News

ROUND AND ABOUT: NEWS FROM THE HIGHLANDS (Spring 2015)

We’ve had a mixed winter – some winter skills and some glorious sunshine. We tried to start our mountain bike season early in March and then the weather went and turned again welcoming the early Easter arrivals with some pretty thick snow showers, interspersed with sunshine. Glorious April sunshine now through has brought the daffs out to follow the snowdrops and encouraged us to start with the potatoes in the garden, despite the overnight frost.

Our first international visitors are starting to trickle through the door: we had 2 American couples visit in mid-March, who came up to us after starting St Patrick’s Day celebrations in Edinburgh; they were keen to explore the landscape that helped to inspire the popular series already on their screens and just released in the UK – “Outlander” based on Diana Gabaldon’s books. Despite being published in the 1990s these books are now enjoying a second round again and are to be found much more pre-dominantly in the bookshops at the moment. We’ve read a few and are ideally placed to explore some of the main sites described in the book. We haven’t considered adding “Outlander” tours to our programme but if there’s any interest?

Something to look forward to: we hear there’s another series planned by the BBC of the programme “The Mountain” which featured life on and around Cairngorms Mountain in the winter season. The new programme will show Cairngorm in the summer season.

NEWS AND ARTICLES FOR SPRING 2015

• Scots butcher creates ‘Scotch Egg Creme Egg’. We shouldn’t really criticise as we haven’t tried them, but I’m not sure these will catch on as a rival to the deep fried mars bar. Read more here Or if you’d like to try creating a slightly different version for yourself …

• How on earth can a drama group in Boat of Garten raise £29,100.15 for Highland Hospice? Huge efforts were made during the Panto production here in Boat of Garten with over £14,000 being raised in sponsorship and ticket sales of £11,000. Amazing amount of money to be raised by such a small community and shows what high esteem everyone had for Lorraine Macpherson OBE who died of cancer earlier this year. Read more …

• A Day in the Life of … Andy Bateman, Snow-Holing Expert published in Scotland Outdoors (Jan/Feb) edition. Edited version shortly appearing as a blog on our site. Already getting enquiries for 2016! Earliest ever winter enquiries. Andy will be putting dates up shortly and our calendar will have 12 month availability again by end of April.

More stories in brief

• Single Malt Whisky distillery opens in Glasgow. Read more here

• Billy Connelly to be given Great Scot award …

• Stunning Ben Nevis footage shot by a drone … You might have seen this if you have any kind of social media presence. It’s spectacular footage if you’ve not yet seen it. Andy is now coveting a drone, but the price is putting him off somewhat.

• Appeal to replace Derry Bridge launched. You might want to read up on this if you’re contemplating the Lairig Ghru Logistics this year

• Rothiemurchus fishery has been closed by flooding.

• And finally … Scotland voted best place to eat and drink yourself silly by the American magazine “Outside”. Read the details here at no: 23.

Exploring products from Scot Mountain Holidays

Highlighting Scotland’s most famous export – Scotch or whisky is a feature of this trip. Link in with the Speyside Whisky festival and join us for the first trip of the year departing soon for Whisky month (May) –https://scotmountainholidays.com/tours/19/4871/mountains-and-malts

A wild and secret exploration in Knoydart, home to Britain’s most remote pub and the mountains where Bonnie Prince Charlie i supposed to have hidden after the battle of Culloden:https://scotmountainholidays.com/tours/7/4871/wild-knoydart

A great all round exploration of Scotland’s adventure and culture. Dress up as a Highlander and sample haggis; hike in the remote hills; mountain bike through glorious forests feasting on wild berries and plenty more – https://scotmountainholidays.com/tours/51/4871/visit-scotland-highland-family-adventure

A quick weekend away in the Cairngorms National Park suitable for almost all ages and using the Strathspey Steam Railway to help you explore through Abernethy, Aviemore and beyond –https://scotmountainholidays.com/tours/34/4871/under-your-own-steam

Explore the culture and adventure which makes the Highlands a special place like no other –https://scotmountainholidays.com/tours/54/4871/cairngorm-discovery

Related blogs from Scot Mountain Holidays

Other news items from Scotland –scotmountainholidays.com/index.php/blog-search-results/?akID[18][atSelectOptionID][]=2

Useful links

The Scotsman

The Herald

BBC Highlands News – http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/scotland/highlands_and_islands

VisitCairngorms Events

National Visitor Information – www.visitscotland.com