The most iconic tree in Glencoe
©Paul Carroll

It is with the greatest sadness that I have to report that this iconic tree has fallen.

It was perfectly positioned, framed by the Buachaille Etive Mor and the entrance to Glencoe. In front and all around it curved a burn that meant from any angle you could make a perfect image. An artist could not have arranged the elements of composition from their imagination any better. It was the perfect location for landscape photography and thousands probably have made a pilgrimage to this spot judging by the number of times you will see it in photography magazines or picture books of Scotland.

Treeless in Glencoe
©Paul Carroll 2012

Mhairi and I passed the location on Rannoch Moor just before the Glencoe Ski road and looked but thought perhaps we just missed it. On the way back home we made a point of stopping and with wellies on we marched out into the moor to look closer and  sadly found it lying on the ground. The above image now looks like this.

This comes just one year after we lost another of Rannoch Moor’s famously photographed trees – Picture below. I now feel privileged to have got a photograph of both of them.

On a personal note Mhairi and I had vowed to always return to the gnarled tree each year  on  a particular day where we spent a few happy hours shortly after we met. Someone has planted a new tree and there are some saplings growing in its spot so perhaps we still will.

If anyone wants to post their favourite picture of the gnarled tree of Glencoe we would love to see them. Or if anyone can fill in some details of its age and type we would love to know more about it.

Tree, sadly also no more, on Rannoch Moor in front of the Black Mount
©Mhairi Morrison