Meall Fuar-mhonaidh – highest minor summit

Posted Under: 360° Panorama, Drumnadrochit, Europe, Inverness-shire, Scotland, UK

360° VR panorama of a minor summit of Meall Fuar-mhonaidh, near Loch Ness, Scotland. The minor summit is topped with a cairn, the true summit can be seen further to the west, topped with another cairn. The hill is classed as a Graham, with the highest point reaching a height of 699 metres above sea level.

Meall Fuar-mhonaidh is the most prominent summit around Loch Ness and provides excellent views along the Great Glen. On a good day Ben Nevis can be seen from the summit.

Meall Fuar-mhonaidh summit

Posted Under: 360° Panorama, Drumnadrochit, Europe, Inverness-shire, Scotland, UK

360° VR panorama looking out from the top of Meall Fuar-mhonaidh, near Loch Ness, Scotland. At a height of 699 metres above sea level, the hill is classed as a Graham. Meall Fuar-mhonaidh is the most prominent summit around Loch Ness and provides excellent views along the Great Glen.

On the top is a cairn, which is a large pile of loose rocks that marks the summit of the mountain.

Meall Fuar-mhonaidh – Birch & Hazel Woodland

Posted Under: 360° Panorama, Drumnadrochit, Inverness-shire, Scotland

360° VR panorama of Birch and Hazel woodland in autumn near the foot of Meall Fuar-mhonaidh, Scotland. Meall Fuar-mhonaidh is the most prominent peak visible from around Loch Ness, and rises to a height of 699 metres above sea level.

The part of hillside here is covered with bracken, as well as the birch and hazel trees. A large amount of fruticose lichens grow on the trees.

Meall Fuar-mhonaidh – track through woodland

Posted Under: 360° Panorama, Drumnadrochit, Europe, Inverness-shire, Scotland, UK

360° VR panorama of a track through the woods in autumn near Grotaig, Loch Ness, Scotland. The woodland is comprised mostly of birch and oak trees, with yellow autumn foliage. The branches and trunks of the trees are covered with fruticose lichens.

Nara – Kofuku-ji Temple

360° VR panorama of Kōfuku-ji (興福寺) temple in Nara, Japan. It is one of the eight Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara, which is listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is also the headquarters of the Hossō school of Buddhism.

In this panorama you can see the East Golden Hall (東金堂; Tōkon-dō) built in 1425. Just to the south of the hall is the Five-storied pagoda (五重塔; gojū-no-tō), which was built in 1426 and is listed as a National Treasure of Japan. To the west is a large area where the Central Golden Hall (東金堂; Chūkon-dō) is being reconstructed.

The temple was originally founded in 669 by the wife of Fujiwara no Kamatari, in Kyoto (at the time called Yamashina). It was then moved to Fujiwara-kyō in 672 and moved again to its present location in 710. Since then the buildings have been destroyed by fire and rebuilt many times.

However, not all of the important buildings have been reconstructed. Of the three golden halls there is only one currently rebuilt, while another is still under construction. The nandaimon, chūmon, and corridor have not been reconstructed, and are currently missing from the temple.

Nara – Street outside Jokyoji Temple

360° VR panorama of a street in Nara, Japan. Nearby is a building used as offices for Nippon Telegraph and Telephone West (NTT 西日本), while on the opposite side of the street is Jōkyōji (浄教寺) temple. Looking east along the street, Mount Wakakusa can be seen in the distance.

Edinburgh Castle – Half-Moon Battery

Posted Under: 360° Panorama, Edinburgh, Europe, Midlothian, Scotland, UK

360° VR panorama of the Half-Moon Battery at Edinburgh Castle, Scotland. The battery was constructed between 1573-1578 on top of the ruins of David’s Tower (the residence of King David II), which was destroyed during the Lang Seige of 1571-1573. The battery was built to act as the castle’s main high level defence on its vulnerable east side.

Until 1716 the battery was armed with seven bronze guns cast for James IV, known as the ‘Seven sisters’. The Half-Moon Battery was also the original home of the castle’s famous ‘One o’clock gun’, a gun that is fired at 1pm almost every day.

Edinburgh castle itself, is the most popular paid tourist attraction in Scotland. It is built on castle rock, a large volcanic rock that raises the castle high up to dominate the city’s skyline. It has been involved in many armed conflicts between the Scottish and the English. The castle was a Royal residence until the unification of Scotland and England in 1603.

Ōwakudani valley, Hakone

360° VR panorama of the road past Ōwakudani valley (大涌谷) in Hakone, Japan. Steam and sulphur rise out of the ground in this area, the name “Ōwakudani” literally means “Great Boiling Valley”.

In the distance is Kamiyama (神山), the highest peak in Hakone. The area is popular with tourists for its mountains and hot springs.

Mountain path, Hakone

360° VR panorama of a path down the mountain towards Ōwakudani valley (大涌谷) in Hakone, Japan. The dead trees at the sides of the path were probably killed off by fumes from the sulphur vents in the valley. The name “Ōwakudani” literally means “Great Boiling Valley”.

In the distance is Kamiyama (神山), the highest peak in Hakone. Covered with clouds in the far distance is Mount Fuji. Hakone is popular with tourists for its mountains and hot springs.

Forest path across the mountain, Hakone

360° VR panorama of a path through the forest on a mountain in Hakone, Japan. The path leads south to Kamiyama, the highest peak of Hakone, with branches off to Ōwakudani valley and Mt. Komagatake. Hakone is a popular area with tourists, having easy train access from Tokyo and featuring mountains, a large lake, and hot springs.