Day 4 — Between Islands and Mountains
Day four began with the quiet satisfaction of movement again. Leaving the Isle of Skye behind, I headed towards Fort William, greeted by a smooth drive and roads almost completely clear of snow — a welcome change after the last few days of winter warnings and waiting.
Partway through the drive, Loch Oich offered a natural pause. Heavy rain fell across the loch, breaking the surface into constant motion. The rain stripped the scene back to its essentials — dark tones, texture, and atmosphere — turning a simple composition into something more raw and honest. It wasn’t about calm reflections, but about embracing the conditions and letting the weather shape the image.
Arriving in Fort William, the afternoon was spent getting a feel for the lay of the land. Walking and driving through the town, noting how the mountains sit around it, how the light moves, and how the place carries its own rhythm compared to the island I’d just left behind. These small observations always shape how I return to a place with a camera later on.
The day closed along the Caledonian Canal at Corpach, timed perfectly for sunset. Despite the earlier rain, the light slipped away gently behind the Highlands, softening the scene as evening took hold. Reflections faded, colours cooled, and the day settled into a quiet close.
Travel days like this may be about moving on, but they still carry their own quiet magic — found in the weather, the pauses, and the moments that only reveal themselves when you keep going anyway.