An intrepid 12-year-old from Ross-on-Wye has been recognised nationally after photographing a spectacular glacial scene in the Scottish highlands.

Madeleine Bainbridge’s eye-catching image from the top of Sgurr a’ Mhaoraich has won her a top prize in a competition run by the Geographical Association.

The Monmouth School for Girls’ pupil took the stunning picture during the summer when she climbed the mountain with her parents and pet dog, Jack.

She entered her photograph and a written narrative into the Physical Geography Photograph Competition and was runner-up in the Years 7 to 9 Landscape Story section.

Now the Herefordshire girl has been invited to the Geographical Association’s Awards Ceremony at Sheffield Hallam University on April 5th and will receive a prize from Páramo Directional Clothing Systems.

Fellow Monmouth School for Girls’ student Eden Greaves, aged 13, impressed with her photograph – and written submission - of Llyn y Fan Fach in the Brecon Beacons National Park.

She was Highly Commended in the same category as Madeleine, after securing a prize for finishing third in the competition 12 months ago.

Mr Nick Meek, Head of Geography at Monmouth School for Girls, was delighted with the excellent entries from both students.

“The images of landscapes captured by our two keen geographers are exceptional,” he said.

In her submission, Madeleine captured the glacial landscape scene from the top of Sgurr a’ Mhaoraich (1027m), Loch Quoich, in Scotland.

“I’ve visited Loch Quoich many times,” said Madeleine.

“I climbed Sgurr a’ Mhaoraich at the beginning of August, and that was when I took the photograph.

“My photograph showed a deep Scottish fjord (Loch Hourn, a sea loch) surrounded by beautiful peaks, including the 1020m high Ladhar Bheinn, which falls down into the sea.

“Loch Hourn is contained within a glacial trough carved out by the ice that covered the entirety of Scotland thousands of years ago. This ice dramatically raised sea levels when it melted.”

The judges said: “The story leaves a clear impression of the time when this landscape was frozen and introduces some technical geographical terms that indicate a good understanding of the most recent processes that have forged this landscape. This is a very good landscape story, worthy of being a winner.”