Cairngorms

We took a drive through more scenic landscape this morning to Glenmore in the Cairngorms where we were delighted to find a reindeer sanctuary. You could take a 1.5hr round trip walk up the boggy hills to where they roam free-ish or they had half a dozen down in an enclosure, where they spend a couple of days before being returned to the hills. Seeing as we were already doing a 1.5hr walk to a loch, we opted for visiting the enclosure.

We then set off for our walk to Lochan Uaine. The “green” Lochan – legend has it that the lochan has its deep green colour because fairies wash their clothes in its water.

Walking through the ancient Caledonian pines, we noticed what we think is the last remnants of heather that hasn’t died off yet in the more sheltered spots. Must look absolutely stunning in the spring/summer/whenever it is in full bloom.

By the way, temps are around 8C and it has been raining on and off – the type of weather you wouldn’t catch either of us out in back home, but a perfectly lovely day for walk in the Scottish countryside 🙂

We took the scenic route back (ie: straight up a bloody mountain) – had wonderful views, (and I was stripped down to my short-sleeve T-shirt in no time). Jury is still out whether it was worth the near-heart-attack experience though … you would think that I would be getting fitter by now, wouldn’t you? Although in fairness, according to my Fitbit – my heart was coping just fine, it was my lungs that were letting me down in the breathing department.