Since the sun does not set until after 10pm in the height of summer here in Scotland there is ample time to hike up into the hills to watch the sun dip briefly below the northern horizon.
On this evening we walked up onto the Cairngorm Mountains to a point overlooking the Lairig Ghru - a huge glacial valley that splits the mountains in two. 10,000 years ago when the last glaciers here melted they left behind a mountain face that had been carved off, and now provides a gigantic view out across Strahspey and the lower hills of the Monadh Liath (the Grey Hills in Gaelic) beyond.
We settled in on a spot close to the edge and enjoyed a spectacular evening as the sun got low and a golden eagle soared above us on the breeze.
The Cairngorms have an interesting name. They were originall named Am Monadh Ruadh - the Red Hills. The name Cairngorm comes from one of the peaks, which means Blue Stones. But Gorm can also mean green. So these are the Red Green Blue hills of Stone. A name that is curiously apt.