Serendipity - A Happy Accident
Chance Encounter
At the start of the year 2023 around March time I was heading to the Isle of Skye. I had previously been to the island at least once a month since the start of the year. I saw a photograph taken by a stranger on Facebook and it was of the famous Fairy Pools covered in snow. I knew I had to get a similar shot in my portfolio!
On my way to the island I stopped off at the world famous Eilean Donan Castle to get some winterly photos as I hadn’t seen the castle with such conditions.
| Eilean Donan Castle | 38mm | 14/03/2023 | f/11 | 1/200 | ISO 200 |After leaving the castle I was on my way to Skye. Shortly after leaving I saw an individual who stuck out their thumb and usually traveling alone, I don’t think twice about picking up hitchhikers. As fate would have it this person very quickly became my very first true experience of serendipity!
Skye Bound
We had spent a couple minutes together when I asked the induvial what their name was, she replied with “Victoria”. She had an accent and I later found out she was from Bulgaria. I was curious about where she was traveling too and she said back how she didn’t really have a plan and was just seeing where she ended up. So to her surprise I invited her to join me round Skye for the day, to which she agreed with excitement.
Driving a short while we later stopped off at our first viewpoint called “The Plock”, just outside of Kyle of Lochalsh, which overlooks the Isle of Skye facing west towards the magical Red Cuillins.
| The Plock Viewpoint | 55mm |14/03/2023 | f/13 | 1/250 | ISO 200 |Later we left this location, heading on with our journey with her enthusiasm increasing with every passing mile. Before she knew it, we were in Skye!
The Misty Isle
Next stop in our adventure was the whole point in me traveling to Skye, to see the Fairy Pools. After traveling for over an hour and covering a distance of over 35 miles, we finally reached the pools. We stopped on the way to get a stunning photograph of Glamaig, a 755 meter mountain which was a right treat!
Skye is otherwise known as “The Misty Isle” as it is quite often covered in low cloud creating drama and mood everywhere you go. I suppose that’s the perks of island life!
| Glamaig | 105mm | 14/03/2023 | f/13 | 1/320 | ISO 200 |Onto Fairy Pools now, which are known for it’s waterfalls, crystal clear water, with a scenic mile and a half hike, with the majestic Black Cuillin’s for the backdrop to this fairy-tale landscape. Many are attracted to the site for the wild swimming element. Victoria was loving every second! When I tried to photograph this scene I wanted a long exposure, however due to having no ND filter, the photo I would’ve liked to take didn’t happen. I am still happy to of photographed Fairy Pools while it had snow! Who knows, I may return again next year!
| Fairy Pools | 50mm | 14/03/2023 | f/16 | 1/50 | ISO 200 |Once we saw Fairy Pools I really wanted to show her some other places in Skye. such as Neist Point and Fairy Glen. Some consider Neist Point the most western point on mainland Britain you can drive to. On a clear day you can see across to the Outer Hebrides which is somewhere I’m yet to venture. Fairy Glen is known for it’s extremely unique landscape, rolling hills, ponds and an old fairy castle (according to Scottish folklore). By the time we arrived to Fairy Glen the sun had already set so unfortunately I never took many photos there but Victoria loved it!
| Neist Point | 27mm | 14/03/2023 | f/11 | 1/500 | ISO 200 |
| Neist Point Lighthouse | 53mm | 14/03/2023 | f/10 | 1/320| ISO 200 |
| Fairy Glen | 24mm | 14/03/2023 | f/9 | 1/160 | ISO 200 |An Unforgettable Experience
While we were traveling round the island Victoria was looking at my photographs I had taken over the years and one set of images caught her eye, the Northern Lights. It is something you can see in Scotland but usually it’s overcast and we can’t see it for that reason, the fact it can usually only be seen from being up north as well makes it quite difficult to see.
We were heading back to where she was staying as I offered to take her back as she had long missed her bus by this point. She explained to me how she really wanted to see the Northern Lights. Next thing you know my phone vibrates and it alerts me that the Aurora is out that night and can be seen towards the direction we were heading. So off we went!
Below is a photo taken in Glen Sheil just to see how clear the sky actually was, I had hope that we were going to see the lights if we continued to head north!
| Glen Sheil | 16mm | 14/03/2023 | f/2.8 | 15 seconds | ISO 3200 |As you can see from the photo underneath, we managed to find the northern lights, Victoria quoting “Can this day get any better”. Not only did we go round Skye but we managed to find the Aurora Borealis!
| Black Isle | 16mm | 14/03/2023 | f/2.8 | 15 seconds | ISO 3200 |The Start of a Great Friendship
After the drive back to the hostel she was staying at, we exchanged details as she was in Scotland for another couple of months. I agreed to show her round the country while I was out on my adventures. I will be writing more about the time spent with Victoria in the coming weeks. I can’t wait for you to find out what happens next!
