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Welcome to the Spirit of Ardnamurchan
 

There is a wind that moves through Ardnamurchan—not just across its ridges and moors, but through time, memory, and the quiet persistence of place. Spiorad Aird nam Murchan is my long-form photographic and written response to that wind. It is a gathering of light and shadow, latch and fence, silence and story. This blog is now the hearth where that work will live and grow.
 

Here in this new focus for the blog, you’ll find the unfolding of my ongoing project—an ekphrastic exploration of the Ardnamurchan peninsula through image and word. From the weathered croft fences that stitch the land to the handmade latches that hold its doors, each sub-project—The Latches of Ardnamurchan, The Croft Fences of Ardnamurchan, and more to come—reveals a fragment of the peninsula’s spirit. Alongside the photographs, I’ll be sharing new writing inspired by the work: reflections, field notes, and musings that deepen the dialogue between what is seen and what is felt.

This is not just a blog or a portfolio—it’s a conversation. I warmly invite you to join me on this journey. Share your thoughts, stories, and questions in the comments. Let’s make this a space where the spirit of Ardnamurchan can be seen, heard, and felt together.

You can also follow my monthly contributions in print through Dè tha dol, the local publication where I’ll be sharing new work and reflections starting September 2025. You’ll find it at www.dethadol.co.uk.

 

Keeping Ardnamurchan’s Spirit Alive—Together

There’s a quiet magic in Ardnamurchan—the way the light shifts across the moor, the salt wind carries whispers of history, and the land holds stories older than memory. This is the heart of my work: to listen, to translate silence into image and word, and to share the spirit of this extraordinary place with those who care about its beauty and heritage.

Every photograph, every essay, every project takes time—time to walk the remote tracks, to wait for the light that lasts only a breath, to write words that do justice to what I see and feel. This is slow art, and it matters deeply to me.

If my work resonates with you, if you believe in the value of preserving cultural and natural spirit through photography and writing, I’d love your support. Buying me a coffee helps me spend more time in the field, create more stories, and keep working closely with—and giving an authentic voice to—a community that is very close to my heart.

You can support me here:
 Buy Me a Coffee

Thank you for helping me keep Ardnamurchan’s stories alive.


 

Thank you for walking this path with me.
 

Rob

 


'Night Falls on Ardnamurchan' inspired by the book of the same name by Alasdair Maclean and available here.



 

Spiorad aird nam Murchan Pt 32 Inspiration, influence and belonging

August 23, 2026
Spiorad aird nam Murchan - Part 32 A Pebble on the Beach Inspiration, Influence and Belonging in Ardnamurchan Returning to the Thread Welcome back to Spiorad Àird...
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Spiorad aird nam Murchan Pt 31 Creativity V Flow

July 19, 2026
Spiorad aird nam Murchan Part 31 - Creativity V: Flow (Sruth / Sruthadh) There is no beginning here, only a gentle continuation. Before the step is taken, before t...
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Spiorad aird nam Murchan Pt 30 Creativity IV Reflection

June 21, 2026
Spiorad aird nam Murchan Part 30 – Creativity IV – Reflection Spiorad Àird nam Murchan Creativity IV – Reflection An Ais-Sgrùdadh / The Returning Gaze There are mom...
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Spiorad aird nam Murchan Pt 29 Creativity III Illumination

June 07, 2026
Spiorad Àird nam Murchan – Part 29 Creativity III – Illumination An Soilleireachadh – The Moment of Emergence From Quiet Formation to First Light In Part 28, we spe...
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Spiorad aird nam Murchan Pt 28 Creativity II Incubation

May 17, 2026
Spiorad Àird nam Murchan – Part 28 Creativity II – Incubation An t‑Àm Dhìomhair: The Hidden Time of Becoming Fo ùir na h‑inntinn, tha rudan a’ fàs gun fhuaim (Beneath th...
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Spiorad Àird nam Murchan Pt 27 - Creativity I Spark

May 03, 2026
Spiorad Àird nam Murchan – Part 27 Ardnamurchan & Creativity I – Spark 1. Introduction – Lighting the Sequence Creativity is often spoken of as something sudden:...
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Spiorad Àird nam Murchan Pt 26 - Held By The West

April 26, 2026
Spiorad Àird nam Murchan Part 26: Held by the West Introduction I began writing Held by the West a little over two days before I found myself admitted to hospital...
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Spiorad Àird nam Murchan Pt 25 - The Edge of the Sea

February 22, 2026
Spiorad Àird nam Murchan - Part 25 The Edge of the Sea: Oir na Mara Prelude: After the Sea Around Us In The Sea Around Us, Rachel Carson asked us to lift our gaze...
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Spiorad Àird nam Murchan Pt 24 - The Sea Around Us

January 18, 2026
Spiorad Àird nam Murchan, Part 24 “The Sea Around Us” An Cuan mu Thimcheall Oirnn Introduction: Reading Carson on the Edge of the Mainland On a pewter-skied aftern...
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Spiorad Àird nam Murchan Pt 23 - Reflect Smaoineachadh

January 04, 2026
Spiorad Àird nam Murchan – Part 23: Reflection (Smaoineachadh) Return – Response – Reflect – Return … a living creative cycle Listen to this essay: 1) Introdu...
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