Every week, ordinary Scots snap extraordinary slices of life—and the week of 6–13 June was no different. Whether it was raw triumph after a 54-mile march or the splash of teamwork in a summer gala, these personal captures brought out the grit, charm, and quiet pride that pulse through the country’s communities.
This week’s highlights come from Blairgowrie to Strathaven—and each image has a story behind it.
“Raw Emotion”: A Selfie at the Finish Line
There’s tired. Then there’s 54-miles-through-the-Perthshire-heather tired.
Brendan Hannan shared a selfie with five mates trailing behind him, all grinning, thumbs up, walking a gravel path outside Blairgowrie. They’d just completed the Cateran Yomp—an endurance march over rugged hills, all in under 24 hours.
The event, which supports military charities, isn’t for the faint-hearted. Brendan’s photo says it all—muddy boots, flushed faces, and a kind of camaraderie that only comes from shared pain and purpose.
“Raw emotion,” he wrote. That’s the only way to describe what it felt like crossing the finish line.
Oars, Grit and a Gala Day
Farther south in Strathaven, John McIntyre caught a moment that looks like it was yanked straight from a summer storybook.
His photo shows two women—ponytails flying—leaning hard over the edge of a boat, pulling oars with fierce determination. It was all part of the Strathaven Gala raft race, a spirited annual tradition that turns the sleepy river into a wild, splashy course of laughs and rivalries.
No medals, no Olympic timing—just pride, community, and maybe a bit of river water in your shoes.
A Picture’s Worth a Thousand Footsteps
Sometimes, the beauty of a photo lies not in its technical finesse but in the footprints behind it.
Many of the images received this week weren’t about landmarks or landscapes—they were about people. Groups of friends finishing a trek. Families spending their day on lochs. Strangers brought together by tradition or just the weather.
Here’s a glimpse at what the photo inbox looked like this week:
| Photographer | Location | Subject | Sentiment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brendan Hannan | Blairgowrie | Cateran Yomp finish line selfie | Exhausted, euphoric |
| John McIntyre | Strathaven | Raft race team mid-row | Competitive, playful |
| Helen Drummond | Skye (not shown) | Sheep grazing under looming skies | Quiet, pastoral |
| Sami Boyd | Aberdeen (not shown) | Dog bounding through waves | Joyful, unfiltered |
The Heart Behind the Lens
Something funny happens when you ask Scots to send in their photos—they don’t send showpieces. They send life.
Sure, there’s the occasional eagle in flight or dramatic Highland sunset. But more often, it’s the rough thumbs-up after a soaked hike. Or friends collapsed on a picnic blanket after chasing a toddler through wet grass. Moments that feel familiar and unfiltered.
That’s the charm of this series. It’s not curated Scotland. It’s lived Scotland.
Next Week: Who Knows What’s Coming?
If this week had a theme, it might be: effort. Effort put into finishing something tough. Into rowing hard. Into just getting outdoors and showing up.
And honestly, there’s something quietly inspiring about that.
