SHE had to clamber down rough, boggy ground for the perfect spot but the effect was worth it as Gwyneth Bell’s photograph has won the public vote to grace the front of the National’s new calendar.

The wonderful scene of the mountains mirrored in Lochan Urr in Glen Etive was chosen from 12 exceptional pictures taken by National readers selected for this year’s calendar.

Runner-up to Gwyneth is Naomi Noel with her picture of the bridge at Lossiemouth which is currently the subject of a campaign to preserve it.

Gwyneth took her picture in February with a Nikon D7000. She took up photography six years ago when her husband, David, gave her a digital camera. She now travels all over Scotland with her “photobuddy”, Amanda Smith, and has taken a few courses as well as workshops with Colin Prior.

“I love getting into the fresh air and climbing the hills,” she said. “I was just so lucky getting the pic as we didn’t not know what was down there. We have books that tell us where to take pictures and had been taking pics at Glencoe – we actually had to queue up to take them.

“Then we went up Glen Etive and met two boys who had been in the queue so we asked them if it was worth going down as it was a bit rough. They said it was but it was quite a trek to get down as there were big tufts of solid ground and bog in between. However when we got there it was breathtaking and worth the climb up again.”

Naomi, who works in the kitchen at Dr Gray’s hospital in Elgin, took her shot, pictured, with a Huawei mobile.

The National:

She started taking pictures after she returned to Lossiemouth from Jersey where she lived for 12 years.

“I was reminded of the natural beauty of Scotland and started to take photographs when I was out walking with my dog, Charli, or snatching sneaky pictures of friends and family at various events,” she said. “By taking this picture I hope to raise awareness for the Save The Bridge campaign as locals are trying to raise funds to pay for it to be repaired.

“It is a beautiful view and is the only access to the East Beach in Lossiemouth. It has been there for about a hundred years and is a great focal point of Moray.”