I’ve written about how having something to look forward to in January is key to not filing blu in the new year; however when the day came to head to the Scottish Highlands for our blogger retreat I won’t pretend I didn’t feel just a little apprehensive… I’m not known for my fondness of colder climates – how cold would it be? Would it be too ‘outdoorsy’ for me (this is a legitimate concern if you’re me!).
We flew up to Inverness from Gatwick which was surprisingly cheap, although Mel and Sara-Jayne indulged in opulence of yester-year by taking the overnight Caledonian sleeper train from London up to Scotland… something I would never have considered yet after reading about what a great time they had, it would definitely be a great way to travel, especially with Boo and overnight train travel is now on my radar.
We hired a car from Enterprise at Inverness Airport (Shout out to their brilliant customer service, they were great!) and drove just over an hour through Inverness itself and into the Highlands
Our home for the next two nights was Eagle Brae – a collection of sustainable luxury log cabins nestled high up in the Highlands – Sara-Jayne got the perfect shot of the welcoming sign.
After a day of travelling from all over the UK, we were too busy catching up to think about dinner, Eagle Brae were one step ahead of us and had left pre-prepared homemade meals for us to enjoy. The venison curry and lentil lasagne were absolutely delicious – I’ll freely admit to eating way past my full to the brim point, it was all so good. It set us up for a debauched evening of Cards Against Humanity which saw me the clear winner – thanks to Mel for capturing my moment of glory!
We stayed in the Aquila Log Cabin at Eagle Brae, it comfortable sleeps six with a combination of traditional bedrooms and log sleepers up on the mezzanine. the log cabin was everything I expected but yet not – in a good way. The carvings are astonishingly intricate and it has a really traditional feel inside; yet their commitment to sustainability is refreshingly relentless – from recyling to the eco heating system, you really feel that during your stay you’re doing your bit and it’s great to see a luxury holiday destination supporting its guests. Again massive thanks to Sara-Jayne for these shots, she’s an amazing photographer.
You’d be forgiven for thinking that a log cabin would mean compromising on luxury, but it couldn’t be further from the truth at Eagle Brae; linen bedding, sumptuous towels plus the widest and deepest bath you ever did see (I can dutifully report that a mid afternoon bath is as good as it sounds) help to cocoon you from the elements of the Scottish winter until you’re ready to venture out and explore.
When I woke up in the morning it felt as if I was in a different time zone; long haul travellers will know the sensation – the air felt different, the stillness, it all came together for a glorious feeling of wonderful aloneness; thus proving that you don’t have to travel thousands of miles to be somewhere completely different.
The sun rises much later in the Highlands during winter months than in London which helped us start the day slowly and relaxed. Tea outside taking in the incredible vista was one of the calmest five minutes I’ve had in a long time.
We were lucky enough to be sent a Charles Conrad London Watch each as a retreat treat – black and gold are my favourite combo so this was a real winner when I opened it up.
Our full day in the Highlands saw us take to Loch Ness and explore Urquhart Castle – full review coming soon.
Our second evening saw us venture out to the Kingsmill Hotel in Inverness, where we were hosted by the lovely Tracey; a quick tour of the hotel and all its facilities – it’s somewhere I definitely want to return to with Boo. Adjacent to the hotel is the Kingsclub – a separate building offer luxury in every aspect of your stay; Tracey described it perfectly “It’s like turning left when you board a plane”. The retreat room we viewed is everything you need for a luxury family break.
We were then treated to the most Scottish of walk ins to dinner: a bagpipe procession by Bill – whose enthusiasm matched his knowledge for they history of burns night – and we were astounded to learn that Robert Burns had dined in the very same room that we enjoyed a five course meal, p.s. when done as well as the Kingsmill Hotel, haggis is delicious!
At the beginning of our retreat I wasn’t sure if the Highlands would be for me, yet as we flew home I can honestly say that I felt more relaxed than I had in a long time. As I said it takes merely an hour on a plane to feel like you’re on the other side of the world; something I’d urge each and every one of you to do.
Disclosure: We were guests of Eagle Brae and Visit Scotland for the duration of our stay.
