Ken Rennie
Well-Known Member
Not really a travelogue but lots of images so this seemed the best place for it. The Grey Mare's Tail waterfall in Southern Scotland is Britain's 5th highest and is quite easy to get to, some higher ones require trudging across miles of pathless countryside. The waterfall tumbles down from a hanging valley into a glaciated Moffat Water valley and is approximately 50 miles North of my house. The area is rich in wildlife with peregrine falcons, golden eagles, ospreys and big horned goats all of which managed to hide from me. The forecast looked great for waterfall photography, light winds and bright overcast conditions with little chance of rain, they managed to get all 3 wrong. It is now difficult to get to the base of the main 200ft high waterfall as a landslide took the path out. I did try and clamber around the problem but found out that the rocks were crumbling and didn't fancy becoming an accident statistic. As I was alone scrambling down steep rock faces hoping to stop before plunging vertically far down onto the rocky river bed just seemed stupid. This image is as close as you can safely get to the main falls, the light winds were buffeting me and the camera and as you can see the bright overcast was plain blue sky.
If photography was unlikely to be good I thought that the hike up to the Loch at the top would do me some good. In the end I only walked 5 miles with 1200ft of climbing.
After lunch I started to walk up the opposite side of the valley. This image shows the blocked path and a possible way around the landslide.
I managed to get up to the loch at the top but it didn't produce any photo opportunities. Clouds did start to build up, unfortunately they weren't blowing in the right direction, but I waited until the cloud base started dropping to below hilltop height and it started to rain so back down the hill at about 4 o'clock. I passed a beautiful series of linked falls and cascades but the strong sunshine just made it impossible to shoot so carried on until I came across this small fall deep within an inaccessible little gorge. I had dragged a 100-400mm lens with me and this was the one image taken with it.
A cloud came over and I ran, well walked quickly, back up the hill to me previously noted nice location and managed this.
Further down to this sunlit location, I don't usually like sunshine on moving water but high clouds had softened the light enough for me.
Now down to a place where it was possible to get close to the river.
I should have clambered much closer to these falls but I was starting to get tired and I didn't want to get wet feet, next visit?
Just below this set of falls is probably the best location, I am standing just a few feet from the top of the main 200ft falls.
Back onto the main path to walk down to the car park and a last look book at the falls with the evening sunlight illuminating the scene.
I hope that you have enjoyed this little slice of Southern Scotland. Ken
If photography was unlikely to be good I thought that the hike up to the Loch at the top would do me some good. In the end I only walked 5 miles with 1200ft of climbing.
After lunch I started to walk up the opposite side of the valley. This image shows the blocked path and a possible way around the landslide.
I managed to get up to the loch at the top but it didn't produce any photo opportunities. Clouds did start to build up, unfortunately they weren't blowing in the right direction, but I waited until the cloud base started dropping to below hilltop height and it started to rain so back down the hill at about 4 o'clock. I passed a beautiful series of linked falls and cascades but the strong sunshine just made it impossible to shoot so carried on until I came across this small fall deep within an inaccessible little gorge. I had dragged a 100-400mm lens with me and this was the one image taken with it.
A cloud came over and I ran, well walked quickly, back up the hill to me previously noted nice location and managed this.
Further down to this sunlit location, I don't usually like sunshine on moving water but high clouds had softened the light enough for me.
Now down to a place where it was possible to get close to the river.
I should have clambered much closer to these falls but I was starting to get tired and I didn't want to get wet feet, next visit?
Just below this set of falls is probably the best location, I am standing just a few feet from the top of the main 200ft falls.
Back onto the main path to walk down to the car park and a last look book at the falls with the evening sunlight illuminating the scene.
I hope that you have enjoyed this little slice of Southern Scotland. Ken
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