Time to take a trip along the West Coast
of Scotland and the Road to the Isles and Arisaig. There we’ll find some ‘Montbretia on the
Shoreline’. This is another little
painting, all about complimentary colours of blue and orange.
Here's the photo that the painting was done from.
There was a television programme on over the Christmas
holidays, where a steam train travelled the West Highland Line in actual
time. That’s all that happened – no
competing chefs or Scandinavian murders, you just travelled along in the train
and looked out of the window. It’s known
as the most scenic railway journey in the world, and for good reason. It was very relaxing.
The train is called ‘The Jacobite’ (although you can also
travel on an ordinary train - The West Highland Line)
and it takes 5 and a half hours from Glasgow to Mallaig. It’s known as the most scenic railway journey
in the world, and for very good reason.
It’s very relaxing.
However, the whole journey had me sitting at the edge of the
seat waiting to go around corners to bits where I’ve painted (so I guess not
very relaxing, actually). I could spot
various trees and houses and views of passing lochs that I’ve photographed and
then painted over the years.
After Arisaig, the train goes along by Camusdarach and the
white sands at Morar (where I’ve a painted a great deal). Then near to Mallaig, you can see the bit by
the road where I stopped and took a photo of these beautiful, bright montbretia.
When you can, go on the train journey. There is nothing more romantic than a
beautiful day, the bluey green sea and the distant shapes of the islands of the
Hebrides on the horizon. It’s achingly lovely.
Here’s the Google Maps link – although, having waxed
lyrically about the scenery, the link shows the layby with piles of
not-very-scenic construction and a couple of vans in the way.
