Beneath the clouds of Glen More, a narrow road bounds over rill and heath like Highlanders of ages past. The hollow glen whispers on the grasses and burns streaming from the hilltops like dreams from a widow’s eyes. I am alone for the entire traverse of the glen, though I often notice something from the corner of my eye, at the edge of hearing. Skidding down a bank, I dip my hand in a frigid, crystalline stream. An old Gaelic belief suggests that the souls of heroes return to the hills of their country after death, to the scenes of their happiest times in life. Perhaps Glen More isn’t as empty as it appears. Though the holy site of ancient Iona lies far behind me, I feel much closer to heaven here among the upraised arms of Mull.
Metaphors cloud my vision everywhere in Scotland: The winds are the airs of fiddles, the mist-wrapped sunbeam is a smile breaking through tears, the bony ridges are the hands of a grandfather. Am I just a dreamer, someone who wishes to see the world a certain way? Or perhaps there are places, like Glen More, where the veil between what is and what is imagined narrows, where we can see through the opacity of our minds.
It looks like you could bike for miles on that road.
The road runs from one end of Mull to the other. It’s a stunning and long path.
it is amazing how your mind can wander visiting these places alone, you can feel the past flowing through your body and the sounds mingleing through your mind mixed with the same echoes that sounded throughout these valleys in ancient times.
Nothing much has changed around the area apart from a few trees missing, you are looking through the eyes of a highlander and walking down a modern road that has probebly been constructed over the original path worn down down by peoples adventures through the past. facinating in your own mind till you here the sound of a jet flying above or a horn sounding telling you to get off the road, wakes you up for a while but you soon get back into your own hypnotic state and become pasrt of the history once again.
facinating post keith its nice to know our minds think the same when walking alone in Scotland,
Greg
Hah, I’ve been there. Seems like many of the ultra-rural places in Scotland are also on RAF flight paths. It’s nice to think that maybe the power is in the place and not just how I choose to perceive it.
How lucky to have experienced these mystical moments. We lack this kind of thing in our modern world where our lives and experiences are so structured and rigidly defined, and our culture seems hostile to any sort of non-empirical reality. Scotland is wonderful in its ability to offer these experiences.
I think “hostile to any sort of non-empirical reality” sums it up well. I try to just take it as it comes and leave the scientific method at home.
I remember roads like this, in Scotland – places that are haunting and soothing at once. lovely!
This reminds me of one of the opening scenes of the movie Local Hero (filmed in Scotland). They are driving through scenery just like this and sadly hit a rabbit.
I still need to watch that movie.
Oh, I would give half of my life to have this road ahead right now…
This photo sort of pulls you in and sweeps you down that long magnificent road!
the more i look at this picture the more i want to build a home right in the middle of it and stare out the window all day laced with single malt and feeling the warmth of the log fire blowing up my kilt, sounds like the ideal life to me.
Indeed, if only that lifestyle didn’t lead to alcoholism and alienation 🙂 It’d be a great escape each year, though.
I have stayed in many cottages in remote areas like this, with some great memories especially telling the children about the wolf and the killer haggis, poor things would not go out at night : )
Yet another amazing place in Scotland… this amazing country surprises me every time I see a new picture. 🙂 Glen More is beautiful, you are very lucky to be able to explore such breathtaking places.
Those surprises are an important reason why I continue to go back there again and again.
You will have to let me know when you are next in Scotland, maybe i will be in the area and we can have a wee dram together……….although this could lead to some unusual behaviour when i am on the Scottish holy water. :- )
It’s been a while since I’ve peeked in — this photo is beautiful and so is your writing. Thanks for that.
I think there are places we see or feel ghosts. If we’re lucky, I mean.
Hey Pam, good to see you here. Totally agree about the ghost comment. I think it means we’re paying attention.