A collection from a trip this week; please excuse the slate of the landscape perfectly matching the sky and sea...the week before had been sunny of course, but such is the way the vacation cookie crumbles. The island of Easdale on the Scottish west coast, once a centre of slate production - " Easdale had a community of more than 500 working as many as seven quarries, some of which extended to 300 feet below sea level. Easdale slate helped to build major cities of the British Empire and can still be seen on rooftops as far afield as Melbourne, Nova Scotia, Dunedin and Dublin. The last slate was cut in the 1950s and the once active quarries are little more than still pools which provide a safe haven for a wide variety of flora and bird life" (wiki quote, sorry!). This place is on the list to return to, perhaps for a few days, as the photographic opportunities are many, from the seascapes, the wildlife and the cottages and old workings. None of the following were taken in black and white
A short (5 minute) boat crossing from the island of Seil, itself connected to the mainland by bridge, and the ferry waiting room greets you:
Along with the means of transport on an island with no cars (the wheelbarrows, not the dog)
About 50 people live on the island now, and it has its own pub (sadly not open when we were there)
which is handily signposted
and library.
A definite lifestyle choice to come and live here, and for an abandoned industrial wasteland, the village looks pretty nice
The slate workings are reached within a few minutes walk
and you can wander among the ruined and flooded remains of what would have been a hive of heavy industry
A short climb to the summit of the island gives the layout
and as this is facing roughly west, would make a good sunset spot, on another day.
Post #2 by wpvv
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