One of the best things about Inverness is the easy and quick access to the countryside – and not just any countryside but some of Scotland’s best.

In just a few minutes’ drive you can find yourself in what feels like another world, be it pretty beaches, mountains or villages.  And yet I’ve never been to some really spectacular places in the area, and made it to one such place only yesterday.

Clava is southwest of Inverness and is notable for two things: a group of Bronze Age cairns and the Clava viaduct, part of the Highland Main Line.

I’ve travelled over the viaduct countless times, and even photographed it from the train, but had never taken a wander around it from ground level.  It is a truly remarkable piece of engineering and architecture, dominating the surroundings and yet fitting the landscape sensitively.  It makes you really appreciate the daring and aspiration of nineteenth century industrialists and the people who built our railways.

I took quite a few photos of it, and you can see all my uploads here.