A Trip to the Highlands

Unfortunately our holidays did not co-incide with many rallies this year so as we hadn't managed to get to our old haunts in the Scottish highlands for a few years we decided a trip north was what we would do. We chose the Camping and Caravaning club site in Dingwall(near Inverness) as it was one of our previous favourite sites from years ago, and wasn't troubed by  midges. After Inveraray in 2001 when the weeks rally we organised was blighted by rain we always worried about our holiday weather as we were generally stewarding a rally. This year as it was just ourselves (we Scots are waterproof anyway and being truthful I like the rain!)  it didn’t matter or at least until on the journey up the car decided the rain was on for the week and wouldn't let me turn the windscreen wipers OFF. A trip to the local VW garage soon sorted that though.

The site at Dingwall hasn't changed much but that isn't to its detriment and the Wardens were very helful and friendly. There was plenty to do from the site. Inverewe gardens were only a 90 minutes away, and the drive through the mountains and valleys was as magnificent as the gardens themselves. Brodie Castle and Culloden are less than 30 minutes from the site. We spent an afternoon at the latter and I can thoroughly recommend the guide led walk it brings the place alive, though I must admit to always feeling a tinge of sadness when I visit. Close to the site is Alangrange the site of the Black Isle Brewery. There you can take a short trip of the Brewery and try some of the excellent organic beers they brew.

South of the site is Aviemore. There you can enjoy watching the Ospreys, or a trip on the Steam  train to Broomhill, and if you have children the Landmark centre is well worth a visit.

Thursday night brought a pleasant surprise when the camp site was treated to an hour of tunes from the local pipe band which apparently is a weekly occurance.

All to soon our week at Dingwall was over. One thing is for sure we will be back, and I can thoroughly recommend it to anyone who wants a base to investigate the Scottish Highlands.

Tom