TRIP 5 WINTER WONDERLAND

28th January 2019

In a bit of a departure for Highland Gourmet Trips, we went south and little bit east from Inverness, but we were still within the Highlands. We went to Grantown on Spey to meet up with Sandra and Chris. In another departure, this trip was self catered, rather than using local hotels.

As we left Inverness, there were forecasts of snow, but, undaunted, we all managed to get to the designated meeting point at Grantown East, where we were going to have a bite to eat. This is a couple of converted railway dining cars, joined together to make a restaurant with its own proper pizza oven on the side. Unfortunately, they don't do pizzas on Monday or Tuesday, but they did do a very nice soup and a bacon roll, which did the trick for us.

There is no point in going to stay in the Cairngorms National Park if you don't have a view of the Cairngorm Mountains. Luckily, we had scouted out just the  best place to stay with the best view of the mountains. In fact, some would say it had the best view in the whole of the Spey Valley. We were certainly not going to dispute that after we arrived at our home from home later that afternoon.

This was our view as we parked the cars after an interesting drive up and along a windy, snowy and steep single track access road. 

This was to be home for the next few days - Tombain Cottage

 We were over 1200 feet up into the Braes of Castle Grant north of Grantown. The snow was a lot deeper here than down in the village. It was colder too, and clearly had been for some days. 

By the time we had decanted all of our stuff from the cars into the cottage, the sun was beginning to set with some style.

We were able to settle into our very well appointed accommodation. 

 

Naturally, the cottage made the most of the fabulous views.

It wouldn't have been a cosy cottage in the snow without a roaring fire and we took no time in organising that - and a glass of something cold and bubbly to go along with it.

We knew we were going to be in the hills and some distance away from restaurants and kebab shops. In fact, that was the point of it all. We had arranged that we would feed ourselves. on our first night we had a very nice Cumberland Pie made by Sandra at home and then heated up in the kitchen at Tombain. There was even a chocolate mousse pudding. We really couldn't have asked for more.

Well actually we could. the combined effects of good food, wine and company, soon took a toll and we started to drift off to bed. Happily, the beds were comfortable and the rooms were warm, thanks to the central heating, which had been working away since before we had arrived. It wasn't long until we were all fast asleep.

29th January

We awoke to a sparkling morning, which just emphasised the outstanding location of the cottage and the magnificence of the views.

 After a simple breakfast, we set off for Grantown for a walk with the dogs. We had decided that the way-marked paths around Beachen Woods at the west of the village would be perfect for our purposes and so it proved.

We parked at the caravan park and walked beneath the old railway bridge with its eyebrows of icicles beneath the arch.

Soon we were walking through a pleasant mixed woodland which both the humans and the dogs seemed to enjoy.

There were some nice little views to be had, but not on the scale of those from Tombain.

 Despite the snow and the cold, it was very sunny. 

 After all the exertion of a walk in the woods, it was time to have some lunch. Local knowledge allowed us to get to one of the best little places in the village, The High St Merchants. There we had a light lunch of freshly toasted bagels with a variety of fillings - locally smoked salmon and cream cheese or hummus with coleslaw. Bob had a very nice platter that included smoked salmon and cured meats, good oil, olives and bread. He also managed a pint of beer from the brewery sited immediately next to the restaurant.

After lunch, it was back to Tombain and the chance to explore round about the cottage.

 There was probably enough snow to do a Christmas number one record! 

Every where you walked you could not escape the view to the hills. 

You couldn't escape the fact that it was pretty cold. 

 The snow does make a beautiful difference to even the most mundane of things.

Once again, the sunset was spectacular.

Dinner tonight was an exotic lamb tagine with rice and couscous. A simple and refreshing dessert of fruits of the forest and meringue followed.

There were more fun and games around the roaring flames before we all had had enough and retired after another good day.

30th January

It was another cold, but beautiful day and we had a bit of a journey ahead of us. We were off to the new Macallan Distillery exhibition, where Bob and Chris were going to have a tour and tasting.

The new distillery has only been open for a year and it cost £140 million and you can see why. Everything is modern, sleek and expensive. It is nothing like any whisky distillery tour you have ever been on before.

Here are Bob and Chris on the outside wanting to be on the inside.

We were earlier than our originally booked tour time, but were able to join a tour that was about to start. It may be modern and unconventional, but it is still a distillery and so, they still have copper stills. they are just arranged in a circle rather than the usual row.

You can also see from the inside out, which is very unusual for a distillery.

There are bottles of honey coloured whisky everywhere.

Just before the end of the tour, you even get to sit inside a make-believe cask to watch a short film on how this whisky is finally put together.

Then, of course, you get to taste the product.

You could, if you liked, buy a cask and have it stored in this fabulous cask room.

Then again, you could just have lunch, which is what we did.

Bob and Chris shared a venison charcuterie plate with Haggis bon-bons and a whisky mayonnaise. The ladies had a whipped Scottish goat's cheese, toasted pumpkin seeds, roasted figs and a honey and balsamic dressing.

Of course, all that whisky made us a bit thirsty, so a bottle of local beer made all the difference.

We had spent a fair amount of time enjoying ourselves and so we had to get back to Tombain to let the dogs out. As we arrived back at the cottage, the sun was going down and had cast a pink/orange glow over the landscape.

Another fine sunset followed quite soon afterwards.

Tonight's dinner was the local butcher's fine Cumberland sausages in an onion gravy with creamy mash and garlicky green beans followed by a spiced plum crumble and custard.

Soon enough the day took its toll and it was time to snuggle under the downy as the temperature was forecast to fall to -7!

31st January

A different morning altogether today. There was very thick fog and the view had completely disappeared. Indeed, you could hardly see beyond the garden fence.

By the time we had breakfast and started to get ready to drive to Loch Vaa for a walk, the mist was disappearing fast, leaving behind a crystal blue sky and frosted trees. It really was stunningly beautiful.

We drove down to Loch Vaa, about three quarters of an hour away and after a slight hiccup we found the right path and sett of on the walk.

Very quickly the walk takes you to the shores of the loch, which just now, was completely frozen over and quite spectacular.

 The walk takes you around the shore....

....to a dinky little boat house, which is currently marooned above the water level, due to last years's drought conditions.

Before we left the loch to go into the forest, we managed a quick group photo.

Then we were into the trees and walking on good forest paths for some time, before heading round the south side of the loch.

 From here you can get a different view of the boathouse.

Sandra wanted a photo of Chris and the dogs, which meant that Chris had to bribe them with treats so that they would follow him and sit nicely.

The sky was still a brilliant blue. 

 We were wending our way back to the cars and the boathouse. 

 There was only one obstacle to cross. 

Once we had successfully negotiated that, we drove back to Grantown for a well earned cup of tea and a sticky cake. We then visited a few shops and bought a few things including some more fabby sausages from the butcher.

Then Sharon and Sandra went to the spa for a treatment, while Bob and Chris went back to the cottage with the dogs for a little quiet time and to give Bob time to prepare the chicken and spinach lasagne for dinner.

By the time we were back, the mist was gathering atmospherically in the strath.

 It really was superb.

The atmosphere was helped along by Chris getting the fire going with but a single match.

After our dinner and some nice cheese, we had some more games by the fire, until it was time for our final sleep in the cottage.

1st February

Just as we were a little down at having to end our break, the weather was a bit glum too. It was snowing and pretty grey. Nonetheless, we managed to clear up, pack up and get on our way home.

This was a bit of  departure for Highland Gourmet Trips, but it was a huge success and we will certainly do it again sometime.