Amazing Images Explore Scotland's Great Wilderness
Photographer Alex Nail pays homage to Britain's wildest region in a years-long project to capture the moods of Scotland's Northwest Highlands
Published 31 Jan 2019, 14:37 GMT, Updated 16 Dec 2020, 11:09 GMT
"The river Kirkaig flows out of Fionn Loch, beneath Suilven. The only way to reach this point is via an off trail walk over open hillsides, or otherwise by fording the river. On this rather bleak January day the walk seemed more appealing!"
Photograph by Alex Nail"The sandstone from which these mountains are formed is comparatively soft and over time decays back to sand. Many of the lochs in the area have small, golden sand beaches such as this one in Torridon."
Photograph by Alex Nail"The Coulin Hills lie south of the famous ‘Big Three’ peaks of Torridon. As a result they see far fewer hikers and even on a perfect summer day you are likely to find yourself alone in the mountains."
Photograph by Alex Nail"An Teallach is regularly listed amongst Scottish walkers' favourite mountains. However the full ridge traverse is not to be taken lightly, particularly in winter. Here you see the sunrise view from Bidean a’Ghlas Thuill across to the most challenging section, the Corrag Bhuidhe Pinnacles."
Photograph by Alex Nail"There are relatively few pockets of native Scots Pine remaining in Scotland, but this small grouping in Coire Roill is one such example. Behind is the towering presence of Beinn Damph."
Photograph by Alex Nail"The view from Sgurr Mor (986m) on Beinn Alligin is one of the finest in Scotland revealing a sweeping vista into the Torridon Hills and to Fisherfield and the Great Wilderness beyond. On this evening a cloud inversion swept in off the Atlantic as the sunset approached."
Photograph by Alex Nail"Suilven (731m) is a small but prominent peak in Assynt. As an Inselberg it stands on its own above a rolling landscape of hills and lochans which was swept clear by a glacier during the last Ice Age."
Photograph by Alex Nail"The warming influence of the sea makes snow unreliable on the coastal mountains of the Northwest Highlands, but when it arrives it reveals the unique nature of the mountain geology. This image shows the moonrise over Torridon from Tom Na Gruigach."
Photograph by Alex Nail"The Am Fasarinen Pinnacles on Liathach present a full mountain day of scrambling in the summer, but in winter the ridge is transformed becoming a real challenge. This image was taken at sunrise after a camp on the ridge."
Photograph by Alex Nail"The extensive mountain of Quinag is the most northly in Assynt. The area is particularly popular with geology students due to the enormous range of geological features and rock types. The Lewisian Gneiss upon which much of the mountains lie is amongst the oldest rock in the world, at almost three billion years old."
Photograph by Alex Nail"The Islands of Loch Maree Nature Reserve is a haven for birdlife. Here the Scots Pine are untouched, and paddling between the islands and inlets you are taken back in time to when the Caledonian Forest covered many of these glens."
Photograph by Alex Nail"The coastal mountains of the Northwest Highlands are directly exposed to Atlantic weather which is often unforgiving, producing endless days of rain on the peaks. On showery days these mountains are the perfect place to watch the weather come in."
Photograph by Alex Nail"The region of Coigach hosts a number of smaller mountains, but they are every bit as spectacular as their Munro neighbours. The sun is rising to the right of the best known (and easiest) mountain in the area, Stac Pollaidh."
Photograph by Alex Nail"The northwest coast of Scotland has numerous white sand beaches - some of which offer views back to the mountains. Achnahaird Bay is one of the best, feeling tropical on a sunny summer day, but somewhat less forgiving when the weather comes in."
Photograph by Alex Nail