A love affair with Galloway is not unique
- Galloway has many admirers. Perhaps the man who came closest
to capturing in words the extraordinary atmosphere and beauty
of the place was author Gavin Maxwell. A distinguished naturalist,
he was brought up at Monrieth, and as a child he explored the
glorious beaches near his home in Luce Bay, just a few miles from
Photo Active's base in Garlieston.
Above the waves on a rock overlooking Luce Bay is a bronze sculpture of an otter, a life-size replica of 'Edal', star of Gavin Maxwell's book 'Ring of Bright Water'. Visitors to this beautiful cove always look twice when they see 'Edal' sitting on his rock above the waves. Weather and time permitting, the Photo Active groups usually make the short car journey to Monreith. It is a popular trip, especially in the late afternoon sun when the west-facing rocks and cliffs glow a deep orange, and the sea takes on a deep, deep emerald blue. The picture on the Photo Active Home page (used again below) was taken on the beach just below 'Edal's' bronze sculpture. The only problem we have when I take photographers down to the beach here is to get them to come away when we have to move on. Sometimes we stay right where we are - there can be few finer places to photograph a dramatic sunset.
