Picture
Caption: #MYBESTSHOTS
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Caption: When I was thinking about #mybestshots I realised that for me, my ‘best’ shots are about memories and moments. Sometimes it’s a place: the light streaming through the trees at Tentsmuir, or the pink-tinged skies of a sunset at Yellowcraig or Ravensheugh. Sometimes it’s a specific moment; a walk where I can remember the sense of peace and freedom, even though it was a few years ago.
Picture of Belsay Hall
Picture of Belsay Hall
Caption: But then sometimes it’s a building, or the way buildings interact either with the landscape or each other. Or a specific detail, like the window in the previous photo from a visit to Belsay Hall in October 2016, with those wonderful shutters. I’d intended to choose twenty photos with the story behind each, but…. well, that plan didn’t quite work out, as you can see by the length of this story. So these are some photos and places leading up to the end of 2018, as I also wanted to rewind a little with this story - plus, I shared a ‘best of 2019’ story here.
Picture of Belsay Hall
Caption: This was our first trip to Belsay Hall in Northumberland in October 2016 and it’s one of my favourite places. If you enjoy architectural details, this early 19th century house is fascinating. I loved this fireplace (also on the cover) with its original Delft tiles, and then in the next photo, the former library used as an exhibition space.
Picture of Belsay Hall
Picture of Belsay Hall
Caption: Belsay Hall was built from the rock carved from the Quarry Garden, and this is one of the most unusual gardens I’ve seen. There’s just something about the scale of this place as you weave between these looming rock faces. The garden has its own microclimate and you can feel the humidity shift as soon as you arrive.
Picture of Belsay Hall
Picture of Cragside
Caption: Cragside, also in Northumberland, and again this was our first visit in September 2016. I loved this moment when we came to an old thatched boathouse - a boathouse without a pond, as the water that was once here has been drained, so I didn’t expect to walk inside and find this boat.
Picture of Bass Rock
Picture of Bass Rock
Picture of John Muir
Picture of John Muir
Caption: I remember this so vividly. It was July 6 2018, a Friday evening, and we’d driven down the coast to have a picnic at John Muir and watch the sun set. The light was glorious. Just one of those moments where you feel so grateful to be experiencing it together. And Harris loved paddling.
Picture of John Muir
Picture of John Muir
Caption: Richard took this next photo, so it’s not one of ‘my’ best shots, but it’s one of my favourite moments and photos with Harris. It was June 21 2018, the summer solstice. We always want to mark the solstice so we’d driven to Gullane beach to watch the sun set over the sea. I scooped Harris up for a cuddle, the warm light glowing on his fur.
Picture of Gullane
Picture of Musselburgh
Picture of Musselburgh
Picture of Tentsmuir
Picture of Tentsmuir
Caption: December 27 2018, towards the end of a long walk at Tentsmuir, heading over the grassland to the beach, with this gentle, gentle light. And peace.
Picture of Tentsmuir
Picture of Ravensheugh
Picture of Ravensheugh
Picture of Ravensheugh
Picture of Blackford Hill
Picture of Hidcote
Caption: June 9 2015, and our second visit to Hidcote in Cotswolds, with its incredible Arts and Crafts-inspired garden. I loved this place. Just… magical. So many special moments. A must-visit if you’re in the area.
Picture of Hidcote
Picture of Hidcote
Picture of Newhailes
Picture of Arthur's Seat
Picture of Arthur's Seat
Caption: I’ll be honest, this ‘best shots’ story could simply be about photos of Harris as most of the shots I connect with involve the wee fella. So I’ve been holding back here!
Picture of Scott Monument
Picture of Dublin Street Lane
Picture of Dublin Street Lane
Picture of St Andrews
Picture of Embleton Bay
Caption: February 12 2017, and a windy, bitterly cold walk at Embleton Bay, with these wooden cabins - all holiday homes - tucked up on the dunes, facing the sea and the elements.
Picture of Embleton Bay
Picture of Cambo Gardens
Picture of Cambo Gardens
Picture of Dean Village
Picture of Dean Village
Caption: The view from our last home in Edinburgh, as someone grabs a morning smoke after a fresh dusting of snow.
Picture of Dean Village
Picture of Edinburgh Castle
Picture of Elie Ness Lighthouse
Caption: February 10 2018, at Elie Ness Lighthouse, and one of my favourite walks in Fife, heading from Elie along the coastal path in the direction of St Monans. And this light in the third photo here.
Picture of Elie Ness Lighthouse
Picture of Elie Ness Lighthouse
Picture of Abbotsford
Caption: December 28 2017, and Abbotford’s Hope Scott Wing glowing with warmth in this low midwinter light.
Picture of Abbotsford
Picture of St Bernard's Well
Picture of St Bernard's Well
Picture of St Bernard's Well
Picture of Crail
Picture of North Berwick
Picture of Loch Dunmore
Picture of Lower Slaughter
Picture of Lower Slaughter
Picture of Little Sparta
Caption: June 27 2010, shot on Richard’s old compact camera, and a visit to Little Sparta in the Pentlands - a garden that is described as Ian Hamilton Finlay’s greatest work of art. And this moment, in a wooded area, when we happened across this gilded head of Apollo.
Picture of Little Sparta
Picture of Little Sparta
Caption: #mybestshots shot in East Lothian, Edinburgh, Fife, Perthshire, the Scottish Borders, Northumberland and the Cotswolds.
