Tea at the Castle and on a Steam Train

This is most likely my last post for my holiday in Scotland. We were lucky to have a delicious brew at Brodie Castle. The castle is situated near Forres in Moray this castle was the Clan Brodie ancestral home from 1567 until 1980 when it became owned by The National Trust.

It has been fully restored and can be viewed by taking a tour around the rooms, passageways and towers. There is a Victorian kitchen on display with a tearoom just beyond it with an array of refreshments and very tasty cakes. Look at that big Victorian kettle, the brew you could make with that!!! We visited a little gift shop and had a wonder around the grounds which are renowned for their display of daffodils. World famous apparently. You can hire the castle for events or a wedding if you should feel the need. I could just imagine a groom in a kilt waiting for his bride  to arrive in a horse and carriage, trotting along the long drive, all excited and in anticipation of a new start together, to be bound together in love for eternity. Oh sorry got carried away.......I had a lovely brew and gluten free flapjack, that's about as romantic as I really got. Beautiful surroundings and if you are a little bit too young for the whole marriage and romance thing there is an adventure playground to play on. That seems my kind of style.....what? Who's too old??? Never too old for a zip wire and sand.

We had a lovely visit here and the staff are so friendly. A few miles up the road though we found a shop. A big one with a huge restaurant. Brodie Countryfare is amazing, it has ladies, mens and children's clothes, toys, gifts and cards, handbags, home items, and food. We had lovely meals in the restaurant  I had a jacket potato with cheese and salad, there was a good plateful. I know, all this after cake at the castle but it's the Scottish air, gave me an appetite. The things I do to bring you these reviews!! A great place to shop, take a look at www.brodiecountryfare.com

For my mum's 80th birthday we all went for a ride on the Strathspey Railway. We travelled by steam on a 19 mile journey from Aviemore Station to Boat of Garten and then on to Broomhill, returning back to Aviemore. The scenery was amazing and took in views of the River Spey and the Cairngorm Mountains. Lunch was served on the journey which included soup, either Pea and Ham or Sweet Potato and Chilli (both gluten free) and I was able to get gluten free bread to accompany it too. A nice pot of tea and I was transformed into a relaxed state, feeling quite chilled by the clickety clack of the tracks. Just perfect. The staff were all lovely and very accommodating. Good fun for all the family, dogs are welcome on board and there are different dining experiences, themed trips and even a footplate experience. for more information got to www.strathspeyrailway.co.uk

So there we leave the Highlands, hope you have enjoyed some of my experiences. I truly love it up there and can't wait to visit again. Fancy the Whiskey Trail next time. If you have enjoyed Scotland at some point, let me know....would love to hear about it.

Thanks for reading and I will be back tomorrow for Whatever Wednesday for a bit of, well 'whatever'....... take care for now.