Today we went for a very scenic drive alongside Loch Ness, home of the infamous Loch Ness monster. We didn’t see any monsters but we did see Urquhart Castle, a ruin in a picturesque promontory in the middle of Loch Ness. The castle has seen more battles than most and was eventually abandoned in the 17th century. The castle, the drive, the Loch were all just as beautiful as I was expecting and perhaps even better with all the reds and oranges of autumn.

The kids enjoyed the castle. They seem to like the ruins best of all. They also enjoyed the Loch Ness Centre where you can hear about the history of Loch Ness Monster sightings.

Not far from Urquhart Castle is Glen Affric, a National Nature Reserve which contains one of the largest ancient caledonian forests in Scotland. It’s a popular spot for hiking and mountain biking. We admired the views and took photos.

The sun came out briefly but sunscreen was not necessary. Even sunglasses are optional. How great is that?

It really is a gorgeous place. I don’t understand why the locals want to fly off to a tropical beach for their holidays when the landscapes here are so lovely and I would say, better.

Unfortunately the day wasn’t without mishaps. Mum lost her glasses and these still haven’t turned up.

It’s hard to believe Britain is as populous as it is. It’s fairly quiet up here. Everyone must be crammed into the bottom corner of the country.