Scottish Highland Holiday, Cairn Gorm & Loch
Ness July 2004
- page 2
Continuing our Scottish holiday in the Highlands we
travelled to the heart of the Cairngorms National Park and took a ride
on the Cairn Gorm Mountain Railway, had lunch in the Ptarmigan
Restaurant on top of the mountain, and visited Drumnadrochit to find
Scotland's Loch Ness Monster with an exciting cruise on the Loch for a
spot of Nessie spotting.
This is page two of three.
Scottish
Highlands 1 | Scottish Highlands 2 | Scottish Highlands 3
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This shot shows us relaxing in the comfortable conservatory back at the
holiday cottage in Piperhill after another exciting day of Highland
touring. Well, Belinda relaxed while Mike checked the brochures
to plan our next day's tourist activities!
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Another task that seemed to fall to Mike was to get the wee log burning
fire going. Even in mid-summer we found the evenings chilly in
the Scottish Highlands, maybe because us southerners are used to warmer
climes! Ock aye the noo. The following...
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...day in Scotland we visited the Cairn Gorm Mountain and took a
breathtaking ride on the funicular railway to the top. There's a
huge car park here, no doubt to cater for all the sporty winter skiers.
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Now how's this for a picturesque Cairngorm Mountain scene? We
suspect that little stream becomes a raging torrent during the Scottish
winter snow melt though. Also check out our Highland video clips.
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A Cairn Gorm Mountain Railway car is arrowed (Belinda is not arrowed!)
as it rises 462m over 1.8km towards the Top Station, the climatic
equivalent of 1,200km towards the Arctic. As one car rises, the...
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...other descends, just as well there's a wee passing point then!
At the top there's an exhibition all about the Cairngorm Mountains, a
viewing area and the Ptarmigan Restaurant (where we had lunch).
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From the Cairn Gorm viewing area we were able to enjoy extensive views
of the Highland peaks and glens, several Lochs, the ski lift - and lots
of noisy Chinese students taking photos! Then the mist, cloud and
rain moved in. Ock aye the noo.
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Glen More and Loch Morlich were about to get covered by the mist in the
background here on the Cairn Gorm Mountain in the Highlands.
Despite this, it sure was a breathtaking view, but couldn't always be
guaranteed in the changeable Cairngorm Mountains.
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No visitor attraction is complete without the inevitable gift shop,
this one's called the 'Shop at the Top' on the Cairn Gorm
Mountain. Perhaps predictably, Belinda got lost for ages in there
amongst the shoppers!
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Back at the Base Station a Cairn Gorm Mountain railway car awaited more
passengers. The return trip cost £8 on our visit, please check
our UK tourist resources
for the Cairn Gorm Mountain website.
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We like to cook in as well as eat out on our holidays, and after our
adventures in the Cairngorm Mountains we knocked up a delicious Spag
Bol back in our lovely spacious Scottish Highland cottage in Piperhill.
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One thing we noticed being so far north was that it didn't get dark
until after 11.00pm in the Highlands of Scotland, at that time back
home in our native Sussex it would've been well dark well sooner.
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Another day and more Highland touring. After a hearty breakfast
for £1.49 at Tescos in Inverness, we headed south alongside Loch Ness
to Drumnadrochit to find out about the Loch Ness Monster legend.
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It's behind you! In Drumnadrochit we visited the intriguing Loch
Ness 2000 attraction (£5.95) and learnt all about the amusing monster
story, then headed off for a wee cruise on the loch with...
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...the Original Loch Ness Visitor Centre, which cost £8. We
enjoyed a good commentary all the way from the man driving the
boat. This day was the best weather-wise in Scotland, sunny and
warm.
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With no sign of the monster yet, perhaps Mike's track record as a
monster slayer went before him and he (or she) was hiding. Still,
the exquisite Loch Ness Scottish scenery was worth the boat trip alone.
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From the boat we got an excellent view of the scenic Urquhart Castle
and heard all about its history from our cruise guide man who had on
display a wee blurry photo he took of the Loch Ness Monster! Erm,
yeah, right! The boat was well equipped with...
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...underwater cameras, colour sonar, radar and GPS - and even with all
that lot we still didn't find The Monster! Ock aye the noo
(again!).
On our final page in the Highlands of Scotland
we visit the Strathspey Railway and Cawdor Castle >>>
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Scottish Highlands
1 | Scottish Highlands 2 | Scottish Highlands 3
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