This photographic tour was inspired by the famous Scottish song "The Road to the Isles" which first appeared in 1917 in a book entitled "Songs of the Hebrides" and has remained popular ever since.
It's the far Cuillins that are pullin' me away
As step I wi' my cromack* to the road.
It's the far Cuillins that are puttin' love on me
As step I wi' the sunlight for my load.
Sure by Tummel and Loch Rannoch
And Lochaber I will go
By heather tracks wi' heaven in their wiles.
If it's thinkin' in your inner heart
That braggart's in my step,
You've never smelled the tangle o' the Isles.
It's the far Cuillins that are puttin' love on me
As step I wi' my cromack to the Isles.
It's by Shiel water the track is to the west
By Ailort and by Morar to the sea.
*crooked walking stick
In keeping true to the lyrics, our tour starts at Loch Tummel in Perthshire heading west past Loch Rannoch and the River Gaur to Rannoch Station.
We then head north into Lochaber on the path to Loch Ossian, Corrour and Loch Treig then over the Lairig Leacach path to Spean Bridge and onward to the Caledonian Canal at Gairlochy.
From Gairlochy we take the Canal towpath to Banavie near Fort William and then head west to Glenfinnan at the head of Loch Sheil. It's then westward to Loch Ailort and Loch Morar to our final destination at Mallaig and Loch Nevis where we catch the paddle steamer "Waverley" over to Skye.
Pitlochry -- the starting point east of Loch Tummel
Loch Tummel from the "Queen's View."
The River Gaur on its way to Loch Rannoch near Rannoch Station
Loch Laiden near Rannoch Station
A glimpse of Schiehallion on the path from Rannoch Station to Corrour
Evening light, Loch Ossian
Deer in Corrour Forest
Daybreak at Corrour
Corrour Station, Leum Uilleim in the background
Looking east to Loch Ossian from the slopes of Leum Uilleim
Looking down on Loch Ossian from Meall na Lice
The Grey Corries from the Corrour to Loch Treig path
Creaguaneach Lodge near Loch Treig
Cruach Innse and Sgurr Innse from the Lairig Leacach path
The lighthouse at Gairlochy
River Lochy looking north east to Glen Gloy
View to Ben Nevis from the Caledonian Canal at Banavie
The Caledonian Canal at Corpach, Ben Nevis in the background
The Glenfinnan Monument at the head of Loch Sheil
Loch Sheil at Glenfinnan, Sgurr Guibhsachain in the background
View to Roisbheinn from the Lochailort to Meoble track
The River Meoble (flows from Loch Beoraid to Loch Morar)
Loch Ailort from Roshven
View across Loch nan Uamh to the Isle of Eigg from the Peanmeanach track
Bothy and ruins at the deserted settlement of Peanmeanach
The islands of Rum and Eigg from Camusdarach on the road from Arisaig to Morar
Loch Morar
Loch Nevis and the mountains of Knoydart from Mallaig
Paddle steamer "Waverley" at Mallaig harbour
Over the sea to Skye on the "Waverley"
Click here for map of the route taken.