Published in Scotland Magazine Issue 20 on 10/04/2005.

This article is 43 months old and some information provided may be time sensitive. Please check all details of events, tours, opening times and other information before travelling or making arrangements.

Benachally Perthshire

Singer songwriter Dougie MacLean adores the view over Benachally. Main text and pictures by Andy Hall

The view from Benachally near Dunkeld in Perthshire has the highest ratio of beautiful but different views of any vantage point that I know. It is the favourite place of Dougie MacLean, one of Scotland’s most successful songwriters, composer and performer of instrumental music.

As well as this fabulous vista towards Highland Perthshire, a quarter-turn anti-clockwise provides a view over the Loch of the Lowes, the expanse of the Vale of Strathmore towards Kirriemuir and the majesty of the Grampian Mountains.

I’ve loved Dougie’s music from as far back as I can remember. His songs accompany me on most of my photographic trips to the west coast. When A Sense of Belonging to Scotland was launched in Edinburgh, I asked Dougie if he would do me the honour of ending my presentation with one of his songs. In particular, the title track from my favourite album, Who am I? was the perfect accompaniment to the projected image of this photograph.

The lyrics describe the flight of a bird of prey over Benachally, a hill which Dougie has climbed many times with generations of his family. The memory of his rendition of this beautiful song with my photograph as a backdrop will always remain with me.

The clarity of the winter Perthshire air resonates throughout this picture. The beauty is in the detail, from the tough, unforgiving, rock-strewn heath to the string of pearl-like clouds on the horizon. Dougie has enjoyed unprecedented acclaim for 20 years, his latest success entitled Rural Imag.....

To read the rest of this article you can buy this issue or subscribe to Scotland Magazine to have every issue delivered direct to your door.

By Andy Hall

Section : Scenic Scotland

Page number : 16