Untamed. Untamed is the only word that I could think of that incapsulates the spirit of the Scottish Highlands. A land of mist articulated by large barren mountains that were carved by the brutal Atlantic winds. On some days the scenery is but a mirage appearing out of the fog and, on others, the lochs sparkle from the beautiful sunlight trickling into the valleys. While we were in Glencoe for Christmas, we experienced every weather pattern Mother Nature had in her arsenal. We could not see much driving the first day on the A82 because of a dense fog and rain that had settled in the valley. Over the next four days the mountains slowly started to reveal themselves to us. There was something comforting about the smell of fresh rain and the sound of running water that brought me home. I was fortunate enough to have my beautiful other half, Grace, with me for Christmas, and the Highlands welcomed us with open arms.
Each day we drove somewhere new and each day we fell more and more in love with the rugged landscape. After a full Scottish breakfast Christmas morning, we took a breathtaking hike up one of the Three Sisters (a grouping of three snow capped peaks). The path ascended up through the fog as if leading upwards into an oblivion of white. The wind was soft and damp against our faces but we stayed warm from the hike. We took our time everywhere we went, stopping to revel in the moment. It was surreal to be there with Grace on my favorite day of the year, as if home had uprooted and planted itself in the moments we shared in the vast landscape. It is not easy being away from Home and Grace for so long, but I was completely content on the mountain side with her next to me. Moments like those are the ones that gave me reassurance that the world will be okay; standing on the side of the majestic landscape, soaking up God's beautiful masterpiece before us.
After four days in the Highlands I understood why people are speechless when trying to explain the landscape. Finding words to explain a feeling that is only evoked in the grandeur of the Highlands, seems to me as nearly impossible. Overwhelming but calming, savage but beautiful, an enchanting contradiction that feels as ancient as time. The Highlands are everything I have dreamed of and so much more. Hopefully these photos will help shed light on my love for Scotland and the memories I now have from our time there.
