A Trip Down the Coast

February has given us a mixed bag when it comes to weather and so a dry sunny afternoon drew me down the coast to enjoy the setting sun.

During the summer months the esplanade at Largs is a busy place, however even though the sun was out, there was a chill wind which kept most people away.

Next stop was Wemyss Bay where the coast is rockier. From here we watched the sun setting behind the Island of Bute.

Portencross

And now for today's weather: it was dry and sunny, which has been unusual for 2016.

While I wasn't awake in time for the sun rising, I managed to take a run to Portencross for the sun setting.

Sunset from Portencross

September has probably been the best month for weather here in Scotland with more dry and sunny days than we had during summer.

With the prospect of good weather all week I took a trip to Portencross in the hope of seeing a colourful sunset.

There was just enough light cloud in the sky to add colour and texture once the sun had gone down.

Evening pictures

Enjoying the improvement in the weather recently along with longer evenings, I came back home with these two pictures, both taken on separate days.

The first picture was taken at the last full moon earlier this month, when we had a beautiful clear evening with very little cloud in the sky. This was taken with a 500mm lens with the contrast and sharpness adjusted in Photoshop.

The view of Gourock from Lyle Hill is instantly recognisable but is still one of my favourites. For this sunset I took 3 exposures and combined them into a HDR image but I decided not to exaggerate the effect. A grey grad was used to stop the sky from being over exposed.

Wemyss Bay sunset

Great to have a nice dry day. I decided to go down to Wemyss Bay to catch the sun setting over Arran and Bute.

Bowling basin and harbour

Today was my first visit to Bowling basin, where the Forth & Clyde canal meets the river Clyde.

The busy harbour is home to a mixture of modern yachts and cabin and cruisers, but there are also some beautiful more traditional style narrow boats.

There was also a small scale puffer replica names Wee Spark.

Wee Spark

Lock 38

Dungraftin, a narrow boat on the canal

Converted lifeboat Storm

Squirrel carving with Ersking Bridge in the background

Still waters of the basin

Bowling old harbour at sunset

Duck and swan sculpture

Lunderston Bay

Went down to Gourock this evening in the hope of catching a dramatic sunset.

Not quite what I had been hoping for but pleased with the outcome.

Dusk at Loch Ard

After such a cloud free morning we had hoped for a spectacular sunset, but the cloud started gathering in the afternoon.

Even though, by the time the sun was setting there was enough character in the sky and the water was still enough to make the wait worthwhile.

Buckie

My first visit to the Banffshire town of Buckie has been a most pleasant experience.

The harbour, perhaps, isn't as busy as it used to be, but there are enough reminders of how this town made its name.

Buckie Harbour

Fishing boats in Buckie Harbour

Ship repairers yard at Buckie

Gemini Explorer leaving the harbour

Sunset over Cromarty Firth

Sunset from Buckie Harbour

Buckie at dusk

Buckpool Harbour, west of Buckie is now filled in and landscaped

Lyle Hill

A couple of pictures of the sun setting over the Argyll hills on a lovely clear evening.

There was also a beacon lighting ceremony, but not sure what it was for.