Cairngorms and Craigellachie

This morning Missie and I headed up to the Cairngorms to have a look around. We was thinking about either reading a book up there or maybe going for a hike but it was so cold and windy that we decided that was silly idea. We took the cable car up to the visitors centre and enjoyed looking around the exhibition there and watching the short film they had playing. We did the quiz and got 12/15, guessed the three we got wrong cos couldn't see the answers easily. That'll teach us haha. Then we wandered up to the viewing deck and braved the cold and wind for some photos :) to warm up we had a cup of tea at the cafe up there and chatted to a group of bird watchers from Devon who are on a week long bird watching holiday. 

We then headed back down on the cable car and Missie saw her friend from earlier in the day, the cable car driver, she was super happy cos he remembered her name and asked if she had had fun, which of course she had. On the way down we got chatting to a couple of guys who work up there and we traded stories about train trips we had done, one had gone from Hamilton to Wellington on the train when he was in NZ and that's what started it. They told me about the walk to the viewpoint at Craigellachie which has good views of the Cairngorms. Was pondering doing that walk this arvo anyhow but they said I def should, and that it would be lovely in the afternoon sun. They were totally right. 

We wandered around the Cairngorm carpark area for a bit and went for a lil walk along a nice lil stream, then sat and enjoyed lunch with gorgeous views. After taking the bus back down to Aviemore we headed off to the Craigellachie National Nature Reserve. 

As you should tell someone where you are when you are hiking I msgd Brudda, Missie is a bit useless when it comes to emergencies and letting people know if I'm back in time or not so figured Brudda was a safer bet :) Did the 'strenuous' walk to the viewpoint then just above it to almost the summit. Not that strenuous really but it was still a lot of uphill so not super easy either. The views at the top we totally worth the walk :) 

This evening I am going to wander into Aviemore to either get dinner from a pub or supermarket, I'm guessing supermarket as when I looked at pub food prices ystdy they were all a lot more than I would want to pay for a meal. And then I'm going to just chill and enjoy my evening :)

Enjoying the exhibition 

Views from the viewing platform

Wandering around the carpark area

Lunch time view

Guess where we is hehe