ABOUT THIS GALLERY
This project originated in the mid 1990s as a notebook, in which visitors to Hope Lodge started to record the birds and plants they had seen in the area. To qualify for the "Seen at Hope" list, a species must be identified within a 15 mile radius of Ben Hope.
The BIRDS and PLANTS albums, which include only items from this list, thus provide a wide-ranging (though far from comprehensive) glimpse into the extraordinary natural diversity of the region. Some of the species shown are common and can easily be found: others are so rare that you are unlikely to see them unless you are (a) very lucky, and (b) there at the right time of year.
The BIRDS and PLANTS albums, which include only items from this list, thus provide a wide-ranging (though far from comprehensive) glimpse into the extraordinary natural diversity of the region. Some of the species shown are common and can easily be found: others are so rare that you are unlikely to see them unless you are (a) very lucky, and (b) there at the right time of year.
ABOUT THE AREA
The area runs from Durness in the west to Bettyhill in the east, and to Altnaharra in the south, with Ben Hope as the focal point. Most of the photographs were taken within this area, although some - particularly the examples of bird and plant species - are from further afield.
The LANDSCAPE and GEOLOGY albums aim to show what the area looks like, and what it's made of. The FARMING album shows the farmers at work with their sheep, dogs and cows. The FISHING album (not yet added) will focus on Loch Hope and its two Rivers (Strathmore River in, Hope River out), and the fishermen whose annual migration from the south is so important to the local economy.
The LANDSCAPE and GEOLOGY albums aim to show what the area looks like, and what it's made of. The FARMING album shows the farmers at work with their sheep, dogs and cows. The FISHING album (not yet added) will focus on Loch Hope and its two Rivers (Strathmore River in, Hope River out), and the fishermen whose annual migration from the south is so important to the local economy.
HOW TO VIEW THE PICTURES
The links at the top of each page provide various options for access to the gallery's contents. The ALBUMS page lists the albums in the right hand column. Each album contains a set of pictures which can be viewed individually or as a sequence, with a slideshow option. The INDEX page displays thumbnail images of the entire gallery. The DETAILS page gives background information for each picture, including copyright details.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. We want to thank all the collaborators and contributors - both observers and photographers - whose work and generosity have made this gallery possible. This is an ongoing project, so some of our thanks are offered "in advance". We're particularly grateful to the SNH Image Library at Perth for providing access to their excellent archive; and to Lorne Gill, who took many of the SNH photographs.
A WORD ABOUT COPYRIGHT. This is a non-commercial exercise, and there will generally be no charge for permission to publish images. However, we and our contributors do support certain charities (the NW Sutherland Fisheries Trust; the Atlantic Salmon Trust; British Disabled Angling; etc.) so we may suggest a voluntary donation to one of these in exchange for re-use permission. In any case, please do not take or use anything from the gallery without written consent from the copyright holder, whose contact details can be found in the DETAILS page.
CONTACT US. If you have queries or comments about the gallery, or photographs which could be considered for inclusion, please contact the editor Nick Boileau at LochHope@aol.com. (NB: This is the first edition - so there will be mistakes! - Nov 09.)
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. We want to thank all the collaborators and contributors - both observers and photographers - whose work and generosity have made this gallery possible. This is an ongoing project, so some of our thanks are offered "in advance". We're particularly grateful to the SNH Image Library at Perth for providing access to their excellent archive; and to Lorne Gill, who took many of the SNH photographs.
A WORD ABOUT COPYRIGHT. This is a non-commercial exercise, and there will generally be no charge for permission to publish images. However, we and our contributors do support certain charities (the NW Sutherland Fisheries Trust; the Atlantic Salmon Trust; British Disabled Angling; etc.) so we may suggest a voluntary donation to one of these in exchange for re-use permission. In any case, please do not take or use anything from the gallery without written consent from the copyright holder, whose contact details can be found in the DETAILS page.
CONTACT US. If you have queries or comments about the gallery, or photographs which could be considered for inclusion, please contact the editor Nick Boileau at LochHope@aol.com. (NB: This is the first edition - so there will be mistakes! - Nov 09.)