In anticipation of my trip to the Outer Hebrides which starts at the end of this week, I thought I’d share with you a few images and stories from previous trips to Scotland which, as I mentioned in my Welcome Blog, is one of my absolute favourite places on the planet! I have been visiting the West Coast of Scotland since I was a small child and have a great many fond memories of summer holidays spent rock-pooling, braving the chilly waters for a swim, walking in the mountains and eating great local seafood.

There is something slightly other-worldly about Scotland for me. I think it has something to do with the vast open landscapes where mountains meet the sea and nature surrounds you completely. Every breath of air seems fresher. The smell of pine forests, bracken and dark, damp, peaty earth come to mind, along with the call of Curlew and Oystercatcher across the loch, the tingle of salt on the wind and stretches of open sandy beach with barely a soul in sight. Read more