Going North

An extended Easter break allowed me to dedicate just under a week to a visit to Scotland. A very enjoyable one it was, too. Planned in meticulous detail to ensure maximum fun, it all started with the overnight sleeper on a Sunday night from Euston. It's one of only two sleeper services left in the UK and so it feels pretty novel. It also saves 5 hours of daytime travel and is a surprisingly soporific way to travel.

About to leave Euston, around 11.30pm

It's cosy inside...

A modest breakfast but it does the job! The yoghurt is impressive.

After arriving in Edinburgh it was off to Cento Tre in George Street for a more comprehensive breakfast and some of the strongest coffee I've ever set lips upon! Not a bad set of surroundings to have breakfast in, either:

From pillows to pillars

Then off to spend some quality time with D and C at Dalkeith. Two days of peace allowed for a whole load of casual creative work to be done as the weather stayed sunny for occasional bits of chilling out in the garden. Two hyperactive kittens and one occasionally energetic cat added to the atmosphere.

Then Wednesday was a day of relative excitement. Into Edinburgh twice! The first time I took a few shots from Princes St Gardens looking back to the city. This was the pick, as it includes the daffodils:

Then it was back for a brilliant curry courtesy of C, including a last-gasp Sticky Toffee Pie, consumed at the last possible moment before departure for Edinburgh again, this time just me and D (the pater) to catch the train up to Aviemore. We arrived late in the evening and made it to the B&B (Eriskay).

Crossing the Forth Rail Bridge

Thursday was packed. A good breakfast then straight down the road to hire bikes from Mike's Bikes. Once we'd got used to the powerful hydraulic brakes it was off to Aviemore Station to catch the steam train to Boat of Garten. From there we cycled to Loch Garten RSPB Reserve to try and see the ospreys. There wasn't much going on since the laying of an egg hours earlier, but it was a nice little visit and the weather was excellent...

All aboard...

The bikes, which were like weapons in terms of suspension and brakes.

Time for a photo before heading off.

That done, it was off to Nethy Bridge to pick up D's aunt (my Great aunt) for lunch at Revach. We stopped at the old Nethy Bridge Station en route, which is long defunct but atmospheric.

D walks along where the track used to be.

Looking back to where the trains used to come from.

After lunch it was back on the bikes, up to Broomhill where the station staff predicted Arsenal would win the league. He must know something nobody else does, like...well, how on earth it's going to be possible.

On the approach to Broomhill

Bike, open road, mountains, no headwind...does it get any better?

Signals at Broomhill

The train prepares to come in after some technical difficulty...

An impressive engine!

A bit of a break in Aviemore followed, sitting outside for refreshments before heading back to the station and then home to Edinburgh. In no time, the Sunday 11am train to London was sitting at Platform 19 at Waverley and it was time to head back to Bien Londres. But the holiday doesn't end there, thank heavens. London chilling out and a lightning trip to to the Eden Project all beckon before the grindstone calls its workers back. Best make the most of it!