We awoke today to the loveliest day I’ve ever seen. It snowed overnight, so there was a fresh coating of the powdery stuff everywhere, and then the sun came out and the whole world seemed to sparkle. We managed to get up to Cairngorm Mountain but only just as they didn’t open the road until 11am. This meant we didn’t have enough time to take the funicular railway all the way to the top as we had a train to catch. But we did get to sample the view from the base station and it was splendid.
That’s Loch Morlich you can see in the distance.
Here’s a close-up.
I farted just as Ben took this next photo.
Ben was so excited he didn’t want to be photographed so I got to pose to my heart’s content.
Loch Morlich is a gorgeous, gorgeous place.
We played in the snow some more.
Then we had to dash to catch our train. We grabbed lunch at Aviemore station at a place called Roos Leap.
I’m not quite sure what a down-under dining experience is exactly but they had lots of kitsch Australian things inside. It was funny to find a place like this in the middle of the Scottish Highlands. Dunny is an Australian word for toilet by the way.
Australian beaches are the best in the world.
Aviemore train station was very lovely.
As were the views from the train.
I loved Aviemore and I’m sure it will be a holiday destination for us many more times in the years to come. We barely touched the surface of all the things there are to see and do there. This weekend was really for Daniel’s birthday; he turned 8 last Friday. We don’t know very many people in Aberdeen yet and I’m not sure sure that I have the time and energy to organise a children’s birthday party at the moment anyway, so we chose a family weekend away instead. We stayed at the Coylumbridge Resort which is just outside Aviemore and really well set up for children. They have a swimming pool, a fun house with a large indoor playground, a dry ski slope (although oddly it was closed due to snow), a skating rink (only synthetic though, so not that great), a tubing ramp, a climbing wall, and various organised activities for kids. Kids also get to stay and eat for free provided, of course, that they are with a paying adult. In fact, when we arrived shortly after 9pm on Friday night, the lobby was filled with young children all boogying to YMCA. It was a great place to go with young kids. We’d stay there again.
I’m very glad you all had such a good time but, I haven’t been to Scotland for years and we aren’t getting any snow here so I’m very jealous.
I once went up Ben Nevis and nearly didn’t come back. I’ll write about it later, when I get all these photographs posted. There were never intended to be so many but I got the bug.
See you later.
There was so much snow in Aviemore today that I feel as thought I’ve had my fix now. Although that doesn’t mean I won’t welcome more snow this winter. There’s actually a bit of snow on the ground here in Aberdeen although it’s on a very light dusting.
Oh stop! I’m
all over. 🙂
I love it up there too. Done a bit of mountainbiking round Feshiebridge and love the forests and the hills. Haven’t been for years though, must make it back there soon!
Yes, the forests are so lovely. So are the hills too of course but it’s so nice to see the forests too. They go well together.
Happy birthday to Daniel. Hope he enjoyed this trip.
What a beautiful scenery! Are the photos clicked with iPhone 4S? Next time hope you will post the pictures of Scotland trains. I am dying to see how modern or classical they are. 🙂
I will remember to take a photo of the inside of a train next time. I did get a photo of the outside of a train today though. I was really photographing all the snow above the wheels but it gives you an idea of what they look like from the outside.
And yep, all photos were taken with my iPhone 4S.
It’s a great place. Great year for Nordic skiing through the forest as well.
Yes, I’d absolutely love to do that: skiing through the forest.
I went to the Cairngorms a couple of times with the Scottish ladies Climbing club. One very special thing I got to do was ‘christen’ my ice axe on the Haggis on Burns Night- apparently a tradition- About half the Munro’s I got up, there were no views from because of the fog…’dreich’ weather as the locals would call it! Isn’t Aviemore where the ski field is? There is a neat pub on memory- perhaps I tended to head up the mountain just to have high tea after there! High tea is a great Scottish tradition- usually a good way to have a meal out without the huge expense too!
Yes, there is a ski field there. I’ll have to post a pic of it.
What a wonderful weekend and photos!
A modeling career is something to consider! 😉
Haha. If only someone would pay for me to go away to interesting places every weekend and photograph myself in front of them. I wouldn’t even want a salary, just the weekend away would suffice 🙂
So beautiful, and clean and fresh. So much space!
Definitely worth visiting. It’s on a train line so easy to get to from anywhere and there are sleeper trains to Scotland from the south.
What a beautiful day out Rachel, in every way…even with the Aussie touch 🙂
It was a beautiful day out. We were so lucky with all the snow and then the perfect weather.
Some of those photos could adorn the front of Christmas cards. How absolutely beautiful. You look pretty good too! What a lovely way to celebrate Daniel’s birthday.
Thank you! The photos of Loch Morlich are stunning but it was even better in real life.
Wow wow wow! Looks like you could have fallen neck deep in snow in a few places. I was pretty pleased with the inch we had on Tuesday but now I’ve seen this I feel cheated 🙂
I see you’ve got some decent snow now. Enjoy!