The day was a typical Scottish day with changeable weather. The driving rain kept us indoors until after noon, when Henry and David made arrangements to meet at Strathan to take a walk. When the three of us began the walk, the skies were cloudy, with only the smallest patch of blue showing.“Sailor’s trousers”,the Scottish term, David informed us. The walk began with a bit of uphill, then flattened out as we walked along a double track until we approached a bit of green grass that lead us once again uphill to an overlook toward the sea. Here, sheep were grazing and a swift river wound its way to open water, spilling over rocks that created a waterfall, then following its path along a rocky bank toward the sea. In the valley below lay several abandoned stone houses, the roofs long gone, and the upright sides beginning to crumble. Beautifully built fireplaces on each end of the small rectangular buildings attested to lives lived in the most primitive conditions, the serenity of the setting coupled with harsh weather and few creature comforts. As we walked across a rock strewn path toward large rock slabs, thrust through the earth by volcanic action that had occurred millions of year ago, the pounding surf could be heard as the wind blew harder and the rain began to pelt us. Unaffected by this sudden gale, we soldiered onward, then returned by the same route we had descended, met by the bluest of skies.

PHOTOS: Left Column: 1. One of a large flock of sheep grazing on the green grass around the abandoned village. 2. Rolling hills, rock walls and sea. 3. Green meadow punctuated by streams, rock walls, and  sheep. 4. From the perspective of an abandoned house, looking out to sea and the Rabbit Islands. 5. A shallow pond in the moors overlooking the sea. 6.  Blue sky reflected in the water of a shallow pond. Center Top: A stream cutting through the meadow toward the sea. Center Middle: View through the window of  an abandoned stone house toward Rabbit Islands Center, Bottom: David Olyphant and Henry, who has stopped to take a photograph.  Right Column: 1. The upthrust slabs of rock covered in lichens stand between a pool and the sea. 2. A view across the meadow toward the sea and Rabbit Islands. 3. A view toward Eilean nan Ròn, a once inhabited island abandoned in 1938.