Extract from A Sense of Belonging to Scotland: Further Journeys

Dougray Scott

The photograph of Gigha and Jura conjures up so many special memories for me, from an early age. I used to visit Gigha with my family over a period of many years and whenever I come here, I always feel incredibly happy and alive.

Emma Thompson

I saw Loch Eck for the first time when I was three months old. Since then, I’ve played on its banks, picnicked on its beaches, swum in its chilly, unsalted depths, cycled round it, drunk it, got drunk near it, kissed in boats on it, seen it change from blue to green to wizened old grey to frozen and stiller than death, made a film by it, got married near it and never wearied of it.
It is, in short, part of my DNA and I cannot do without it

Dame Elizabeth Blackadder

My visits to the Isle of Harris made a deep impression on me. Visually, it was quite stunning. The contrast between the east and the west coast is quite marked, and to me the barren rocky east coast was more striking. Perhaps these bleak, stark landscapes reminded me of my favourite early Italian paintings...This beautiful book brings it all back.

The Last Word from Andy Hall

Andy Hall

However the photograph that captures my unquenchable enthusiasm for this unique project wasn’t taken by me, but in a spontaneous moment by my close friend, Dougie Abernethy. Last April we were on the east coast of the beautiful Isle of Harris at about six in the evening, looking over the oldest rocks in the world, Lewisian gneiss, towards Scalpay for Elizabeth Blackadder. Elizabeth had written an inspirational letter of introduction to her favourite place, looking over the Golden Road. This shot had eluded me on a previous trip to the Outer Hebrides and looked as if it might again, after two ferry journeys and over a thousand miles of travelling. The perfect light made itself available for less then a minute and when, after hours of waiting, it was consigned to film, the involuntary moment of elation was captured by Dougie, unknown to me.
Elizabeth’s picture was one of the last photographs to be taken for this collection. After six years, my enthusiasm and passion for Scotland’s landscape has never waned for a moment. Dougie’s picture says it all.