'The image of Scotland projected by the tourism boards across the world is one of empty places where you can get away from modern life.' ... only to arrive to find that space filled with other tourists who have read the same 'top places to visit' list, unless said tourists are prepared to actually walk a significant distance from their vehicle to find an empty space.
It's incredible how busy the landscape is, however, if you are observant and spot what has been left behind from millennia and centuries ago, and some not so long ago. Many a time I was out on survey, I would stand and listen, imagining the sounds of occupation as I stood amongst barely visible footings of buildings.
This is such a great observation, everyone seeking space makes for a very crowded lay-by. But if people do venture yards off the beaten track it falls silent except by the ghosts of the past carried on the wind. On overnight hikes I often encountered buildings so far from current roads that I marvelled at how people lived there. The lands beyond phone signal.
'The image of Scotland projected by the tourism boards across the world is one of empty places where you can get away from modern life.' ... only to arrive to find that space filled with other tourists who have read the same 'top places to visit' list, unless said tourists are prepared to actually walk a significant distance from their vehicle to find an empty space.
It's incredible how busy the landscape is, however, if you are observant and spot what has been left behind from millennia and centuries ago, and some not so long ago. Many a time I was out on survey, I would stand and listen, imagining the sounds of occupation as I stood amongst barely visible footings of buildings.
This is such a great observation, everyone seeking space makes for a very crowded lay-by. But if people do venture yards off the beaten track it falls silent except by the ghosts of the past carried on the wind. On overnight hikes I often encountered buildings so far from current roads that I marvelled at how people lived there. The lands beyond phone signal.