Going home

Sadly we had to pack and leave. Kath had the good idea of seeing Loch Ness on the way to Inverness airport as we had time to kill.

We had a brief walk and a hot drink before dropping off the car and whiling away some hours at the airport waiting for our late Easyjet flight. We finally got home at 8pm.

What a fab holiday we have all had, so many activities, beautiful scenery and amazing accommodation and we managed not to strangle each other despite being together 24/7!!

Our last full day

The forecast predicted that the rain would start at 2pm so we planned to walk up a small mountain in the morning and then go to the Loch for more water sports.

But a little way in to the walk the heavens opened. After sheltering for a little while we set off back via the woods to find some protection. Of course as we neared the car the clouds cleared!

On the roof of the watersports centre the flag was hanging limply; no wind. We had a cuppa and played frisbee whilst waiting for the wind to pick up but there was no sign of that happening so we went back home for a while.

Aviemore hosts Thunder in the Glen each year which is a rally for Harley Davidson owners. We last saw it in 2009 when my mum had a ride on the back of a Harley. The event has grown and grown and we were amazed by the number of campervans and tents, motorbikes and riders. I'd say the village was swamped. We walked around the stalls and looked at the bikes. Jess and Kath had a go at the paintballing stall - great fun with different noises depending on what they hit, almost musical.

Back to the loch where there was just enough wind for Martin and Kath to hire windsurfers and Jess, Ryan and I took out paddle boards. It was a first for me and I didn't go out as far as the others.

Kath and Martin discussing wind direction;

Back for a takeaway supper and a last round of cards. I had haggis not realising it would be battered. The haggis was good but the batter went in the bin.

Pottery and a walk

Near Loch an Eilean there is a potter who runs workshops on a Thursday and Ryan, Jess and Kath all signed up to throw a pot. The potter, Penny was a lovely lady (a bit scatty!) and so complimentary. They all thoroughly enjoyed this activity and for all of them it was their first time on a wheel. The concentration on their faces was a sight to see.  They all made pots of different shapes and sizes and applied the glazes in their own styles. The pots will be fired then sent on to us, possibly only just in time for Christmas as Penny is about to have knee surgery.

Later we looked for a walk and found one skirting Loch Insh then tracking uphill to the Uath Lochan pools. Kath noticed a little froglet hopping downhill on the path and, as we continued we saw many more and shouted warnings to each other so we didn't squish any.  It was a long stony track so goodness knows where they were going.

After a cuppa at the Loch we visited a sculpture park - the sculptor had been a friend of Penny the potter until he died a few years ago.

Homemade shortbread by Kath tonight!

Wednesday

Kath, Ryan and I had booked a trek on the Alvie estate carefully chosen to include cantering and no road work. We dropped Martin and Jess at Loch Morlich where they hired a Pico for the day. Our trek was just what we wanted and we trotted and cantered and were treated to lovely views along the ride. On the way back we met a lady holding a goshawk and with a spaniel who had been hunting and had game in her shoulder bag. She was dressed in all the gear but was absolutely genuine and not a tourist attraction!

We collected lunch and met the others at the Loch. Jess and Katherine spent the afternoon with Martin in the Pico.

In the evening (after Kath's home made scones) we walked to the Winking Owl where there was a live band playing great ceilidh music. We were all prepared to dance but, not knowing the moves we didn't want to be first up. Unfortunately,  apart from a mother and son doing the 'floss' no one danced. Never mind, the music was really lively and Jess and I did a bit of a Highland fling in the car park on the way out. At the table next to us was Richard Westcott, the BBC science & tech correspondent who was with his crew - they had been filming 1000 year old trees nearby.

The Harley Davidson banner is up early - there is a rally in Aviemore at the weekend.

Cairn Gorm

The weather forecast had today as the best of the week so we headed for Cairn Gorm. From the car park it was an hour and a half climb up to the cafe where we just had to have a drink and a great wodge of cake before the last 20 minutes up to the summit.

On the way we saw some of the reindeer herd which roam free up here.

The view from the summit!

The view on the way down;

Due to the intake of cakes we decided to have our packed lunch late and thought it would be pleasant to sit by the loch we had seen in the distance. Apparently this is the highest beach in the UK.

We could see the top of Cairn Gorm from the beach - now clear !

After dinner we were treated to a lovely pudding courteous of Kath - apple crumble.

Archery, beer and dogs

The archery was brilliant.  Neil the instructor was very personable and referred to us mostly by our individual names - quite a feat with 12 in the group, and had some inventive games for us to play. One was 'bake the cake' where you have to get an arrow in the white, blue, red and yellow but if you put one in the black you have burnt your cake so have to start over. Martin was overall winner of the highest score round and Ryan beat Kath in a one arrow play off in another game. Jess and I enjoyed ourselves even though we didn't score highly, nor successfully 'made a cake'. The weather was just right and we played for over the allotted time.

After lunch Martin and Ryan went on a tour of the Cairngorm brewery which, they later reported was good although the guide was a bit mechanical - quite unlike the chaps at the Hogs Back. But the beer was great!

Jess, Kath and I went to a farm for a sheepdog demo. Kath was in her element with 12 sheepdogs and some puppies to pet. Even Jess relaxed when she realised that none of the dogs jumped up at people. There was also a manual shearing demo and the opportunity to feed lambs (who were as big as sheep). The sheepdog demo was really good - most of the dogs were totally focused and on point. One, Mel, who is in training had a bad habit of nipping the sheep and she was told off a couple of times.

Jess, Ryan and Kath are all in one room in bunk beds. After one night Ryan has taken to sleeping on the sofa bed downstairs to get away from the stereo snoring of the girls!