16. View on the Isle of Barra

16. View on the Isle of Barra

17. The Hebrides make me think of misted days, brilliantly blue skies, dramatic clouds and scenic lochs.

17. The Hebrides make me think of misted days, brilliantly blue skies, dramatic clouds and scenic lochs.

Lochs may be inland lakes or sea inlets and therefore can be fresh water or salt water.  Loch is an Irish/Scottish word in Gaelic, the very sound of which conjures up wild scenery, windy viewpoints and pristine waters ranging in color from turquoise to navy blue to steely gray, changing with depth and weather.

View down to Castlebay, Isle of Barra

18. While primarily coastal, the interior of the islands are typically rocky and grassy, affording pasturage of the centuries for sheep and West Highland cattle.

18. While primarily coastal, the interior of the islands are typically rocky and grassy, affording pasturage of the centuries for sheep and West Highland cattle.

Interior of Barra, looking towards the sea.

19. Tide is out here at Kinloch, showing a shallow bay fronting rugged hillsides.

19. Tide is out here at Kinloch, showing a shallow bay fronting rugged hillsides.

Landing, Kinloch Castle, Rum

20. Coast lines are often rocky, but with grasslands above. Low mountains dot the islands lending touches of grandeur to the sometimes barren landscapes.

20. Coast lines are often rocky, but with grasslands above. Low mountains dot the islands lending touches of grandeur to the sometimes barren landscapes.

Cruising the Sea of the Hebrides heading to Castlebay on the Isle of Barra.

21. The peaked mountains of the Scottish Islands jut out with tumbling down sides of rock and grass.

21. The peaked mountains of the Scottish Islands jut out with tumbling down sides of rock and grass.

The Outer Hebrides in particular are a geologist's dream with their layers of igneous rocks formed from cooling magma or lava and then altered over time into layered gneisses which form wavy patterns of lighter and darker bands, containing granite, quartz, feldspar and other mineral-rich layers.  This low mountain is on Barra near Castlebay.

22. The large Isle of Lewis shows grassy, wet tundra leading to low-lying lochs and hills beyond.

22. The large Isle of Lewis shows grassy, wet tundra leading to low-lying lochs and hills beyond.

Photo taken from the Callenish Standing Stones, Lewis.

23. Looking up into the pastured hillsides with easy slopes leading towards higher points.

23. Looking up into the pastured hillsides with easy slopes leading towards higher points.

Near Callenish Standing Stones, Lewis

24. Another view of the land bound lochs near Callenish

24. Another view of the land bound lochs near Callenish

Callenish Standing Stones, Lewis

25. Looking up the rock-strewn hillside on Isle of Lewis where the grass is green and the slopes give habitat for heather.

25. Looking up the rock-strewn hillside on Isle of Lewis where the grass is green and the slopes give habitat for heather.

Near Dun Carloway, Lewis

26. Another view of the area near Dun Carloway, Lewis,

26. Another view of the area near Dun Carloway, Lewis,

27. And a third view new Dun Carloway showing lichen-laden rocks on the stacked stone wall.

27. And a third view new Dun Carloway showing lichen-laden rocks on the stacked stone wall.

28. The rugged scenery of Shieldag where sheep find grazing and shelter amidst the rocks and heather.

28. The rugged scenery of Shieldag where sheep find grazing and shelter amidst the rocks and heather.

29. Roman-nosed sheep with their tails left naturally long look glad for wooly coats regrowing for the winter.

29. Roman-nosed sheep with their tails left naturally long look glad for wooly coats regrowing for the winter.

30. Looking down into Shieldag Harbor on a misty day.

30. Looking down into Shieldag Harbor on a misty day.

Shieldag, the Highlands, Scotland

31. Lovely view of the isles, land, clouds and terrain.

31. Lovely view of the isles, land, clouds and terrain.

Shieldag, the Highlands, Scotland

32. The trail behind Plockton was dense with grasses and heather even tumbling over this low rock wall.

32. The trail behind Plockton was dense with grasses and heather even tumbling over this low rock wall.

Plockton, the Highlands, Scotland

33. On the Isle of Harris, the view from St. Clemens Church shows rough pastures ascending to rugged hillsides.

33. On the Isle of Harris, the view from St. Clemens Church shows rough pastures ascending to rugged hillsides.

34. Trees are powerful parts of British landscapes, with variety in trunks, shapes and species. Where trees populate the landscape in the Hebrides, certain specimens are quite handsome.

34. Trees are powerful parts of British landscapes, with variety in trunks, shapes and species. Where trees populate the landscape in the Hebrides, certain specimens are quite handsome.

Near the village of Inverie, the Highlands, Scotland

35. A collage of local stones, barks and shells on beach, Hebrides.

35. A collage of local stones, barks and shells on beach, Hebrides.

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16. View on the Isle of Barra
17. The Hebrides make me think of misted days, brilliantly blue skies, dramatic clouds and scenic lochs.
18. While primarily coastal, the interior of the islands are typically rocky and grassy, affording pasturage of the centuries for sheep and West Highland cattle.
19. Tide is out here at Kinloch, showing a shallow bay fronting rugged hillsides.
20. Coast lines are often rocky, but with grasslands above. Low mountains dot the islands lending touches of grandeur to the sometimes barren landscapes.
21. The peaked mountains of the Scottish Islands jut out with tumbling down sides of rock and grass.
22. The large Isle of Lewis shows grassy, wet tundra leading to low-lying lochs and hills beyond.
23. Looking up into the pastured hillsides with easy slopes leading towards higher points.
24. Another view of the land bound lochs near Callenish
25. Looking up the rock-strewn hillside on Isle of Lewis where the grass is green and the slopes give habitat for heather.
26. Another view of the area near Dun Carloway, Lewis,
27. And a third view new Dun Carloway showing lichen-laden rocks on the stacked stone wall.
28. The rugged scenery of Shieldag where sheep find grazing and shelter amidst the rocks and heather.
29. Roman-nosed sheep with their tails left naturally long look glad for wooly coats regrowing for the winter.
30. Looking down into Shieldag Harbor on a misty day.
31. Lovely view of the isles, land, clouds and terrain.
32. The trail behind Plockton was dense with grasses and heather even tumbling over this low rock wall.
33. On the Isle of Harris, the view from St. Clemens Church shows rough pastures ascending to rugged hillsides.
34. Trees are powerful parts of British landscapes, with variety in trunks, shapes and species. Where trees populate the landscape in the Hebrides, certain specimens are quite handsome.
35. A collage of local stones, barks and shells on beach, Hebrides.