Bringing the islands to you - beautiful island locations through the lens

Whilst we all stay at home, what better way of bringing the Islands to you than to take a tour through some of our recent and most popular images of beautiful west coast locations.

Night skies over the Callanish Stones

The Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides is home to the magnificent Standing Stones of Callanish. Day or night, bathed in light or under a blanket of stars, this site is made up of 49 standing stones which predate Stonehenge. One of a handful of prehistoric sites in the area. 

Arran's Lochranza Castle 

Lochranza Castle, which sits to the north of the Island of Arran, dates from the 13th Century. Tales exist of its links to giant historical figures including Robert the Bruce and Cromwell. 

Atlantic Ocean, Vatersay 

The turquoise waters of the Atlantic, framed by the Isle of Vatersay - the most southerly inhabited island of the Outer Hebrides. Like its neighbours all along the Western Isles, Vatersay is the epitome of island beauty. 

Castle Coeffin, Lismore

Lismore - an Inner Hebridean island, close to the coast of Oban. It is both tranquil and unspoiled. Each side is framed with beautiful West Highland scenery of coast and mountain. Lismore's ruined Castle Coeffin, pictured here was built on the site of a Viking fortress. 

Queen of the Hebrides - Islay 

As well as the views and the scenery of the west coast, we undoubtedly miss the people along the way, including those behind the local produce, in the case of this image, Bowmore Distillery on Islay. 

Camus Mòr, Muck 

The landscape of the Isle of Muck, together with its neighbouring islands of Rum, Eigg and Canna, point to a time when this part of the coast was dominated by active volcanoes. Camus Mòr on the Isle of Muck pictured here is a designated area of scientific interest and has an array of rocks spanning 60 million to 3 billion years old. 

Isle of Mull 

Tobermory - Mull's well-known fishing port, built in the 18th Century and best known for the bright coloured buildings that make up its main street. Legend has it that the wreck of a Spanish galleon lies in the bottom of the bay - part of the defeated Armada of 1588. 

Raasay Ferry at sunset 

Raasay shares the same beautiful scenery as its neighbouring island of Skye. Its stories are remarkable - particularly the tale of Calum's Road - one man's attempt to save the viability of his local community by building a road in and out. Single headedly. 

During this period, musicians have been sharing their talents online under the banner of #COVIDCeilidh. Look out for the tune dedicated to Calum by composer Donald Shaw and performed by fiddle player Duncan Chisholm. 

The pictures on this article were all captured by Rachel Keenan - an outdoor and adventure photographer who is well versed in all things CalMac and the west coast. Look out for Rachel's own mini-series of blogs, which begins in today's newsletter.