge walk, or the biggest mountains, and a willingness to just spend a bit of time strolling slowly along just enjoying where you are and the fact that you don’t have to rush to get anywhere quickly! Oh yes, it also helps to have some interesting weather about too.

From Ghlas Beinn

From Ghlas Beinn

Interesting weather is what we got on Sunday when we visited this place. For five hours as we wandered along, the scene around us changed almost constantly. A continuous stream of snow showers bobbed in and obliterated the views from time to time. In between the snow showers however, the sun came out and the big mountains threw off the cloud to reveal spectacular views of snow and rock. The colours were wonderful and it seemed like the straw colours of mid winter were starting to change…..to a slightly more olive kind of green…..signs of new growth?

Towards the Blackmount

Towards the Blackmount

We’re hoping to get out again next week with a bit of luck. We need to get some fitness back into our legs after all this time away from the hills. We’ll probably head back to another old favourite … Beinn Dubh and the Luss Hills. We’ve walked this route so many times over the years but the views are superb and the steep slopes make it a good test for un-used legs!

Breaking cloud....

Breaking cloud….

-o-o-o-o-

‘In the Bridge of Orchy Hills, late afternoon, January’

 201-in-the-bridge-of-orchy-hills-late-afternoon-january-acrylic-pastel-2011-80-x-80-cm

 

‘In the Bridge of Orchy Hills, late afternoon, January’, Acrylic & Pastel, 2011, 80 x 80 cm

I’ve been working on this painting for quite a few weeks now and have just finished it.  Although I use blues and purples a lot in my paintings, the pinky reds in this picture have caused me a lot of problems.  I’ve been trying to capture that wonderful colour the snow goes as the sun sets in winter …but this has been difficult for me as I really struggle to see red against other colours.  The very fact that I could see the pink colour last winter as we were making our way back after a fine winter walk, means that it must have been quite bright but as with all colours …it’s very difficult to judge their intensity either in the natural environment or in a painting.  Anyway, I quite like this piece and am already working on a second painting this size using the same colours …but with a greater emphasis on the pink / red and yellows.  The painting is with the framer right now but I’m looking forward to seeing it up on the wall once I get it back.

I may well display this piece as part of the Wasps Open Studios Weekend at the Courtyard Studios in Irvine next weekend 1st and 2nd October.  Entry as usual is free. Open:11am – 5pm Saturday, 12 noon – 5pm Sunday.   Other artists taking part include: Sheila Kerr, Graham McKean, David Reid, Alison Thomas, Margaret Carslaw and Gillian Beech.  If you live in striking distance of Irvine, why not pop along and see some fine work.  Lots of places to eat and drink near by including The Ship Inn and the Harbour Arts Centre Bar right next door.  Hope to see you next weekend.

Beinn Dorain and the Bridge of Orchy Hills, April

beinn-dorain-and-the-bridge-of-orchy-hills-april-acrylic-pastel-2010-60-x-27-cm

Beinn Dorain and the Bridge of Orchy hills,April

‘Beinn Dorain and the Bridge of Orchy Hills, April’, Acrylic & Pastel, 2010, 60 x 27 cm

This is a new version of the view from the summit of Beinn Odhar and it will be exhibited as part of a ‘New gallery artists’ exhibition at Scotlandart.com Edinburgh gallery. The exhibition will open in late October. More info re this exhibition nearer the time.

We had planned to climb this hill tomorrow but a problem with the car has meant we’ve had to cancel …but it’ll be there for another time. This 900m hill is a real favourite of mine so it’ll not be long before we’re back.