AVIEMORE

Once upon a time we used to go to the Lake District once or twice a year on holiday.  Now we go to Aviemore.

The first time I ever went to Aviemore was when Husband took me there to show me how dire it was, only to find that the entire place was being redeveloped and actually looked a lot more modern, clean and vibrant than it had for decades.

At February half-term, when the UK was having some of the best snow it had ever had, we introduced the children to skiing at the Lecht, which they loved, and then took them in the big soft play at the MacDonald Resort in Aviemore and for dinner at 'Giovanni's' (or 'Don Giovanni's', as they prefer, having watched the penultimate and dramatic scene of said opera a few times and been impressed by it).

This week, the weather having cheered up enough for us to risk camping, we drove over to meet up with Good Friends at Landmark at Carrbridge, had a picnic lunch by Loch Garten - our two children and their son stripping down to underwear and prancing around in the chilly Loch water - and in the late afternoon pitched tent at Glenmore Camp Site by Loch Morlich.  The supermarket-chain-I-hate-the-most-with-the-possible-exception-of-Asda had been raided for barbecue necessities, as had the butchers opposite.  The three children spent most of their time running around and playing with the water taps rather than eating, so we four adults stuffed ourselves on salad, sausages, burgers and 'Italian kebabs'.  Good Friend M then found a 4-leaved clover for luck for me, which made us both a bit emotional, as we all walked down to the beach by the Loch for a post-prandial stroll. 

It's beautiful.  The setting of the campsite is lovely in any case, with a view of the Cairngorms in the background: at this time of year dark and light brown in colour with contrasting snow effects in places.  Down by the Loch itself, if it wasn't for the grainy sand and the fact that the temperature is somewhat cooler than the Mediterranean, one could have been in Greece: at least, it had that relaxing summer holiday warm sunny evening feel.

Overnight the wind sounded in danger of blowing the tent away and the rain beat down briefly, but the next morning dawned dry.  After breakfast in the cafe on the site, watching red squirrels and various birds, we took down the tent, took the children swimming and then ended up at what must be one of our favourite cafes ever or anywhere for lunch.  The food was fantastic and the children's lunch 'boxes' the best they have had (even better than John Lewis!).  I can't recommend them too highly: it was just a pity that after my filling Smoked Fish Chowder I didn't have room for any of the delicious cakes.   http://www.mountaincafe-aviemore.co.uk/

We drove back to Aberdeen in agreement that we'd quite happily go on holiday up there again, at any time of the year: so long as we can keep our options open in terms of overnight shelter from rain.