It’s a Cairngorms winner!
It’s a Cairngorms winner!
A photo depicting the dreamy allure of Cairngorms National Park has been announced as the winning entry for the 2015 UK National Parks Photo Competition.
Taken by photographer David Russell, the image of Glen Feshie was one of hundreds of photos submitted to this year’s competition.
The annual photo competition serves as a means of showcasing the uniquely diverse landscapes of the UK’s 15 National Parks. This year, the competition sought to celebrate Britain’s Landscapes of Plenty, encouraging photographers of all ages and skill levels to capture images they felt highlighted the beauty and productivity of the National Parks.
Describing his photo David said: “We go the wild places to breathe and have our breath taken away by the sights, the space and the wild. The Cairngorms are my ‘Landscape of Plenty’ because they never, ever disappoint. Wide open space, wild blooming heather and hills, hills, hills. Space and sights worth remembering in plenty.”
The guest judge for this year’s competition was TV presenter and well-known outdoor enthusiast Julia Bradbury. Julia kindly managed to fit us into her hectic schedule whilst filming on location for her new walking series for ITV. Describing the winning image, she said: “It’s moody and dramatic and yells ‘Scottish Highlands.’ The striking colour of heather never fails to surprise, and the contrast against the angry sky amplifies the tumultuous tones.”
David Russell will receive his choice of footwear from outdoor experts Merrell one of the sponsors of this year’s competition. The competition is also supported by Natural Resources Wales and The Outdoor Guide.
Russell’s image was selected from a short list of nine images. The standard of entries this year was very high and made judging particularly difficult, according to National Parks UK Director Kathryn Cook.
“Within the short list there are stunning images of Snowdonia, the Lake District, the South Downs, Exmoor, the Peak District, and the Broads,” she said. “Each one of these images is truly inspiring and serves as a reminder of the special qualities of Britain’s breathing spaces.”
Alert
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Relevant alerts
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The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has issued a wildfire warning impacting areas of the National Park on Friday 29 May until Monday 1 June. If you are out and about in the Cairngorms National Park please observe the following guidance:
- Do not light any fire or barbecue, in line with the new fire byelaw
- Always ensure cigarettes are fully extinguished and take your litter (including glass) away with you
- Enjoy the outdoors responsibly - most wildfires are caused by human activity
- Stay alert - with dry vegetation and warm weather, fires can start easily, spread rapidly, and burn intensely
- If you see a wildfire, dial 999
For further updates on wildfire risk across Scotland, visit the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service website. To find out more about the fire byelaw, and to see your questions answered, visit our fire byelaw page here.