Winter Wandering

By mid-February I think most of us are ready for spring. There aren’t many people going around at the moment exclaiming, “if we could only have 6 more weeks of winter!”, at least in the UK. We’ve done Christmas and New Year, had some snow, now if only we could hoist the sun higher and warm the place up a bit!

It’s perfectly natural that we go into semi-hibernation during winter. Shortened daylight hours coupled with inclement weather hedge in the days’ possibilities, and we find ourselves staring at a curtailed menu of things we want to do. Indeed, in the midst of a Scottish winter, it’s often hard to find anything on the menu under the heading “Out of Doors”. I’m sure whoever came up with the old adage “There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing” never spent February in Scotland. Trust me. There is such a thing as bad weather.

That said, it becomes all the more imperative to get out when you can. I firmly believe that every season has its own advantages, and winter is no exception. For photography, the light is simply better. There is not the summer midday haze, and the as the sun sits lower in the sky you get better contrast to the landscape throughout the day. I’ve taken some of my favourite photographs in winter, and getting out and about with the camera makes a good excuse to leave the house.

It’s hard to beat winter for dramatic light

Plus, there is the sense of calm and rest that comes this time of year, after the holiday rush has passed. The pace of modern life is hectic and full of distractions, and the chance to slow down and not do too much is a healthy counterbalance to that. I find that even short walks this time of year do so much good, just to get out and moving around in fresh air a few times a week to break up the indoor routine. Forests make good sheltered places to visit, and all that moisture and rainfall brings out the colours in the mosses, trees, and lichen.

Also, as the roads aren’t busy, it’s a good time to get out and explore new places. On days off, I’ll find somewhere on the map I’ve never been, load the dog up, and go for a little wander around without any definite plan in mind. There’s almost always something interesting out there if you make an effort.

So while the backend of winter might not top the list of “Times of Year We Wish Would Never End”, there are some very positive aspects to it, even if the best one may be that it eaventually turns to spring!

If you are looking for something to look forward to once the weather changes…
…why not check out our spring cruises? We might be a little biased, but they are a wonderful way to shake off the winter lethargy, reconnect with the outdoors, and meet some like-minded folks. In fact, April is one of the driest months of the year up here, and the Great Glen in spring is hard to beat!

We are booking up quickly, but we do have some spaces still available. Follow the link below and have a browse.