Your pictures of Scotland: 25 January to 1 February

Mum Elaine Sinclair watched Dave and Tess sledging before the thaw at Oldmeldrum, Aberdeenshire. If you want to let us know what you think of this week's pictures, go to http://www.facebook.com/bbcscotlandnews

The thaw has begun in Laurencekirk. Mhairi Irving took this photo from an open bedroom window on Saturday morning.

Sunset over Lake of Menteith greeted Martin and Mary Hennessy when they arrived from Glasgow.

Lynda and Ian Chishom thought these snowdrops were 'waiting for the right time to bloom' at Stewartfield Loch, East Kilbride.

Brodie enjoyed his first birthday on 25 January. Mum Louise Meikleham, from Newport-on-Tay, noted that he shares it with the Bard.

Kay Ranson came across this wind-battered tree while walking the dog near Kilmarnock.

Dinner time for this otter in the River Dee at Peterculter near Aberdeen. Stefan Muller and his wife, from Cults, said: "He was not the least bit bothered by the handful of people that had gathered on the riverbank just a few feet away."

Wellington Square on Tuesday afternoon. Ken Nairn, from Ayr, thought there was something apocalyptic about the sky.

Was this supposed to happen? Greg Leighton, from Helensburgh, caught brother Ross off-roading near Loch Lomond.

Heavy snow in Glentress. Madeleine Kirk said it made mountain biking "rather tricky but very beautiful".

John Paul Peebles, from Glasgow, was in Fort William visiting family when he stopped at the Commando Memorial at Spean Bridge.

King's College, Aberdeen, was photographed by Daniel Makinson.

Tony Ibbetson watched a Viking longboat go up in flames during Up Helly Aa in Lerwick, on the Shetland Isles, on Tuesday night.

The inner tube of a tractor tyre was the mode of transport of choice when snow fell on Kingskettle. Photo by Kim Bennett from Cupar.

The remains of a folly near Smailholm Mains farm in the Borders. Walter Baxter, from Galashiels, took the photo.