The First Minister has chosen a winter photograph of Loch Ossian, taken during a personal walk on Rannoch Moor, as his Christmas card image for 2025, highlighting the importance of nature, wellbeing and connection during challenging times.
The image, captured by John Swinney earlier this year, shows Loch Ossian framed by snow-dusted hills, a remote Highland landscape only practically accessible by train via the West Highland Line at Corrour, one of the most isolated stations in the country.
Speaking about the photograph, the First Minister said the moment was captured just weeks before he took office, during a period when he was focusing on rebuilding his physical and mental strength after an intense period of work.
He explained that stepping off the train and walking towards Loch Ossian brought a sense of peace and clarity that stayed with him, offering a new perspective while surrounded by Scotland’s natural landscape.
The location also holds personal significance, having first visited the loch as a teenager and being struck by its beauty, before returning many years later during his time away from Government office.
The First Minister said the experience reinforced for him the powerful role that the outdoors and interaction with nature can play in supporting both physical and mental wellbeing.
He added that the photograph, now chosen as his Christmas card image, serves as a reminder of how deeply moving Scotland’s landscapes can be and why connection to the natural environment matters, particularly during uncertain times.
With the festive season approaching, he encouraged people across Scotland to spend time outdoors if they are able, even briefly, and to reconnect both with nature and with one another.
