Clouds of mist swirl over the surface of the loch.
The picture above was taken after an unexpectedly hot day led to unexpectedly beautiful conditions. Well, not completely unexpected. It’s always beautiful, always different.
Summer Loch
Summer brings lush green foliage and colour to the loch*. It’s not very deep so swimming can be warm, though muddy.
Autumn
That glassy ‘stand and stare’ stillness can happen at any time of year, but it most commonly occurs in Autumn. Sunsets are pink, silver or even purple. Whatever the sky is doing is intensified in reflection.
The Loch in Winter
Scottish winters are fierce. One year layer upon layer of ice and snow built up so thick that people and dogs ran about on top of the loch. I watched a fox run right across from one side to the other. It was at once surreal and yet so very real, unconnected from civilisation as it feels up there in the woods. No TV, no computers, just life and joy and fun on a natural huge flat screen among the trees.
I hope I will be well enough to walk up there soon. And what will await? A liquid mirror? Slow moving ripples? The slightest change in airflow is made visible by water. If there’s blue in the sky, there will be blue in the loch. Maybe there’ll be whooping swans with their yellow beaks, or an otter leaping about on the banks. I love the sound of otters giggling in the evening… I miss it.
* I freely admit to having overused the word ‘loch’ in this post. The word ‘lake’ is not a suitable substitute. If you don’t come from Scotland you can have no idea how very wrong that notion is. And while we’re at it, let’s make sure you’re saying/thinking the word right. The ‘ch’ sound is like a Scottish wildcat (something I once saw up by the large expanse of water, but no one believes me) hissing in the back of your throat. There you are, got it.
A Dancer’s Journey (completed series)
When dance student Amalphia Treadwell embarks on a secret relationship with her rich, handsome new teacher, she has no idea of the danger that lurks in his school in Scotland…
Series on Amazon
Series here on the site
“POV: You thought it was just another ballet book… then it emotionally body-slammed you in pointe shoes. Slow burn, enemies to lovers, fate, and a Scottish setting that delivered.” See this TikTok review here
Castle Dancers (completed series)
The night before Ariel, a sixteen-year-old girl with a deformed hand, starts at the most prestigious dance school in Scotland, her mother tries to kill her…
on Amazon
Series here on the site
“Knowing how beautiful each of Ailish Sinclair’s novels are, I tucked into Ariel giddily. Boy, did she deliver! I read this book with indulgent haste. Returning to the setting of previous novels, it was comforting to read this book. The way Sinclair writes makes it feel like the main character is speaking directly to the reader, making Ariel feel like a friend.” Goodreads review
Sisters at the Edge of the World
From the misty hills of ancient Scotland emerges a tale of love, betrayal, and the fight for freedom. Join Morragh in SISTERS AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD for an unforgettable journey.
Set in the 1st century, the story includes the battle of Mons Graupius between the Romans and the Caledonian tribes. There’s a neurodivergent main character and some rather complicated romance!
Paperback and Kindle on Amazon
“Ethereal and spellbinding…” Historical Novel Society
The Mermaid and the Bear
Isobell needs to escape. She has to. Her life depends on it.
Set in a fictional castle in Aberdeenshire, Ailish’s debut novel, THE MERMAID AND THE BEAR, blends an often overlooked period of history, the Scottish witchcraft accusations, in particular the 1597 Aberdeen witchcraft panic, with a love story.
Paperback and kindle on Amazon.
“A delight from end to end.” Undiscovered Scotland
Fireflies and Chocolate
Torn out of an isolated life in a Scottish castle, Elizabeth embarks on a determined quest to return home. Exhilarating adventures unfold on the high seas, love blossoms, and the chocolate, purchased in Benjamin Franklin’s printing shop, is delicious!
FIREFLIES AND CHOCOLATE was inspired by the 600 children and young people who were kidnapped from Aberdeen during the 1740s and sold into indentured servitude in the American Colonies.
Paperback and kindle on Amazon
“Filled with excitement and suspense…” Historical Novel Society Editor’s Pick
Newsletter and Free Story
You will receive a free short story in e-book form when you sign up for my occasional, more-intimate-than-the-blog newsletter (the story can be read in a browser too).
The Performance: sometimes going home for Christmas is just one huge performance…
Author Page and Signed Copies
If you would like to hear about new books and special offers, you can follow my Amazon author page. Signed copies are available from my kofi shop.
About Page
See my About Page here
Writer’s Tip Jar
Discover more from Ailish Sinclair
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Lovely pics.
Thank you 🙂
Thanks for the pronunciation guide! I’m still struggling to understand the difference between “lake” and “loch,” though.
They are actually the same thing. We just usually, with some rare exceptions, use the word loch in Scotland.
I needed this today. I’m missing my Loch Awe greatly.
I can understand… Loch Awe is stunning.
It is that.
Thank you for taking us from a far corner to your beautiful loch. May you soon be strong and well.
🙂
What an incredibly beautiful place!
It is 🙂
Waiting on that book, Ailish! and the loch is lovely no matter the season. Since we never get snow here, I loved the winter vista. Swimming in the summer would be wonderful, but probably cold.
It does warm up a bit in there by the end of the summer 🙂 Lukewarm might be a better term for it.
Thanks for sharing those lovely photos of the Loch, says the American clearing her throat. Hope you feel better soon and can make it up for a walk, or hobble, to your soul’s place.
Thank you 🙂 Sorry about the throat!
Great pictures and literate descriptions of a beautiful place. 🙂
Glad you like 🙂
The surface of the loch does look like a mirror. Beautiful!
🙂
A beautiful place! When I did my hitchhiking through Scotland in the 70s, people were teasing “Englishers”, because they couldn’t pronounce “loch” correctly, they said “lock”. It is easier for a German, because we have that sound in our language. (They made them try to say “it’s a braw braecht moonlaecht naecht tenaecht”.)
I wish for you that you may soon be able to walk up to the loch again!
Thank you, and that is a truly braw line! Love the moonlaecht 🙂
Me too … 🙂
This loch looks amazing in any season, although in the autumn it has an almost magical air about it. I wish you all the best and may you go and visit it soon, and maybe take some more amazing pictures of it, to show us.
Thank you 🙂 Hopefully soon…
Skating on rivers and lakes canas here in Canada is usual for us and so pretty.
Sounds nice 🙂
Absolutely gorgeous. Thanks for sharing your loch with us over the seasons.
I’m glad you like it 🙂