The Scottish Highlands and Loch Ness

The Scottish Highlands are one of the most beautiful places to visit in the UK. Loch Ness is one of the many lochs here and obviously it’s the most famous. Like in Florence, where you can buy anything with David’s penis on it, here you can buy anything with the Loch Ness monster on it. Even condoms.

We parked up and enjoyed a good hour just sitting and taking pictures of the loch in all its glory. Afterwards we visited the Loch Ness Centre and Exhibition which was interesting and definitely worth a visit. It also offered cruises on the loch but we’d left it too late in the day for that.

Aviemore

Aviemore is a town in the Cairngorm national park that is surrounded by lochs, ancient forests and mountains and is also home to a rather spiffing Italian buffet. As recommended by Suz’s uncle who goes up to Aviemore a lot to go skiing.

This beautiful part of the country is a major holiday resort which means that the small town centre can get quite busy. However, a short drive down the road will find you away from the crowds and out in the country side. We stayed in a caravan that I found on Air b&b, which was misleading because b&b means bed and breakfast and there was no breakfast included… Anyway, the views from the veranda were great during the day but at night they were incredible. With no light pollution for miles, the stars were shining brighter than I’d ever seen. I nearly cried at the night sky because it was so beautiful and Suz laughed at me, again.

The CairnGorm Mountain

It’s a tough challenge to climb up the harsh terrain of the CairnGorm mountain. Which is why we decided to go up the little tourist train instead. The views were bloody gorgeous and the cafe was of course, rather expensive. So instead we ate the sandwiches I’d prepared outside on a little bench in the gale force winds.

These mountains really are amazing and if I lived nearer I would love to join a climbing club and really spend some time climbing up these beasts. But I don’t which is kinda good because I’m rather lazy. In the winter these mountains are even more spectacular because they are covered in snow plus just around the corner at the bottom of the mountain you will find a beach. Yes a beach.

Reindeers

The Cairngorm reindeer herd is the only one in the UK. Mikel Utsi and his wife Dr. Ethel Lindgren started bringing the reindeers over from Sweden in 1952 and have since grown the herd to over 150. At the centre you can pay to walk up to where they roam in the wild or you can pay a smaller amount to see them in a paddock. The reindeers in the paddock are changed every few hours because at the heart of it all, Mikel and Ethel are putting the reindeer and their well being first. A refreshing change when it comes to animals and tourism.

When you go to the Cairngorms you should definitely visit the reindeer herd and experience feeding them. They’re lovely creatures but beware they malt more than a golden retriever.