It’s been so long since I’ve done a photo essay here, and as I looked back through some of my previous essays, I felt like it would be the perfect time for a walkthrough of one of my favorite forests in Scotland.

The Allt Graad (or “River Glass”) carries the dark waters of Loch Glass down through a dense forest until it plunges through the Black Rock Gorge - one of the deepest in Scotland and famed for it’s brief appearance in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. The river travels down past the quaint town of Evanton and eventually empties into the salty waters of the Cromarty Firth.

We lived on the edge of this forest for almost a year and a half, so the trees were my neighbors and friends. I spent countless hours wandering on and off trail. I painted for hours next to the river, among the moss, and took thousands of photos that I still use today as references in my artwork.

The woodland is maintained by the community and is a very quiet and less visited place. Definitely not a typical tourist attraction, although any visitor would be more than impressed with the variety of scenery. And with fun improvements like a handmade playground featuring Nessie near the town entrance, it’s a great visit for families.

In the hundreds of walks I took through the forest, I only ever passed a dozen or so people on the trail. If you like to experience nature in solitude this is the perfect Scottish forest for you.

So let me take you on a journey through the seasons in Evanton Wood.