Glen Etive
A Photobook by Davie h Hudson
Why do a book about a road? That's a good question, after all it's not Route 66 or the Trans-Siberian Highway it's a small 12 mile long dead end in the Scottish Highlands, but is it as important? For me yes it is.... I have been traveling to, and photographing this road and its sights for around 5 years now for one main reason, it makes me happy and I feel at ease and peaceful when driving it and I personally feel we all need something like that in life...this road is my Prozac! Maybe it's a stage a person reaches in life when they start to seek out more peaceful things to help them forget 'life' I don't know, but this road does exactly that. So then, with that in mind, what does this road have? The easy answer to this question is, everything good about Scottish scenery is contained in the 12 miles it takes to reach the end of the road. Let me clarify what I mean when I say ‘everything’. If you were to ask a tourist what they would like to see when in Scotland, what would they tell you? ..... Mountains, Rivers, Waterfalls, Lochs, Forests and men in kilts? Glen Etive has all these and then some and this is the reason I have driven along this road upwards of 100 times now forgoing a lot of other places in favour of it.
I'm almost embarrassed at this stage to say that for about a year I took photographs of Buachaille Etive Mor and surrounding mountains without driving down the road at all. Even when I did drive it the first few times I only got as far as Dalness House about 5 miles in, though I have to say that if the road had stopped there it would still be the best road I have ever been on. Driving this road is a life changing experience every time I do it, whether it's bright sunshine or pouring rain. A bad day here is still better than a good day at work and the photographs cover a lot of weather conditions. I hope you enjoy the photographs you are about to see. They mean a lot to me. Davie Hudson www.daviehudsonphotography.biz
Buachaille Etive Mor 'Little Ugly One' is the literal translation of the name Etive. The name refers to the Celtic Goddess associated with the Glen and over the next few pages of photographs I will do my best to prove that the name is utterly wrong. Situated along the A82 and lying between Glencoe Village and the Glen Coe Ski Centre is an unassuming turn off marked as 'Glen Etive'. I'm sure if you have driven the area before you have likely passed it without a second glance.... at the road anyway. Now I say 'at the road anyway' because if you have driven past the iconic and amazing Buachaille Etive Mor and not noticed it then really I suggest a trip to an Optometrist immediately because you have just missed one of the most famous and perfectly shaped mountains anywhere !!
The name Buachaille Etive Mor translates into English as ‘The Great Herdsman of Etive’. Standing at an impressive 1,022m and formed in an almost perfect pyramidal shape it is the first sight you get of the area as you drive down the A82. And what a sight it is! ( see previous page) As you will see I have included a few pictures of Buachaille Etive Mor at various points before we reach the main part of the road itself. This particular mountain is like a magnet to me and I never want that feeling to ever go away... to a point the picture of this road will be with me forever through the tattoo on my chest!
On The Road The first 5 or so miles of The Glen Etive Road are landscape photography heaven. On this stretch you have a raging river, at least 5 waterfalls and mountains-a-plenty and to be honest if this doesn't excite you then you are in the wrong place.You can't help but to become philosophical when you're on this section ... whatever you are worrying about you can bet the waterfalls have seen it before, and that realisation brings you to the conclusion that your troubles are relative. That thought alone allows you to relax and ease yourself into the feeling of being one with this amazing area.
When we reach the road itself I almost felt like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz at the moment she opens her door and suddenly everything is in colour. That's the feeling I got and still get whenever I reach this stage of the road.
The 'tightness' of the preceding mountains opens up to a glorious sight dominated by both the road and the River Etive as it makes it's way home to Loch Etive at the end of our journey.
As a photographer my life revolves around light and making the most of it and I haven't been anywhere that gives so much of this gift than this road. Maybe it's the mountain ranges that create such delicious shadows but whatever it is it makes my heart soar when I look back on the pictures I have taken.
I'm guessing James Bond fans may recognise this view from the movie Skyfall. In reality this is Dalness House located at the end of the 'first' section of the Glen Etive Road.
I can't see the wood for the trees As you drive round the perimeter of Dalness House you enter the Etive Forest, which unfortunately isn't as dense and lush as it was due to logging work, logging work I imagine is purely finanacial and that is upsetting. What is left though is still amazing and a walk through it is a very worthwhile experience if only for the reason it leads you to the fabulous Lochan Urr.
Look at this view and tell me.... Where would you rather be? The thing I can't portray in this format is the silence. When standing here there is no traffic noise, no electricity buzz...nothing . A friend of mine described it as being able to hear the earth and she is right, this level of silence can be off-putting but it only lasts until you give yourself to it.
Take Me To The River As I have pointed out (probably on numerous occasions ) The River Etive winds it's way, often violently towards Loch Etive at the end of this magnificent road. What is surprising though is when you are in the forest section the river does something magnificent ..... It slows to a beautifully sedate and relaxing speed that allows you to completely relax and take in all around you. In the height of summer there are also two flora related gifts presented to you .....that of Bluebells and Rhododendron, and these 2 gifts bring such a vibrant colour to the area.
End Of The Road In most cases the End of the Road would be a bad thing .... not here, The end merely means the end of the outward journey. When standing at the shore of Loch Etive you have probably the best 180 degree anywhere on God's green earth, so good i have shown it on the next 2 pages. As well as reaching the great Loch Etive you have the glory of turning round and going back and it's the going back that may surprise you as it appears like a new road with different views and a different feeling.
Some of the sunsets I have experienced at Loch Etive have made me a little misty eyed. Obviously I can't place you in these pictures but I hope they speak for themselves. I hope you have enjoyed the journey along what I think of as my spiritual home, it's a very special place with a very special feeling that i hope you will someday enjoy for yourself.
Davie Hudson