Wed, Aug 17, 2011
Mysterious castles on secluded lochs and men dressed in kilts with bagpipes. Whiskey and the Loch Ness Monster: The clichés about Scotland are well-known. What few know: Great Britain's northernmost region boasts fascinating nature and wildlife. Spectacular aerial shots showcase the Highlands and some of the more than 500 islands. Highly stabilized cameras and experienced pilots, who were even employed on the "Harry Potter" productions, celebrate the full beauty of the Scottish landscape. But it's not just the vastness of the Highlands and the rugged coastlines that captivate many people; the rich flora and fauna also delight countless holidaymakers and nature lovers every year. Scotland has some of the largest seabird colonies in Europe. Otters and ospreys also benefit from the abundance of fish, and only in recent years have returned to hunting in the lochs and kyles, the lakes and fiords. Eagles were already extinct in Scotland and are experiencing a comeback thanks to dedicated bird conservationists. The symbol of the Highlands is undoubtedly the majestic red deer, which roam freely over the mountain ridges in many places. Their noisy rutting season takes place in the fall. Other sounds dominate spring. These are the mating calls of black grouse. Extreme slow-motion footage at over 2,000 frames per second captures the breathtaking battles in all their glory. A brief flap of wings thus becomes an aesthetic choreography. Just as the animals themselves, the people shape the northwest of Great Britain. Alistair Sutherland has lived in the Highlands for almost his entire life. On his small farm, he keeps sheep and the mighty Scottish Highland cattle - with their shaggy fur and massive horns, they appear as rugged as the landscape. Yet Alistair gets along wonderfully with these primitive animals and even recognizes their cuddly side. Fisherman Callum MacInnon leads a very different life on the Isle of Skye, one of the most beautiful islands in the Hebrides. For him, life without the sea is unimaginable. Several times a week, he goes out and releases his lobster pots. It's a lucrative business, even though his catch has diminished over the years. Nevertheless, he hopes that his grandchildren will still be sailing the small red boat into the often raging North Atlantic.
